possible battery problems

worried_jim

My astra td wouldn't start this eve. I am now running 100% dino and have been for a week and it is 14c outside.
I have been driving around for the last 3 hours stop starting whilst making deliveries and I have just had flat battery syndrome. Car turned over and wouldn't start and then the battery was worn out after a few cranks. Fortunately a kind passer by was on hand and I had jumped leads and it fired up straight away.
I left it running for 5mins and then drove home, parked up, killed the engine and then restarted with now probs.
It has been lashing down here this eve and I've had the heated rear window on, blower on full and cd player blasting out Def Leppard cos I'm stuck in the 80's.
If I order a curry in an hour will my car start? Will it start tomorrow morning to drive me to Halfords, do I need a replacement? what if I charge it up tomorrow?
Any ideas, suggestions or is it time to part with some cash?

simon1966

Sorry but if your car is not starting and letting you down, just buy a new battery.
I watch my neighbour jump start his car every day for a month now!
Forget Halfords unless you have about £85+ to spare.

A trip to a local motor factors shop, plenty around in yellow pages etc, will cost you about £35 for a new battery.
Best to change battery every 3 years.

Chippy_Minton_2

worried_jim wrote: »

If I order a curry in an hour will my car start?

What's a curry got to do with it?

worried_jim wrote: »

Will it start tomorrow morning to drive me to Halfords, do I need a replacement?

The car will never drive itself, you have to drive it.

worried_jim wrote: »

what if I charge it up tomorrow?

What the car or the batttery?

Photo_Stylus

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

What's a curry got to do with it?

Maybe it will warm the battery enough to start next time?

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

The car will never drive itself, you have to drive it.

I thought that was why certain people buy auto's with cruise control.

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

What the car or the batttery?

The toilet from the mutton vindaloo?



Sorry.

Chippy_Minton_2

Nice one.;)


:beer:

molerat

Stop start driving like that with all the extras running will take a lot out of the battery. It may have been enough to drain it. If you go down to Halfords in the morning (or any other motor factor) they will be able to put the Bosch tester on and check out the battery and charging system.

Wig

Buy a battery charger (see another recent thread on battery problems - look in my post history "I think I have a flat battery" thread) disconnect the battery from car and charge it overnight.

Check your alternator is charging the battery healthily (see previous thread) put on the rear heater and full beam lights when you check the alternator - should stay the same.

I reckon if you charge your battery on 2amp trickle for 12 hours overnight your battery will probably be as good as new, and you won't have any trouble assuming your alternator checks out ok.

Also check your water/acid levels in the battery chambers, if you can get access top up if necessary.

Forget the curry, and have some fruit or something from the fridge.

shown73

With respect, disconnecting the battery nowadays can cause a lot of problems. Radio code being one.

Wig

I was going to suggest he made a note of his radio code, but in the end I couldn't be bothered.
Plus if he read the other thread as directed, I mentioned the radio code in that post.
He'd be disconnecting his battery anyway if he bought a new one.

I'd rather disconnect a battery for charging because to leave it connected is more likely IMHO to cause damage than disconnecting it. Both are probably unlikely to cause damage. But I err on the safe side.

goldspanners

starting up a diesel takes a lot out of a battery, they do have larger capacity batteries to deal with this but if your starting and stopping all the time the battery is never getting a good full charge. just leave it running, after all your fuel is costing you practically nothing. and all your electric bits on won't help.
i think you might get away with giving it a good run to charge it up without all the heated windows and full blast blower (keep the def leppard though,thats a must) on.

worst comes to worst, get to a motor factors, they will be cheaper than halfords, unless you have access to a halfords trade card that is.

worried_jim

shown73 wrote: »

With respect, disconnecting the battery nowadays can cause a lot of problems. Radio code being one.

I've already got the code written in the manual- I've learnt that lesson the hard way !

Been out to the garage and the take away and it started no problem at all. I have a trickle charger so may give it a boost later.

Pour some sugar on..........