Dead battery question

I have an old 1997 Ford Escort which was left without use for 3 months. Unfortunately the battery cable wasn't disconnected and the car won't start. I jump started it and drove it for 15 minutes, but that didn't charge the battery enough to start it again on itself. The battery is 3 years old, but didn't see much use.

Do I need a new battery or it just needs more charging, either by driving or by using a charger?

Yes, you need a new battery. Lead acid batteries that sat outside for 3 years without use are probably not going to perform the best.

You could try a charging with a charger for a few hours but a new battery may be needed. Don't charge it by driving, it will overwork the alternator.

The car was being used for most of the time during those 3 years. But nobody used the car at all for the last 3 months. Do you think the battery is bad already?

3 months are enough to kill a battery?

maybe, maybe not. how long did you try to charge it?

trickle charge the battery at like 2 amps and get it tested somewhere. Any parts store should test for free. And actually a lot of stores will charge it for free too

You might be able to save it.
Let it trickle charge overnight.

I drove it for 15 minutes. I don't have a charger, I would have to buy one to try that or I could jump start it again and drive it for a longer time.

dont its hard on the alt.
just buy a charger m8, its something you should own anyways.

I will try that. I really hope I don't have to buy a new battery yet.

Check the positive and negative terminals for corrosion like pic-related. The corrosion may be reddish or brown-ish, or cream colored rather than blue. If it is corroded, then the battery may not be charging properly. It may be drawing more charge than it is able to re-charge.

If it turns out this is the case, use either coca-cola or a mixture of water and baking-soda along with a toothbrush or wire-brush to clean off the posts of the battery. Don't forget to wear gloves and eye-protection.

There is no corrosion. Before I jump started the car, I removed both terminals because I was trying to remove the whole battery. I will clean them, just to be sure.

If there is no corrosion, then I agree with The other option is that the alternator is faulty, but I highly doubt that with what you have described.

Having to buy a new battery would suck.

>Do I need a new battery or it just needs more charging
Try charging it and you'll find out yourself. Drive it for an hour next time and if it's still dead after that, you need a new battery (a charger would also work if you can afford one). It's more a question of how much the battery was discharged, not how long it sat.

>if you can afford one
Yeah...

harbor freight

Duralast can run about $50-$75 and you get the core return for the old battery. Yeah, it sucks, but I doubt you can squeeze much more life out of this one.

The cheapest duralast battery is 114$ you tripped foo.
I buy my battery's at Costco. 79$ with core

>The cheapest duralast battery is 114$ you tripped foo.

No, I just don't live in an over-regulated lib-cuck state, faggot.

$89 here in the North

kek