Elisha 1 #1 July 29, 2008 Anyone have any ideas for a temporary, cheap car battery? My car was accepted by the state of CA for to be "retired" (i.e. they'll pay me $1000). I have already failed my smog test and got my application accepted. Now, all I need to do is: 1. Drive it to the DMV to give up the plates. 2. Drive it to one of the certified dismantlers. Total is no more than 30 miles. Problem? Battery is dead and won't retain a charge when attempting to charge it. Getting someone to follow me to jump it doesn't sound good and I'm thinking that the dismantler wouldn't accept a car that wouldn't start (requiring a jump). I'm looking at about $50, since the current battery is an 84 month battery and the warranty would be about 50%. Anyone have any ideas? Two jump tickets just sounds like too much to drive it a few miles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 798 #2 July 29, 2008 I'd call the dismantler..they will probably take it without a battery...it's an EPA hazard anyway and probably adds to their disposal cost. then just get a jump to start it drive it there...it should run off the alternator the whole way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #3 July 29, 2008 So the state is paying you $1000 because the car is not fit to drive. But to get that processed you have to drive the car You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #4 July 29, 2008 Quote then just get a jump to start it drive it there...it should run off the alternator the whole way. What if the alternator isn't working the best. I guess you would know after the jump. I don't get it though. $1000 for something that isn't working. So you pay $50, now you've got $950. Sure you can do some stuff with $50, but seems like it will be more trouble than it's worth. You could always just get someone to tow you around with a ropeSkymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prepheckt 0 #5 July 29, 2008 Can you borrow one?"Dancing Argentine Tango is like doing calculus with your feet." -9 toes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #6 July 29, 2008 Quote So the state is paying you $1000 because the car is not fit to drive. But to get that processed you have to drive the car Don't bring that kind of logic into this. I mean we are talking about California here, they surely have far superior logic than everyone elseSkymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Bill 0 #7 July 29, 2008 Can you post a link to this program. I have a piece of junk car that I would love to get $1,000 for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #8 July 29, 2008 QuoteI'd call the dismantler..they will probably take it without a battery...it's an EPA hazard anyway and probably adds to their disposal cost. then just get a jump to start it drive it there...it should run off the alternator the whole way. The core from the battery should be a source of income for the dismantler, not a cost. As far as I know, the car won't run off the alternator without some semblance of a battery in the loop. I think the car runs off the battery and the alternator simultaneously charges the battery, but I could be wrong. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 798 #9 July 29, 2008 for the most part the alternator provides the juice while running...battery is just to start it - anything additional can be generated with wool socks worn with sandals....you just have to rub your shoes on the carpeting... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #10 July 29, 2008 Here is a link to the application: linky The requirements are pretty easy: 1. Fail a Smog Test 2. Mail in your application with Smog failure results to the state. 3. If approved (I was), then take to DMV to surrender plates and get temporary driving permission. 4. Drive to approved dismantler (list sent with your approved application). They do visual and operational inspection and give you a grand if you pass. The inspection is pretty minimal. It needs to start under its own power, drive at least 10 yards, pedals work and a few other things. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #11 July 29, 2008 Btw, I was thinking that someone like BILL VON might have some ideas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lastchance 0 #12 July 29, 2008 $1000.00. Holy Shit. Here the county will tow away junk vehicles for you at no cost and a scrap yard will give you $35 for the car for scrap metal, but a thousand. Does Cailfornia just have extra money to throw away? That's alot of gas in a tank. And if its going to be dismantled, why must it be able to start and drive 10 yards? I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 798 #13 July 29, 2008 maybe so they can export them to south america and other us states with less restrictive epa requirements? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #14 July 29, 2008 Quote Quote I'd call the dismantler..they will probably take it without a battery...it's an EPA hazard anyway and probably adds to their disposal cost. then just get a jump to start it drive it there...it should run off the alternator the whole way. The core from the battery should be a source of income for the dismantler, not a cost. As far as I know, the car won't run off the alternator without some semblance of a battery in the loop. I think the car runs off the battery and the alternator simultaneously charges the battery, but I could be wrong. Blues, Dave Race bikes dont have batteriesYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #15 July 30, 2008 They probably don't have alternators either...magneto comes to mind.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bertt 0 #16 July 30, 2008 So why isn't everybody with a $200 car in their back yard driving to California???You don't have to outrun the bear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #17 July 30, 2008 Because their car hasn't been registered in California? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 798 #18 July 30, 2008 Geez man, I thought I was an old fucker! still have your dimmer switch on the floorboard??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ematteo 0 #19 July 30, 2008 My brother got $1000 from this program. The idea is to take massively polluting cars off the road. If it doesn't move, the car is prob. not polluting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #20 July 30, 2008 Quote Geez man, I thought I was an old fucker! still have your dimmer switch on the floorboard??? If you remember those, guess what...you are an old fucker! They don't make 'em like they used to. As for the OP's battery...Midnight Auto Supply has a ton of them. Cheap, too!My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #21 July 30, 2008 Yeap, you're wrong ... you can't be simultaniously draining and charging a battery (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #22 July 30, 2008 Quote Yeap, you're wrong ... you can't be simultaniously draining and charging a battery Well of course the battery is either draining or charging at any given time, but couldn't you be throwing 2 amps st charging it while it's also giving up 1 amp to some other purpose, resulting in a net charging rate similar to 1 amp? Otherwise, how come when I tow my RV, I seem to charge the batteries while they're also powering the 12V stuff inside the RV (both from the single hot wire coming from my truck.) I think I've previously tried disconnecting a battery while a car was running, but I can't remember whether that shut the car off or not. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 798 #23 July 30, 2008 If the alternator is sufficiently working, it will stay running when you disco the battery. This (at least used to be anyway) is a way to isolate a bettery or alternator issue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #24 July 30, 2008 In your scenario (throwing 2 amps at it [charging] whole giving up 1 amp [draining]) is charging and draining simultaniously - sorry, can't happen like that. What your RV is doing is the 3 amps are coming from the alternator... 2 charging the battery and the other 1 running stuff. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #25 July 30, 2008 Quote Quote Geez man, I thought I was an old fucker! still have your dimmer switch on the floorboard??? If you remember those, guess what...you are an old fucker! They don't make 'em like they used to. As for the OP's battery...Midnight Auto Supply has a ton of them. Cheap, too! I not only remember the dimmer switch, I remember the push bulb for windshield washers on the floor!Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites