*Urgent help needed please*Could this just be a flat battery?

Iceweasel

Cheapest place to get a new battery is Eurocarparts - online is cheaper than just walking in. Check where your nearest one is.

You can collect in person (and pay on collection) very soon afterwards.

Alternatively - of course buying from a local small garage will make friends with them and they'll fit it.

GlynD

WantToBeSE: you need to get this battery changed as an immediate priority. It's not holding a charge which means that you;re going to have difficulty starting the car every time you leave it overnight, and it's going to get worse, very rapidly.

My advice would be to phone a FIAT dealer with details of your car. They will tell you exactly what is needed and how much they'll charge for it. Then phone Halfords, then Kwik Fit and get prices. Pick the cheapest of the three quotes and get yourself down to that retailer asap and get that battery changed.

The coldest weather of the year is just around the corner and you don't want to be caught out during that. Mind you, given what you've said, your situation is more urgent. Treat it as urgent and get the piece of mind you need knowing your car will start when you need it to.

I'd forget about ordering online btw.

WantToBeSE

Thanks guys.
Work is only a 10 minute drive away, and there is no alternative way. All my friends will be at work, and the bus service is not possible to use with the amount of stuff i have to cart along with me (hoover etc, i am a cleaner).

I dont have anything like halfords or kwik fit near where i live (it's rural) so i will pop along to the nearest garage in the morning.

All i can do is cross my fingers that it starts in the morning, and go and buy a new battery after work.
Luckily the weather hasnt been too cold at all (no frost or anything so far)...all i can do is cross my fingers for tomorrow, as i have to drive to get to the nearest garage...

spacey2012

Well I would set your alarm 1 hour early and get some Taxi firm numbers.
You may be lucky, but normally, once they go, they get worse very quickly.

The breakdown company should have made it clear, this was your one chance to drive to halfords or similar and buy a battery, they usually wont come out again for the same thing.

goonarmy

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks guys.
Work is only a 10 minute drive away, and there is no alternative way. All my friends will be at work, and the bus service is not possible to use with the amount of stuff i have to cart along with me (hoover etc, i am a cleaner).

I dont have anything like halfords or kwik fit near where i live (it's rural) so i will pop along to the nearest garage in the morning.

All i can do is cross my fingers that it starts in the morning, and go and buy a new battery after work.
Luckily the weather hasnt been too cold at all (no frost or anything so far)...all i can do is cross my fingers for tomorrow, as i have to drive to get to the nearest garage...

Can you park it on a hill so you can bump start it? It aint an auto is it?

WantToBeSE

No hills near here...no, not an auto.

I'll set the alarm early tomorrow and have taxi numbers at the ready

GwylimT

When they started your car you should have taken it for a drive and then driven to a garage, I'm sorry to say but your car will not be starting in the morning. I also doubt your recovery will come out as often they don't come out to the same problem when the owner has chosen not to fix said problem.

If you want any chance of it starting tomorrow you need to go out in your car a few times tonight for at least half an hour, with radio etc turned off. It would be beneficial to book a taxi tonight so you can pick up a battery from a garage near by, if possible a battery/tyre/MOT place as they are most likely to have the battery you need in stock.

Strider590

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks guys.
Work is only a 10 minute drive away, and there is no alternative way.

10mins ain't gonna be enough to recharge the power you use starting the car (which is probably why it's only lasted 3 years). IF it starts tomorrow, it sure as hell won't start when your shift ends

WantToBeSE

Thanks everyone.

I will go out and start it (if it'll start!) for half an hour a few times tonight.
Is there anything else i can do to increase the chance of it starting tomorrow morning?


I will leave for work early (again, IF the car starts) and go to the garage first. I don't have to be in work until 9.30 and the garage opens at 8.30am

Barneysmom

A few short trips is no good, you need a good long run, up a dual carriageway or a motorway junction.
Otherwise you're half-charging it then draining it by starting it up again.
Try not to panic, it'll either start or it won't, you'll have to use a taxi if it doesn't. It's a shame you couldn't have bought one today, if you have to fork out for taxis it's adding to the bill.
You're probably just as well getting them to fit it otherwise you'll have to buy a spanner too.
And make sure you've got your radio code because you'll need to reset it after.