Flat battery or something more si

[bouffy]

..nister?!

Griff is showing zero charge when I try to start her up. Everything is dead as a dodo, apart from the clock which is still ticking...

I had a new battery about 3/4 months ago, as i had the same problem - Offords said the battery was knackered, and of course the car has run like a dream ever since. As I haven't driven her for 10 days or so, is it likely that the battery has just run flat or should I be worried about anything else? Last time the battery was dead, we checked the alternator and it was fine, so unlikely to be that.

Have heard about these 'drip-feed-charger-things' that plug into the cigarette lighter - how do these work, where can you get them, and are they worth having? (think I know the answer the that last one)

Soooooo many questions, any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks chaps / ladies!

Guy



>>> Edited by bouffy on Monday 6th October 09:48

[KeithS]

I use an Optimate to keep the battery charge topped up, so when you go to start the car you don't put too much stress on an otherwise poorly charged battery.

If you've had the alarm on for 10 days without using the car, then it has probably drained the battery by now.

Look here - www.accumate.co.uk/it010003.html

[KieranH]

I bought one of those solar chargers from Maplins www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=031006100621638&moduleno=33317&Products=2. You can plug this in the cigarette lighter. Only problem I had was that there is a courtesy light in the lighter which comes on when you plug something in, so I ended up connecting it straight to the battery instead, works a treat though!!!!

[simpo two]

I have one of these - works well:

www.calamander.co.uk/batteryconditioners/airflow.htm

NB On mine the light round the cig socket only comes on with sidelights, so using it for connecting the above is fine.

[Guillotine]

'bout right.

if your battery was changed recently, an optimate will recover this over 3 days or so. mine went totally flat about 5 times before i bought one. since then it starts first time every time.

optimates are "inteligent" and have many states of charge and are designed to recover batteries as well as maintain them.

peninsula have them, i'm sure they can post one

cheers

[bouffy]

thanks men! Will look at all the options listed above, but looks certain that I will be getting one of these puppies sooner rather than later!

Guy

[bouffy]

well team, I took your advice and invested in an accumate charger, from Leven. As usual with them, it arrived the next day!

I plugged it in on saturday, and the battery was completely flat - the clock had stopped ticking, and it wouldn't jump start off my brother's car. However, he phoned me last night, saying,

"Somebody here wants to talk to you", before holding the phone againts the burbling exhaust of m'Griff. What a lovely sound. It was burbling away as if nothing had happened.

I am (again) the happiest man in the world. Bring on the weekend! It's not going to rain / snow is it??

Bouffy

[mrmaggit]

Rain/Snow

Yes/Yes.

Never mind.

[Ballistic Banana]

bouffy said:

However, he phoned me last night, saying, "Somebody here wants to talk to you", before holding the phone againts the burbling exhaust of m'Griff. What a lovely sound. It was burbling away as if nothing had happened. Bouffy

nicely put, sounds like love again

BB