Car Battery Flat - options?

Dribbles · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:45

Hi all, some advice needed.

Just went to start my car - 2001 Ford Ka and the battery is dead - the door wasn't shut properly and the light was left on - arrghh!

I was wondering what my options are. I live in a flat and the car is at the other end of the street, so buying a charger and charging it is a no go. Believe it or not but I have no friends with a car in Edinburgh to boost from, so that's a no go too!

What other options do I have - flagging down a Samaritan to boost from?

Excuse my ignorance and thanks for your help

hillbilly2 · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:47

Walking to Halfords and buying a battary?

godinman · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:52

Take the battery out and charge it/get a new battery/get a jump starter thingy box.

OpenToSuggestions · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:55

OP: If you charge it remember that they release hydrogen!! Don't charge it in a small space then use something that could cause a spark.

Lashout_UK · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:55

Buy a booster or jump pack and use that? If there's enough juice to bring on the interior lights still, you could bump it.

TONY · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:58

Get a couple of mates to give you a push and jump start it, it's as simple as that :cool:

Lashout_UK · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:59

Not if the battery's stone dead

Dribbles · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:00

Thanks for all the advice!

The light still comes on - so maybe jumpstarting it is an idea. I kinda wish I didn't live on such a busy road now....

iaind · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:01

Do you not have breakdown cover?

Lashout_UK · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:01

The light still comes on - so maybe jumpstarting it is an idea. I kinda wish I didn't live on such a busy road now....

bumpstarting

You could always do it late at night, or really early - run the car around for about 30 minutes or so and that should give the battery enough charge to allow it to restart next time.

TONY · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:03

Lashout_UK said:
Not if the battery's stone dead

I'm sure you can still jump start a car with a dead battery, I can remember doing it many years ago but cannot be 100% that the battery was stone dead.

Dribbles · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:03

I have breakdown cover - but it's not valid if the car is within 1/4 mile of the house :-(

Adz · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:04

Personally I'd take the battery out and charge it in the house. It saves you having to drive around to recharge the battery after a bump/jump.

iaind · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:05

How far away is it? Can you roll it a bit further?

Might be worth a quick call and explain the situation - they may charge you but it might be cheap. For the sake of a quick call its worth asking

Lashout_UK · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:06

TONY said:
I'm sure you can still jump start a car with a dead battery, I can remember doing it many years ago but cannot be 100% that the battery was stone dead.

'couple of mates to give you a push and jump start' I took as you meaning bump starting

If you meant jump start then you won't need a push, if you meant bump then if the battery's not got enough juice to run the dash or interior lights then there's usually not enough to fire the injectors/coil/fuel pump/ECU (delete as applicable!) so it won't start.

TONY · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:13

Lashout_UK said:
I took as you meaning bump starting

Yeah that's the one I got them mixed up

Dribbles · 3 Oct 2010 at 21:19

Right! Phoned breakdown service up and it turns out I am covered!

Sorry for wasting your time - thanks everyone especially iaind for your common sense and questioning my cover.

I love this forum....