Help flat battery

[andy francis]

Can anybody help? Tried to start my v8 vantage as per hand book with jump leads, with no success ,now i have no power at all all systems are dead. Have checked f81 ignition fuse and battery off fuse all ok any body any ideas thanks in advance. and francis

[Neil1300R]

When you tried jump starting it what happened - was there any power to any systems or did it make no difference?
Were the jump leads proerly connected - did you get any chage to the Vantage battery? Sorry if you did, just trying to work out whats wrong
Have you tried charging the battery?
Had it on other vehicles where jumping doesn't work as battery is totally discharged and needs an overnight charge to get it to a stage where it will hold a charge
Good Luck

[andy francis]

Fitted jump leads as engine failed to start, all dash lights were working,fitted leads as per handbook tried to start but just made same clicking noise, removed leads as instructed went to try key again and nothing no clock , dash lights everything is dead.Also tried reset button behind seat checked fuses, still nothing, rang aston martin helpline they had no info available for the vantage.

[Murph7355]

Was the donor car running when you tried to start the Aston? Perhaps stating the obvious, but it needs to be (IME with other cars).

Could be your battery's too flat though.

[andy francis]

Prior to jump starting the car the battery had life in it just not quite enough to turn the engine.

[GlynMo]

I've had this problem. You need an 8-10 hour charge with a powerful charger as the battery has fully discharged. If you're unlucky, the battery might need to be replaced as they don't like to be completely discharged but I was fortunate as a full charge sorted the problem (and using a trickle charger prevented it from happening again). However, a jump start off a running vehicle should still start your car.

Edited by GlynMo on Sunday 27th December 08:36

[rick-derby-]

Hi andy, the battery disconnect system does not disconnect everything so if there is any life in the battery then you would still get ignition lights albeit with loads of warnings,

To check that everything else is okay, firstly reconnect the jump leads as before obviously red lead to positive on the donor car and the jump point on your car with the black going to suitable earths, start he donor vehicle and just let it sit like this for 5 to 10 minutes, (unless you are doing this in an enclosed space as remember the fumes from running cars can be deadly,

next try the ignition you should now have the it all lit up, if this is all ok now, turn ignition off and press the reconnect switch behind the drivers seat for a few seconds, you can now try to start the car, if it still just clicks just leave for longer with donor vehicle connected then try again,

once the car has been started do not just take it out for a drive as if the car stalls or you put on heater etc you could end up stuck at the side of the road, just let her tickover a while,

alternatively access the battery compartment behind the drivers seat you will need to remove the top panel and hen you can recharge the battery directly with a trickle charger it will need between 10 to 12 hours minimum before i would attempt to start,

Now the bad news many batteries do not recover after going completely flat and even if recharged there life can be severely reduced, and if inadvertently if the leads have been incorrectly connected then damage to earth cables or possibly worse,

I am working today so if you need to clarify any points you will find my contact info in my profile, from experience pretty sure you will have your car up and running shortly,

[andy francis]

Thanks rick, done as you said all is well battery has survived, also bought trickle charger from machine mart £11.50 just needed to fit cig lighter fitting from halfords £2.50 now installed. Thanks again rick,top man.

[rick-derby-]

andy glad you have got it all sorted, please post details of charger and adapter as this will be of benefit to others, plus i will add a complete guide as soon as time permits to issues of this nature,

[andy francis]

The 12v trickle charger i bought is the clarke atc 12v trickle charger. The charging output is 0.5 amps at 12v dc it has fully protected polarity system you just need to buy cig lighter plug from halfords £2.50 and connect it, it comes with info booklet v good value at £11.48 inc vat. Bought mine from machine mart, they also have an online shop regards Andy francis

[pilbeam_mp62]

Hello,

I have had a couple of Astons over the years (old style V8 and a DB6) so that's why I like to read your forum, and I hope you don't mind me contributing.

IMO this is the minimum you need if you have a nice car like an Aston - in my experience, if you buy CHEAP, you buy TWICE.

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-xs3600.php

I use this one on my Ultima - never any issues with the battery.

Regards

[RichB]

Yes the CTEK kit is well regarded as is the Accumate stuff, I have three of these attached to my classics and they work perfectly...

http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm

[Murph7355]

Another Accumate fan here.

Ctek are the ones that get the Aston stickers on when you pay 90 quid for the "factory" one.

Ctek "raw" are about half that.

Accumate about 75% that price.

They all do the same job IME.