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Topic: Do cars need a battery to run?

in Forum: General Non-Vette Discussion


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Do cars need a battery to run? (1/9)
 5/25/12 8:06am
Adam WartellLifetime Member
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Eagleville, PA - USA

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They just need a batter to turn the starter which kicks over the engine, right? But once the engine is going, the battery is no longer needed.  Right?

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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (2/9)
 5/25/12 9:10am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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Well....sometimes.
Older cars, with no electronics(electronic fuel injection, etc.) can get by for a little while. The engine will run off of the alternator, assuming the alternator is working. Add in the headlights, stereo, wipers, A/C, etc., and you'll overwork the alternator, and you'll wind up stranded anyway. This is only true of vehicles with an alternator. A car with a generator will NOT run with the battery disconnected. A generator will not produce voltage without a voltage input(battery). An alternator creates it's own voltage.
The old "test" of disconnecting the battery to see if the alternator is working will tell you if it is, but it's not good to do that...the power surge can damage the regulator. If you do that on a later model car, with any electronics, you can damage just about every electronic module(computer) in it.
Cars were designed to run on 12.5 volts, which is provided by the battery...the alternator's job is to keep that battery charged.
Diesels(older ones) can run forever with no battery, once started, since they have no electrics working the engine....no ignition, that is.


Short answer, yes, the engine will run once started, if the alternator is working.

btw....a manual trans car will NOT start by pushing if the battery is dead/missing...you still need electricity to power the ignition system at least until it starts....





|UPDATED|5/25/2012 6:10:42 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (3/9)
 5/25/12 3:25pm
Jaws79Lifetime Member
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That's why we keep you around, Joel! You da man! (the answer man, that is)
 
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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (4/9)
 5/25/12 3:39pm
dwright
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The new electric cars need a battery. Lots of dem.
 
Did your battery die Adam?


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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (5/9)
 5/29/12 9:26am
Adam WartellLifetime Member
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dwright said: The new electric cars need a battery. Lots of dem.
 
Did your battery die Adam?


No. I'm just trying to figure out why cars won't run in the upcoming TV series "Revolution"

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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (6/9)
 5/29/12 12:24pm
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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (7/9)
 5/29/12 1:19pm
Adam WartellLifetime Member
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ebo said: NO GAS, NO GAS, NO GAS, NO GAS.....Mommmmmm.......
Evil Smileebo


No. It isn't gas that is the problem. It is the lack of electricity, according to the ads.

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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (8/9)
 5/29/12 7:13pm
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Adam Wartell said:
ebo said: NO GAS, NO GAS, NO GAS, NO GAS.....Mommmmmm.......
Evil Smileebo


No. It isn't gas that is the problem. It is the lack of electricity, according to the ads.


ROFLMAO......and your a TV guy?????
Check out the new Chevrolet commercial where the kids mom is a salesperson and he's doing his homework in the office and asks two male salesmen a question about a math problem....
Evil Smileebo


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Re: Do cars need a battery to run? (9/9)
 5/29/12 10:34pm
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Don't know what show yer talkin aboot, but...is there an EMP(electro-magnetic-pulse) taking place or something? That would pretty much fry any electronics in anything that has them, but I don't know that it would kill batteries.
More poop on this show....what's it about?

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