Urgh, car battery gone and just out of policy!

[Deleted User]

colin79666 wrote: »

If the car has been sitting for weeks without being started then the battery is probably just flat.

I'd go an buy a charger and give that a go. Ideally not a really cheap one but rather one that will measure the stage the battery is add and charge appropriately. Something like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Temperature-Compensation/dp/B00FC42HAA
It really is idiot proof to connect up (it will sense if you do it the wrong way around for example) and kinder on the electronics than jump starting.

Yes, car batteries dont like sitting around doing nothing.A £10 battery charger and a trickle charge overnight would sort it. Breakdown companies are always looking to flog a new battery to the point of fraud !.

Mankysteve

Get a new battery and fit it yourself.

Strider590

AdrianC wrote: »

OK, so the battery doesn't just need to be recharged, assuming nobody's done something silly like leave the lights on...

The OP didn't state the type of driving......... On my way home I often see one old dear get in her car, drive 200yrds down the road, stop and go into a friend/relatives house, i've also seen her drive from that house back 200yrds to her own.

PasturesNew

People are saying "change it yourself".

In all honesty, I could say, hand on heart, that if somebody's battery needs replacing I could stand beside them and tell them exactly what to do .... including which terminal to disconnect first, watch that wire doesn't touch the bodywork .... now is it the right way round .... OK, tighten that.

Actually DOING it myself would be beyond me due to anxiety issues around touching the battery/wire and knowing there was acid in the box and worrying when I went round corners that I might not have fitted it onto the plate tight enough etc.

It's not always a simple thing for people to just do stuff themselves. Some of us are little worry heads

Crabman

PasturesNew wrote: »

People are saying "change it yourself".

In all honesty, I could say, hand on heart, that if somebody's battery needs replacing I could stand beside them and tell them exactly what to do .... including which terminal to disconnect first, watch that wire doesn't touch the bodywork .... now is it the right way round .... OK, tighten that.

Actually DOING it myself would be beyond me due to anxiety issues around touching the battery/wire and knowing there was acid in the box and worrying when I went round corners that I might not have fitted it onto the plate tight enough etc.

It's not always a simple thing for people to just do stuff themselves. Some of us are little worry heads

Completely understandable but a local garage would be happy to fit your battery for you for a small charge or if you feel like fitting it, they could simply check it's secure.