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Flat battery - urgent advice needed!!!

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I've managed to let the battery on my rav4 go flat. Tried a jumpstart off someone else car but all I got as a rapid clicking noise when I turned on the ignition. Is the battery beyond help now?

Any advice appreciated as I need the car to get my kid to school on monday?

Thanks
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Comments

  • Mumstheword
    Mumstheword Posts: 3,766 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Rapid clicking happens when my car battery is flat - it's normal

    I had never heard that until about 2 years ago when it happened in a friend's car. My previous cars just did....nothing!!



    Try leaving the other car running longer (with the jump leads on) then having a go?? (out of my depth now lol)
    *** Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly ***

    If I don't reply to you, I haven't looked back at the thread.....PM me :)
  • Midmac
    Midmac Posts: 1,070 Forumite
    If its a non sealed battery top it up with de-ionized water. In emergencys i belive you can even use rain water as it doesnt have calcium in it.
    :j Midmac Aka Crazy baby :j
  • pianeet
    pianeet Posts: 518 Forumite
    when you jump start it leave the leads on for a little while,with the other engine running ,it maybe the other battery is not powerful enough for your car but give it ten minutes and it should start
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • RHYSDAD
    RHYSDAD Posts: 2,346 Forumite
    Have you tried bump-starting it? (roll along the road in 2nd gear with clutch depressed, ignition on and then releasing clutch to 'bump start' the car)

    If this gets the car started you then need to check that the battery light on the dash display goes out. This would mean that the alternator is charging the battery and should, in theory, mean that battery is ok but will need a good run to re-charge some life into it. Normally, at least a 30 mile journey to replace some of what charge has been lost.
    It's worth remebering that repeated short car journeys will gradually erode the battery's efficiency and causes increased wear to the engine as well.
    A normal engine requires at least a 10 min journey to get it running at correct temperature to ensure internal component clearances are reached!!

    Hope this helps!:confused:
    "Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend's forehead."

    Chinese Proverb


  • Thanks for all the advice - will check the battery tomorrow and see if I can find someone to connect up to for ten minutes or so and see what happens...
  • Mumstheword
    Mumstheword Posts: 3,766 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Bet it wont even take that long. Min was so flat as a pancake this afternoon. We ran the other car for about 1 minute and it started fine, so we went out for a drive to get it going properly.

    I've warned DH that he needs to tak my car to work (27 miles away) a few times every month, as I do 2 trips a day to school, less than a mile away. (disability prevents me walking, before anyone jumps on that). Especially in winter, when we have the heat, lights, radio draining the battery. Every school holiday, it's flat by the end of the week....I ought to learn and get DH to use it more often!! lol !!
    *** Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly ***

    If I don't reply to you, I haven't looked back at the thread.....PM me :)
  • david29dpo
    david29dpo Posts: 3,906 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    when jump starting, rev up the donor car while trying to start yours.
  • N9eav
    N9eav Posts: 4,742 Forumite
    Get a larger donor car. Make sure the jump cables are decent too. Some of these cheap ones won't carry the amps needed to start a large motor and will actually start to smoke.
    NO to pasty tax We won!!!! Just shows that people power works! Don't be apathetic to your cause!
  • Bossyboots
    Bossyboots Posts: 6,757 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    We have a battery charger we bought from Halfords that you plug into the domestic supply. It has its own leads to connect to a car battery so you connect it up like jump leads, plug in using a socket indoors and leave it to charge. We only use this for emergencies and for jump starting the car if only one of us is home and the neighbours aren't around but it has got us out of a pickle more than once.
  • ManAtHome
    ManAtHome Posts: 8,512 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    If the battery is over 5 years old, may be a gonner.
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