Recent comments in /f/LifeProTips

TheMasterBaker01 OP t1_j1sz37r wrote

The idling point is fair even though you're being a dick about it, so I edited my post. My point isn't that mechanics are doing shotty work, but that sometimes through their work it can leave your battery low, so driving it around will give it an efficient charge as well as test out what they fixed to confirm things are running smooth.

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SilentScyther t1_j1syfhv wrote

I hate how long it takes the fireplow to clear my road of fire. It always comes down to some random guy who lives here with his gas-powered fireblower to clear the area instead because they took too long.

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Solid-Question-3952 t1_j1sy95u wrote

Highway or small roads dont make a big difference these days with virable alternators. They will change depending on your speeds. If you are trying to charge a battery from dead, you need to put it on a charger. If its sat with the door open for a couple minutes, driving from your house to the grocery store will be fine

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Solid-Question-3952 t1_j1sxmk5 wrote

LPT: your engine idling doesnt effect your batteries so its clear you dont fully understand cars or the way mechanics work. Also, the vast majority of mechanics warranty their work and if you have an issue that is actually caused by their work they will fix it. You have no idea how many "ever since" people they deal with everyday complaining about problems that have nothing to do with the work they just did and they try to help them out anyway. Example: "eversince you changed my oil my rear brakes squeek." "Eversince you replaced my rear axel my front tire leaks."

If you are worried about the battery let it idle before you turn it off, no need to drive around putting more wear and tear on your vehicle.

Edit: In almost all cars in the last 15 years, any power from your doors being open cuts after a few minutes to avoid an accidentally drained battery. So mechanics working with your doors/trunks open wont matter. If your car started when you picked it up, driving home should have been more than enough to charge it battery (unless you like 3 minutes away). If you had a dead battery the next day either you have a bad alternator or most likely, your battery is going bad. Keep an eye on it.

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Wondercat87 t1_j1sw6xg wrote

My suggestion is to avoid driving in a snowstorm as much as possible.

But if you must or get caught up in one, this is the right tip. Stay on the main roads. The main roads always get plowed the most often and are priority in a storm.

Secondary roads are not always plowed and not as often. If you are in the country you also risk snow drifts being on the road (and they are very hard to see in a snowstorm). Even in a big vehicle with 4x4 you can still get stuck in a snowdrift. And if you are in the country there isn't help nearby unless you luck out and get stuck in front of someone's house (if they are capable of helping you).

My advice is if bad weather hits, always have a route that keeps on main roads and don't be afraid to stop in the next town. Head to a local coffee shop, you will often find other stranded motorists there as well and information usually finds its way there.

If it gets bad, hopefully most communities have some form of warming center. But don't always expect that to be the case. You may have to stay with kind strangers.

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