Car back from repair but now won't start

nessa1422

I got my car back on Friday after being repaired. Third party backed into me so no fault on my part.
The car was left with my husband - not a driver - as I was out all day and had told the repairers I would not be available.
Apparently the delivery man told my husband that they had needed to jump start the car to get it on the trailer. Hubby then sat in the car with the engine running for about 30 minutes. Now the car won't start - just a click when I turn the key.
I have spoken to the Insurers and replacement car company but haven't heard anything yet.
Would anyone know if the repairers would be liable or is it just my hard luck that the car hasn't been driven for 2 weeks. Also, it was idle for 2/3 weeks last year when I was unable to drive following surgery and I have never had any mechanical trouble before.
Just after some advise really. Thanks.

Aylesbury_Duck

Have you got home start cover with anyone?

It could be something related to the work or it might just be a coincidence and the battery was on its way out anyway. Get the battery health checked and if it's ok, work from there.

Many years ago I had something similar after someone drove into the back of me, and the cause was a misaligned set of contacts on the boot that meant that the boot's internal light was always on and draining the battery whilst it was in the garage. The garage jump-started the car to get it back to me but the battery wasn't charged properly.

Farway

nessa1422 wrote: »

Now the car won't start - just a click when I turn the key.

That sounds classic flat battery, How old is the battery / car?

As AD says, check battery first, is there anyone around who could jump start the car, got a set of jump leads?

If you do get it going and battery is suspect due to age etc, arrange a replacement fitting at somewhere like Halfords and get a new one, the old one will not "get better" and with winter on the way you'll need a good batery

Ebe_Scrooge

I have to agree with the above - get the battery checked. If the battery is getting towards the end of its life anyway, it doesn't take much to drain what little power is left in it. Add to that the additional hammering that lots of cold winter starts give it, and it's not unusual for it to finally give up the ghost. Sitting with the engine idling will only put a tiny amount of charge back into a dead battery; it really wants a good 20-minute run on the motorway - or properly charging with a charger.

nessa1422

That's helpful, thank you all. Car is 2009 and never let me down so I guess just bad luck and a dead battery.
I do have home start breakdown and a neighbour with jump leads so will try and get it going.
Thanks again.

AdrianC

If the battery is the original, then it's no surprise that being allowed to go flat has killed it - especially given the change in the weather.

hareng

nessa1422 wrote: »

I do have home start breakdown and a neighbour with jump leads so will try and get it going.

Quite common for batteries to fail in October, its probably the 2nd thats been on usually last 3-5 years tops.
Homestart you will be wanting every time you start the car.

Batteries easy to fit but will have to do in right sequence, ignition on, leave door open on some whilst disconnecting. If dont plug in a remote battery to keep clock settings etc you will lose them. One other thing some cars may need programming like all BMW from 2003.

NeverEnough

hareng wrote: »

One other thing some cars may need programming like all BMW from 2003.

Not quite - my old E53 X5 (2005) and its predecessor from 2003 didn't need coding to the car, but my current e70 X5 (2012) does. So perhaps some models needed coding from 2003, but not X5's.

Farway

nessa1422 wrote: »

That's helpful, thank you all. Car is 2009 and never let me down so I guess just bad luck and a dead battery.
I do have home start breakdown and a neighbour with jump leads so will try and get it going.
Thanks again.

I had homestart, when my battery died, he checked under loadm magi machine in van plus a printout. It was olde batery anyway..
The AA had a charged battery in the van, of course I had to pay for it but he fitted it there & then and kept all the coding etc so nil bother to me


When I later checked price versus the likes of Halfords it was within a tenner and for longer guarantee and zero effort on my part

The_Rainmaker

When I changed my battery it apparently needed coding, didn't bother and all was fine. Specs were like for like though.

greyteam1959

Has the battery been damaged in any way ??
Has the battery been refitted & the terminals not properly tightened up ??
Has the earth strap been removed & not tightened up properly on replacement ??