Dead Battery in a Wichita Parking Lot? What to Do

If your car won't start in a Wichita parking lot, turn everything off and note the exact spot: lot name, level and row. If you're in a drive lane, put your flashers on. Then sort out the parking. Downtown city parking is paid until 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A private lot owner can tow if the right signs are posted, so tell the store or lot staff your car is dead.

Why is a dead car in a parking lot its own kind of problem?

On a highway, the danger is traffic. In a parking lot, the danger is lower, but the hassle is different. Your car is sitting in a space someone else wants. The clock on the meter keeps running. And the lot may belong to a business that doesn't know you're stuck.

Think about the usual Wichita moments. The concert lets out at Intrust Bank Arena and the whole row is pulling out around you. You come out of a grocery store on a January night and get a weak click. You park in a downtown garage for work, and the car won't turn over after work.

Each one is a jump start on paper. But each spot has its own rules, and a little setup makes the rest go smoother.

What should you do first when the car won't start?

Take a breath. You're off the road, and that's the best place for this to happen. Work through this list before you call anyone:

1. Turn off the headlights, dome light, radio and fan. Unplug phone chargers.
2. Check if a light was left on. An interior light left on during a long game is a common cause.
3. If the car stopped in a drive lane or at a gate, turn on your flashers.
4. Don't push the car alone. A slight slope in a lot can get away from you fast.
5. Write down where you are. Lot name, garage level, row letter or the nearest store door.
6. Listen to the crank. A slow crank or fast clicking points to the battery. Strong cranking that never catches is not a battery problem.

If you're inside a garage, step out to a level with a signal before you call. Concrete decks block phone service. Then come back and wait by the car with the doors locked.

Can a tow truck get into a Wichita parking garage?

Often, a full tow truck can't. Garages have low ceilings, and most post a clearance sign at the entrance. Read that sign and tell the dispatcher the number. Also say which level you're on and whether the ramps are tight.

The good news: a jump start usually doesn't need the big truck in the garage. Your driver can carry a portable booster to your car. If the car still won't start after a jump, a tow is a different job. In a garage, that can mean finding a way to roll the car to a spot a truck can reach. Your driver will tell you what's possible once they see it.

What to tell the dispatcher from a garage

• The garage name or the street it faces
• The level and the nearest stair or elevator
• The clearance number on the entrance sign
• Whether you need a ticket or a code to drive in

Will you get a parking ticket while you wait downtown?

The City of Wichita runs paid parking downtown and in the WaterWalk area. It covers street spaces, public lots and public garages. Paid hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Outside those hours, city parking is free, unless event parking is in effect.

Old Town and Delano are not part of the paid parking zone right now. That's useful if your battery dies after dinner on a Tuesday in Old Town.

Street spaces are paid by the full hour. If your car dies at a meter and you're waiting for help, add time on the meter or the parking app. The city says the apps can send you an alert when your time runs out. That's one less thing to watch while you wait.

If you do get a city ticket, the city says you have ten days from the date on it to set a court hearing to contest it.

What about event nights at Intrust Bank Arena or Century II?

On event nights, some city lots and garages near Intrust Bank Arena and Century II charge a set event fee. The city says those fees are posted on event websites, parking websites and event signs. If you paid to park and your car dies, keep your receipt or app record.

A dead car after a show has one more problem: the crowd. Every car is leaving at once. Let the lot clear before your driver tries to pull in close. Stay in your car or near it, out of the drive lanes.

Can a private lot tow your dead car in Wichita?

Yes, in some cases. The city says private lot owners can limit parking to customers, employees or a time limit. They can have a car towed if the signs required by Section 11.99.030 of the Wichita Municipal Code are posted.

So if your car dies at a store, a clinic or an apartment lot, don't just walk away. Go inside and tell someone. Ask if you can leave the car there until help comes. Read the signs at the lot entrance too.

Some lots leave a private parking bill on your windshield. The city says those come from the lot owner, not the city, and you appeal through the parking company. But in a properly signed private lot, the city can also write its own ticket.

Rules that matter if you move the car

• Don't leave it across marked spaces. City code bans parking across marked parking spaces (Sections 11.68.080 and 11.88.015).
• Don't leave it on the street for days. City code bans parking on the street for more than 48 hours (Section 11.97.010(b)(1)).
• If you use an accessible plate or placard, keep it showing. The city says failing to display it can lead to a ticket or a tow at your cost.

Should you take a jump from a stranger in the lot?

People in Wichita lots are often happy to help. If someone offers and you feel safe, it's your call. A few cautions:

• Stay in a lit area, near a store entrance if you can.
• Make sure both cars are off before any clamps go on.
• Never let the clamps touch each other.
• Stop if the battery is cracked, leaking or smells like rotten eggs.
• If something feels wrong, stay in your car and call for help instead.

Why do batteries quit in Wichita lots so often?

Wichita is rough on batteries in both seasons. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals count about 65 days a year at 90 degrees or hotter here. They also count about 103 nights at or below freezing. The federal fuel economy site says battery performance drops in the cold.

A parking lot adds its own twist. The car sat for hours with no charging. Maybe you ran the radio or the heater while you waited for someone. Maybe it was a short trip there, not long enough to top the battery back up. All of that shows up as a weak crank when you finally turn the key.

What if a jump isn't the real problem?

Sometimes the dead car isn't about the battery at all. In a busy lot, these come up a lot:

• The keys got locked inside while you were dealing with it. That's a car lockout.
• A curb or pothole flattened a tire on the way in. Your driver can do a flat tire change if you have a spare.
• The car takes a jump but dies again, or won't take one. Then a tow to a repair shop makes more sense.

How does getting help through Sentinel work?

Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the job. We text you your price first, and that price is locked before anyone is sent. If a jump turns into a tow, we text a new price and you decide. You get your driver's name, photo and truck by text, and you can track your truck on a map. We check on you by text until help arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise.

For the roads and towns around the city, see our Wichita towing page.

Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.

Wichita Parking Lot Battery Questions

Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Park Wichita, Park Wichita FAQ, City of Wichita parking FAQ, NOAA climate normals, Wichita, FuelEconomy.gov: cold weather.