Help needed - dead battery

[Potts]

OK, my own stupid fault - didn't make sure the drivers door was shut when I put her away two weeks ago but my battery's gone all pancake-style on me and I'm trading the thing in on Saturday.

Anyone know how to get the thing back in action? Is it push-start-able? How on earth do I get at the battery?

Any and all help appreciated

Potts

[DonOne]

Did the same thing myself a few months ago, know exactly how you feel.
You can charge battery without removing it from the car, on the nearside just behind the front wheel, close to the edge of the car underneath is a connector which you can connect the charger to. This may have a cover over it with a small chain to stop you losing it. Connect charger to here. Check with dealer first which is positive and negative first 'cos I can't remember.
Good luck.
No Tuscan Tel

[NCE 61]

Connection towards the front of the car is positive

[powerlord]

yup. am doing the same thing as some muppet left the lights on.... ahem.

if you have a pair of jump leads you should be able to clip em onto the 'special socket'. Just be careful they are both on and not touching.

Then attach charger to the jump leads. +ve to the front as has been said (worked out from voltmeter)

Mine was dead as a dead thing. Tried to charge it via my battery conditioner, but I think it must have tried to stuff too many amps down the fag lighter socket and blown the fuse, hence the need to connect to battery direct.

stu

[K.K.]

Can you really connect ordinary battery charger cables to that thingy under the passenger side front wheel? My dealer told me you need special cables with a special plug - hence I have ordered some (MUG!!). Does the AA carry these "Special Connectors"?

Also, do you think if I go on hols for say 14 days will my battery be flat by the time I return? If so, is there any way of stopping this? eg by disconnecting the alarm?

KK

[powerlord]

it's just a female plug. get under there and you can see the terminals.

I found I could get a set of crocodile connectors onto them reasonably easily (and just stuck a bit of insulating tape between them in case one moved, to stop short circuits).

while you're down there I'd suggest giving them a wire brush and covering them on copperease or vaseline, since mine were quite corroded.

stu

[smirnoff]

The plug you need on the end of your jump leads is identical to an electric forklift charging plug (male).

You can pick one up for about a fiver and make your own. (I only realised this after shelling out £50 for the proper ones)

Adrian

[powerlord]

ok. where does one pick up and electric forklift plug ? and I'll get myself one of those.

ta

stu

[mongoose]

powerlord said:

ok. where does one pick up and electric forklift plug ? and I'll get myself one of those. ta stu

Theyre in the 'vehicle wiring products' cataloge,Tel:-01159305454 also they have a website-sorry,dont know the address,but a search under the co. name should easily find it.

[dvpeace]

RAC have the plug to fit on they arrive within the hour.

[TUS 373]

Ask Simon at Leven Technology. He got me a plug and I made up my own lead for my Accumate trickle charger. Who knows, if there is serious demand, they may consider making some proper leads up.

BTW, if you are soldering onto the pins of the forklift plug, they are huge compared to the wiring you will put on them - therefore a puny soldering iron will not do it (too much thermal transference of heat out of the iron = not hitting melting temperature of solder). Therefore the ring of your gas cooker is the recommended way of doing it!

[blackmonday]

I bought the 'special' cable when I bought my Tuscan only to find when I phoned the AA out the first time (of many) that they already have a compatible cable.