Dead battery

**zazen999** · 14-01-2010, 07:49 PM

Our car has been in and out of the garage since the first days of the snow. New alternator, new battery, new fan belt and the ****** still won't ****** start.

Yesterday I signed its life away for a new Fiat 500 on the scrappage scheme.

They had a spare already being built, the same spec as we wanted, due in 2-3 weeks. YIP YIP YAHOODLE.

**weekendwellies** · 14-01-2010, 07:53 PM

Oh no.. havent used mine since before xmas. I expect my battery will be useless too.

**dogsbody** · 14-01-2010, 07:56 PM

Check (carefully) that both terminals are TIGHT, loose ones cause quicker failure.

**jacob marley** · 14-01-2010, 07:57 PM

A little tip that may get you out of trouble on a cold morning is to top the battery up with hot water and then pour the water that you have left over the battery it works some times it has got me out of trouble in the past.

.jacob

**Rhona** · 14-01-2010, 08:42 PM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

Flipping heck- it was a 1 yr old battery -and the car kept under a shelter- you'd have thought it wouldn't need jump starting wouldn't you??

Check them out folks if they've not been driven for a few days

Bummer! Hope you didn't have anywhere important to go...?

**geoff** · 14-01-2010, 10:00 PM

For starting in cold weather put the clutch pedal down, even if you're in neutral. Then the starter motor only has to turn over the engine and not the gearbox. And as the gearbox oil is likely to be very thick this will put less demand on the starter motor and battery
Once the engine has fired bring up the clutch pedal and carry on as usual

**Snadger** · 15-01-2010, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by geoff View Post

For starting in cold weather put the clutch pedal down, even if you're in neutral. Then the starter motor only has to turn over the engine and not the gearbox. And as the gearbox oil is likely to be very thick this will put less demand on the starter motor and battery
Once the engine has fired bring up the clutch pedal and carry on as usual

And for an automatic?

......................Pray?

**weekendwellies** · 15-01-2010, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by geoff View Post

For starting in cold weather put the clutch pedal down,

A good tip that. I always start with the clutch pedal down. Don't know why. I think driving instructor must have told me to do it that way, and its one of them things I have done without thinking ever since.

That was back in the day when you used choke to start the car. Anyone remember pulling out the choke button? Haven't seen one of them in a long time.

**dexterdoglancashire** · 15-01-2010, 07:28 PM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

Flipping heck- it was a 1 yr old battery -and the car kept under a shelter- you'd have thought it wouldn't need jump starting wouldn't you??

Check them out folks if they've not been driven for a few days

I thought most batteries came with at least a 2 year guarantee?

**Nicos** · 15-01-2010, 08:08 PM

( I'd left the boot ever so slightly open

...ssshhhhhhh)

**dexterdoglancashire** · 15-01-2010, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

( I'd left the boot ever so slightly open

...ssshhhhhhh)

Ah, but even so. Working in a garage we often get customers who have a flat battery, so we check it for them and replace them if necessary. My boss always advises people to make sure you give your car a good, decent length run every now and then, espesh in winter when (if like me!) you only do a few miles each day, have the lights, heater, radio, de mister etc on. You need to do a good few miles in order for the battery to get charged up OK.

**Nicos** · 15-01-2010, 09:28 PM

If it starts in the morning, I'll be going out in it for a good 70 mile round trip!!

fingers crossed- and I'll do the thing with the foot on the clutch too ( I'm sure I was taught to do that too!)

**Rocketron** · 16-01-2010, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by weekendwellies View Post

A good tip that. I always start with the clutch pedal down. Don't know why. I think driving instructor must have told me to do it that way, and its one of them things I have done without thinking ever since.

That was back in the day when you used choke to start the car. Anyone remember pulling out the choke button? Haven't seen one of them in a long time.

Yep ! I also remember cranking my Morris Minor when the battery was flat.

**Nicos** · 16-01-2010, 01:22 PM

Pull choke???..oh dear yes!

...what I really recall is always pushing it in too soon and stalling the car- or pulling it out too far and the car taking off on it's own!!!

Yup- I was a learner driver- and it really put me off!

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