I drive a 2006 Scion xA. The battery has been a problem child almost as long as I’ve had the car (that I also live in the car is probably an added stressor—charging shit, etc.), so bad that I’ve considered buying a new one. But then I realized something: the battery is probably just really low. It usually dies because I’ve left the headlights on again, and I usually bring it back to the world of the living by hitting it with my jump box.

Then I throw the lights back on, and plug my phone in, etc. I don’t think the poor thing has much of a chance to charge up before me or one of my stupid friends kills it again.

I know almost nothing about cars. I know that the battery charges by way of the alternator, which converts the raw power of the engine into electricity. So when I’m driving, or just revving the engine or even just idling, the battery is charging? Is that right?

And another question: is it bad for the car to just sit there idling? Someone who claims to be a car guy told me that.