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Flat Battery

AndyCr15

AndyCr15

AndyCr15

Soldato
Joined
28 Apr 2011
Posts
16,274
Location
Barnet, London
I knew I would... I left my Dashcam plugged in, recording for a few days and now the car battery is flat.

I recall reading on here someone that had a lot of issues once they jump started their car, maybe ECU problems?

I'm in no hurry to use the car, I have my bike, so I'm wondering about ordering a battery charger online.

I don't know if it makes a difference but it's a 2011 Ford Mustang GT. My questions are -

Is it safe to simply jump start?

Is it best to remove the battery and charge it? Will I cause other problems doing so?

Is it safe to connect the charger to the battery in the car?

Any other comments/advice welcome.

Thanks.
 
I assume this is safe for all cars.. Get a good set of jump leads.



On your car, turn off all equipment and set the car to off position (or remove key)
On donor car, connect red jump lead from donor positive battery terminal to your positive battery terminal.
Connect black from donor negative battery terminal to your ENGINE BLOCK.

Start donor car, leave it running for a minute or two.

Now start your car, it should turn over.

Carefully remove the jump lead whilst the car is running. (don't touch the ends, watch out for belts spinning in the engine bay)


I have these, nice and long, good thick cables.
Clarke CJL41D


Although you need another car to do it, I find it more practical/useful than a mains powered charger.
 
Last edited:
AndyCr15 said:
Is it safe to simply jump start? Only if its a manual.

Is it best to remove the battery and charge it? Will I cause other problems doing so? Yes; no it wont.

Is it safe to connect the charger to the battery in the car? Try not too.

Any other comments/advice welcome.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
Got to admit in the past ive just connected my charger to the battery whilst its still connected to the car and never had a problem, but i have heard stories of some chargers and jump starting for that matter spiking the ecu and frying it so probably wise to remove it from the car.

If you remove the battery the chances are you will need to re-enter your radio code (depending on audio set up) and could have to reset certain function (i.e. on older vauxhalls the one touch windows usually need be reset.)
 
Thanks guys, some great info.

Someone else has just told me my insurance will send out recovery for free? Didn't know that one. Will have to check my insurance details I guess.
 
I did wonder about that and might still. Chances are (hopefully) I'll only need to use it once though, so quite expensive.

Still, not a bad thing to have hanging round your garage I guess. If I did do it again, it's there I suppose.
 
Just get the AA/RAC to come out and get the battery changed. In the past I have jump started cars and never had a problem, but again they were manual cars.
 
I do have a decent, 50m long slope from the garages, I have wondered about just bumping it.

I only have roadside with the AA.
 
Some owners' manuals say switch off the host car after 2 minutes and only then try and start the parasite car. Apparently the alternator of the host car can over-voltage when the other alternator comes online.
 
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