Car Radio

[kenny1234]

I have just exchanged my car for one that has a sat nav/radio screen. Whilst listening to the radio waiting for someone (with the engine stopped)-- I kept getting a message"low battery warning, danger of low battery if you don't run with ignition on" How long is safe to listen without the engine running?

[bhg481]

Is this a new car or a used one? I have a Volvo and find that when the battery is 3 or 4 years old I sometimes get a similar message if the car hasn't been driven for a couple of weeks and I've been using some battery-life by opening the electrically-operated boot lid or playing with other electrics. What happens with mine is that I get the message and the boot needs to be opened/closed manually; some other devices won't operate. The idea is that it conserves the battery, as far as possible, to retain enough power to start the engine.

[Buenchico]

Some car radios automatically turn themselves off after an hour without the engine running, so the manufacturers of those radios (who, no doubt, err on the side of caution anyway) seem to be confident that you can have the radio on for at least an hour without running the battery flat.

That, of course, assumes that your car's battery is in good condition. If the message you're seeing is actually generated by a significant fall in voltage (rather than just being a standard message which always appears whenever the radio is used with the engine turned off), it might be worth getting the battery's condition checked out before winter arrives. (Nearly all tyre-and-exhaust places, and many independent garages, will do it free of charge).

[kenny1234]

Many thanks---it just seemed strange that i should have to have the engine ticking over to listen to the radio