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My 2003 Chevy Astro was broken into during the winter and they busted the ignition lock trying to start it. I didn't need the van until now, and could not afford the repair at the time, so I just left it as is. However, since the ignition was so damaged, I did not realize it was left in the on, or accessory, position. Consequently, the battery has completely drained during this time.

It is a fairly new battery, maybe 6 months old at most. Because of where my van is parked, it is not possible to reach it with jumper cables, and I don't want to pester my friends with switching batteries to try and charge it on their car. So my question is... Is it worth my time to buy a battery charger? Or is the battery completely shot and needs to be replaced?

Thanks,
Ted  

deeply discharged batteries and totally discharged batteries...    CAN be recharged... if you DO NOT...  jump start them first..  or try to charge them on a conventional battery charger...

it takes a current limiting adjustable power supply...   a what... yep... its like a battery charger.. but you have knobs to adjust the voltage... and THE CURRENT..   how many amps it will put out max.....

i grabbed a current limiting power supply about a decade ago..  18 volts MAX..   3 amps max...        i recharge totally discharged batteries that have sat discharged for several months with it.. over 3 or 4 days....   16 or 17 volts at 1/3 of an amp max...

what.. this is designed for testing electronics...   i adjust the voltage to 16 or 17 volts with the leads disconnected...  then short them together..  and set the short circuit current knob.. to 3/10th's of an amp...  sometimes a little more.. but never over 0.4 amps...  and walk away for a few days...

since your battery is less than a year old....  you might be able to work the warrantee.. you payed for the warrantee..

take it back to the store.. tell them the battery does not work any more...    they will fast charge it.. it will fail the load test and they will probably give you a new one for no charge.. as the first year or two is a free exchange... beyond that .. its prorated...

i hate to tell you this.. as battery and parts store people will scream that i am letting out a secret...  but.. there are only a few people going to read this.. and a LOT of good batteries have gotten replaced do to salesmen knowing they are improperly testing them..



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now.. on the steering column repair..    look at the edge of your key.. i bet it says PK1 or PK2...  i hope the lock is in good shape..  and they attacked the side of the column...     parts stores that sell ac delco will have UNKEYED ignition lock cylinders .. probably for under 30 bucks..    the lock cylinders come out with the battery disconnected... and the lock and key twisted to the crank position.. then the latch visible through the small hole depressed and the lock pops out...

the whole idea...     have the column repaired and install the UNCODED lock cylinder.. once you get it running..   be sure to try each of your existing keys to make sure they work...

you have to switch them quickly.. shutting off and getting it restarted within 10 seconds for the computer to learn the additional keys...    after you verify that it all works..   them you can have a locksmith install new wafers and springs into your new uncoded lock cylinder..  saves a LOT of time....    the GM dealers want almost 200 bucks for a keyed lock cylinder..  and need your vin # and your id...

comp nine   dot com   has a great diagram and parts list for the entire van on their site...   please be warned..  that model has AIR BAGS in the steering wheel and a bunch of other places...   its really easy to set them off...

you have to disconnect the YELLOW harness under the dash board to safe at least the steering wheel air bag...

there is also a CLOCKSPRING under the steering wheel....    it that gets turned loose when the steering wheel is removed...   it can turn and get out of phase...   its set so  the wheel can turn either way without the wires wrapped inside getting tight...

when it gets loose or installed incorrectly.. when you turn the wheel in one direction.  it can tear the wires out and short them together.. and might set the air bag off...  

oh.. and if they are going to exchange your column..   see if they will just fix yours...   exchange columns are sometimes.. but not everytime made up of junk yard parts.. or used parts from various columns..

be sure that every function works on the column before you leave the shop...    the wipers..   the turn signals.. the engine starts.. the gear shift moves.. the column locks the steering wheel...  and the cruise control works...  this last one will have to be done out on the road..