I think I have a flat battery.....

puddy

my lovely car has never let me down, I love my car, yet tonight, in the freezing cold when my partner phoned to say he is stranded due to signalling problems an hour away, the car dont start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it is a flat battery as the battery light is on with another yellow one. Its a nissan micra 55.

I have phoned 2 mobile mechanics one will charge 50 quid to come out, but can only come tomorrow and another will charge 15 to come out and can only come tomorrow.

Luckily after this conversation partner rang again to say a train had come along so he should be ok, however, what happens about my car?

I am not car savvy so dont know if the offer by the second mechanic to jump start it tomorrow is the solution?? is that what you do if battery is flat? how does that put power in the battery for the long term?? or doesnt it??

I need to get some milk too.....

any advice (about the car, not the milk),,, ? thanks

espresso

It's normal for the ignition and oil lights to come on along with various others. What happens if you put the headlights on?

Wig

When you turn the key, does the engine make a sound like it is trying to start?

If yes - then it is not your battery
If no - there is no sound at all from the engine or not very much sound, then it is your battery.

You can do a couple of things,

Buy a new battery install it yourself.
Buy a battery charger, and charge your existing battery.

In both cases you need to check if your alternator is still putting out a charging current, for this you will need a voltmeter set to 20V
put voltmeter leads across the battery terminals, red to +positive and black to -Negative
check voltage with engine off should be about 11V
Start engine check voltage again should move up to 13 or 14V

Premier_2

Call your breakdown service.

What, you don't have any? And from someone that declares themself "not car savvy".
Even many of the most "car savvy" people purchase breakdown cover. For as little as £37 per year for rescue, recovery & at home service, there really is no excuse.

puddy

yes, it is trying to start, its doing that sound like its just about to turn over but does it over and over again but doesnt turn over (im not even sure that is the right terminology)

puddy

Premier wrote: »

Call your breakdown service.

What, you don't have any? And from someone that declares themself "not car savvy".
Even many of the most "car savvy" people purchase breakdown cover. For as little as £37 per year for rescue, recovery & at home service, there really is no excuse.

i dont think i have home start...

McKneff

I got my last cover for £19 from the RAC.

£39 plus £20 back M & S Vouchers.

learn a lesson.

puddy

have just checked it again. if i put the lights on with no key in the ignition they come on ok.
if i put the key and turn it on (no engine) the battery light comes on and stays and a yellow thing below it. the oil stayed on for a while too.

then turn the ignition on (starting the engine), engin doesnt start, chugs and chugs, and the battery and yellow sign stay on.

so possibly not the battery??

oil???

puddy

how the hell do you get that so cheap???

i have the AA and it was 103pa. ( have called them out twice for flat tyres)

how come only 19 quid??

espresso

jenner wrote: »

how the hell do you get that so cheap???

i have the AA and it was 103pa. ( have called them out twice for flat tyres)

how come only 19 quid??

They charge idiots extra!

:rotfl:

BeenieCat

If you've got AA cover why have you rang mobile mechanics? The AA will come and jump start you, driving the car for about 30 mins should recharge the battery enough to start again in the morning, provided it's not the alternator or faulty battery.