OT- Car question

[superjohn]

I parked my car and put the hazards on and ran into the store for about a minute when I came back my car wouldn't start. A friend came by with some cables and it started up right away. The same thing happened this past winter but it was unbelievably cold so I chalked it up to that. My question is, why would this happen? Never heard of a car battery dying from leaving your lights on for 1 minute.

 

[UCDaveD]

Could be a problem with your alternator (I am not a car expert, but am an expert in having to call AAA)

 

[~*Jen*~]

Alternator would be my first guess too. When I was 16, I had this old car and when the alternator went, the computerized voice said, "Your electrical system is malfunctioning. Prompt service is required." Then when I went to start it again, it wouldn't. I'd have to jump it every time I wanted to start it. Turned out, it was the alternator. Once it went, the batter wasn't charging when the car ran. When I was 25, I had this other car and I was driving through NY and the a/c stopped working. Then I heard this weird buzzing noise. Then my brakes failed. It was the alternator. (And a quote of $500+5 days to get a new part in+$150 a night for a hotel while we waited. I ended up having to do a sign-and-drive so I could get back to my job in Georgia.)

I'm also not a car expert but I am an expert in having things go wrong at the worst possible time. In fact, I'm hoping that I'm not approaching bad-alternator-time with my current vehicle (the sign-and-drive from way back when). When I turn the headlights on, part of the panel doesn't light up. On one hand, I don't really need to see the 6-8k RPM info. On the other hand, as much as my husband says that it's probably a bad LED or something, I can't help but think of "electrical issue, maybe alternator." I really need to have this not happen again. I HAVE to be able to drive to CT for Christmas.

 

[B1GEast]

What's the year make and mark of the car, start from there and google the symptoms. Could be the battery, alternator, starter or electrical wiring.