How long can the car be turned off after starting with a dead battery?

[McNorah]

You can turn off the car one hour after starting it with a dead battery. Before turning off the engine, make sure to turn off all electrical devices. If a car battery is left unused for a long time, it will gradually discharge on its own until it becomes unusable. Therefore, the car should be started periodically to recharge the battery. If the car owner encounters a situation where the battery is dead and the car cannot be started, they can seek help from another driver to charge their car battery using jumper cables. However, the owner must ensure that the positive terminal of the battery is connected to the positive terminal of the power source and the negative terminal of the battery is connected to the negative terminal of the power source. Incorrect connections should be avoided to prevent accidents. Methods for maintaining a car battery include turning off lights and audio systems before parking and shutting off the engine; avoiding leaving the air conditioning on when the engine is off; driving the car periodically; regularly cleaning the battery; preventing battery discharge; checking the battery every six months; and promptly observing the battery status indicator.

[MacHannah]

Last time my car battery was dead, I asked a mechanic after jump-starting it with a friend's help. He said never turn off the engine immediately after starting—the engine must keep running to recharge the battery. You need to idle for at least 30 minutes because the alternator's charging efficiency is low at low RPM. It's even better to drive; maintaining over 2000 RPM for 20 minutes is sufficient. However, the exact time depends on the battery's condition. For an old battery that's been used for four or five years, sometimes even an hour of charging isn't enough to fully restore it. The safest approach is to drive for over half an hour before shutting off the engine, and check if the headlights have regained their brightness to avoid another breakdown on the road. For short trips, it's better not to turn off the engine—for example, if you're just stopping at a convenience store, keep the engine idling while you wait.

[LeTaylor]

Once in winter, my car battery suddenly died. After jump-starting, I drove about ten kilometers right away. My real-world experience shows that idling to charge is inefficient—running the engine for forty minutes charges slower than driving for twenty minutes. Modern alternators are more powerful; driving just five kilometers can usually recharge the battery. However, if the battery is severely aged, prolonged charging won’t help—if the voltmeter reads below 12V, it’s time to replace it. Also, frequent short trips are especially hard on batteries. For example, when I drove just three kilometers daily for work, my battery drained within two months. Now, I make it a habit to take a highway drive every weekend.

[DavidLynn]

The key to starting after a battery drain is giving the charging system enough time to work. I usually let the engine run continuously for over half an hour after starting, monitoring the voltage display on the dashboard during this period. A stable voltage between 13.5-14.5 volts indicates normal charging. In winter, it takes longer, and it's best to turn on the heater to increase the load and improve charging efficiency. Avoid turning off the engine after just five minutes of charging, as the battery might not even have enough power to operate the car locks. For older cars, pay attention to whether the alternator belt is loose—once, my car wouldn't charge because the belt was slipping. After long trips, remember to check the voltage after turning off the engine to ensure it remains above 12.6 volts.