Car Breaks Down, Breakdown Cover Just Expired

systemchokes

Hi all,

I recently moved to London and have used our car very little ever since. Wouldn't you know it now the car won't start. I took out breakdown cover last year but it has recently expired and I forgot to renew.

So what can I do? Can I take out breakdown cover knowing my car is already broken down and call them out straight away?

Thanks for any help!

harveybobbles

Check the obvious:

Battery flat?
No fuel?

systemchokes

I don't really know anything about cars. I read online that I could check the condition of the battery by turning on the windscreen wipers and seeing if they run slow, which they don't.

It may need more fuel, the gauge says there is about 1/5 or 1/6 of a tank. When I turn the key it doesn't constantly turn over, it kind of half splutters then the power fails on the dash ie. the gauges drop to 0 and the lights on the dash go off.

Phil_L_2

The battery is flat.

Either charge it or jump leads.

Hintza

or if a manual and you feel energetic push start it...could be fun in London...;). Get some jump leads if you can will probably be cheaper than calling a garage.

systemchokes

Excuse my ignorance but does jumping it also charge it or is that just a temporary solution?

dacouch

It will charge the battery if you immediately take it on a longish drive

systemchokes

Can anyone reccommend a battery charger? I don't really have anyone to help me jump the car as my neighbours are away now for a couple of weeks and they are parked beside me so nobody else could get near!

McKneff

If your battery is old you might be as well gettin a new one.
the same thing could happend each day, you dont really want to be chargin a battery every night just in case it wont start in the morning.

dacouch

There are companies that wil supply a battery and come out and fit it (For a charge) which might be worth considering

Quentin

Don't just buy a new one. Get your current battery checked to see if it needs replacing first.

Your OP says you use the car infrequently. If it has been unused a long time finding the battery flat doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it.

To solve your problem you could ask a friend who knows about these things to come and either park in such a way the jump leads will connect, or remove his good battery, take it to your car and then use the jump leads.