Had to happen sometime...
Discussion
So, here I am a novice TVR Tuscan owner and total non-mechanic. I've gone and left my Tuscan in a lock-up garage for 2 weeks whilst it was raining outside. Today I go to give it a spin so that the battery doesn't die - to find I'm too late and it's dead.
There was enough charge to open the door and get in, but not to turn the engine over. Tried getting a mate to give it a push, but no joy and now it's not got enough juice to even close the window when the door is shut. LCD suggests 8.1V remaining...
So... I was going to go to it tomorrow with a trolley jack, take the wheel off and get some jump leads onto the battery. So here's the question: Is there anything I should know before I set about this? Is the battery easily accessible once the wheel is off? are the jacking points obvious when I put a jack under it? Clearly, this is all new to me and any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill.
There was enough charge to open the door and get in, but not to turn the engine over. Tried getting a mate to give it a push, but no joy and now it's not got enough juice to even close the window when the door is shut. LCD suggests 8.1V remaining...
So... I was going to go to it tomorrow with a trolley jack, take the wheel off and get some jump leads onto the battery. So here's the question: Is there anything I should know before I set about this? Is the battery easily accessible once the wheel is off? are the jacking points obvious when I put a jack under it? Clearly, this is all new to me and any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill.
bhippy said:
So, here I am a novice TVR Tuscan owner and total non-mechanic. I've gone and left my Tuscan in a lock-up garage for 2 weeks whilst it was raining outside. Today I go to give it a spin so that the battery doesn't die - to find I'm too late and it's dead.
There was enough charge to open the door and get in, but not to turn the engine over. Tried getting a mate to give it a push, but no joy and now it's not got enough juice to even close the window when the door is shut. LCD suggests 8.1V remaining...
So... I was going to go to it tomorrow with a trolley jack, take the wheel off and get some jump leads onto the battery. So here's the question: Is there anything I should know before I set about this? Is the battery easily accessible once the wheel is off? are the jacking points obvious when I put a jack under it? Clearly, this is all new to me and any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill.
I'm new to it as well but as far as I know you don't need to jack the car up to recharge the battery, only to replace it - there's an access point on the underneath the car for the purposes of recharging or jump starting - its on the passenger side near the front wheel and allows for an Anderson connector only - not the usual lobster claw grips.There was enough charge to open the door and get in, but not to turn the engine over. Tried getting a mate to give it a push, but no joy and now it's not got enough juice to even close the window when the door is shut. LCD suggests 8.1V remaining...
So... I was going to go to it tomorrow with a trolley jack, take the wheel off and get some jump leads onto the battery. So here's the question: Is there anything I should know before I set about this? Is the battery easily accessible once the wheel is off? are the jacking points obvious when I put a jack under it? Clearly, this is all new to me and any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill.
If I recall correctly you simply pull back the rubber cover and plug in your Anderson connector which you'll have connected to a battery charger at the other end.
^^^^ exactly what he said. It is a good idea to check this Anderson connector from time to time since corrosion may lead to a short cut there and in the worst case ending up your lovely Tuscan in ashes.
Look here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Look here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
ther's no need to jack the car up. the car has a anderson connection fitted underneath of the car on nearside, about 8inches from the front wheel arch. you wiil need a [male end] connection of jump leads. one's you get the car started, keep the donner car running for a about 10minuts with jump leads in.
I have one of these (no power in the compound I keep the car in)
http://www.maplin.co.uk/3-in-1-portable-jumpstarte...
Cranks the car from utterly flat, no problem. I'd recommend just in case you found yourself in the same situation again!
http://www.maplin.co.uk/3-in-1-portable-jumpstarte...
Cranks the car from utterly flat, no problem. I'd recommend just in case you found yourself in the same situation again!
Chap on here was talking about a product called Battery Brain recently. It isolates the battery completely and reconnects with a remote control when you want to use the car. Batteries can keep their charge for months when they are not connected to anything.
I am lucky to have power in my garage but I would certainly be looking at one of these if I didn't.
I am lucky to have power in my garage but I would certainly be looking at one of these if I didn't.
I've praised the Battery Brain a few times on here.
I had one fitted to my first Tuscan.
It was located behind the carpet in the passenger footwell.
I used to leave her in an airport car park for 3 or 4 weeks at a time and always had a flat battery when I got back.
Drove me crazy and the car park assist people got fed up of me after a year or so.
The Brain was great. Used to lock the car as normal and then activate the Brain with the remote.
This isolated the battery so absolutely no drain from alarm etc.
When I would return, reactivated the Brain and then unlocked the car as normal.
Worked a treat.
Keep meaning to fit one to my current Tuscan as the battery only seems to last about three weeks and I'm normally away for 4.
Just invested in one of those Aldi chargers and very pleased with it.
As pointed out, you dont need to remove the wheel or jack up, just turn to full lock to create the space.
I had one fitted to my first Tuscan.
It was located behind the carpet in the passenger footwell.
I used to leave her in an airport car park for 3 or 4 weeks at a time and always had a flat battery when I got back.
Drove me crazy and the car park assist people got fed up of me after a year or so.
The Brain was great. Used to lock the car as normal and then activate the Brain with the remote.
This isolated the battery so absolutely no drain from alarm etc.
When I would return, reactivated the Brain and then unlocked the car as normal.
Worked a treat.
Keep meaning to fit one to my current Tuscan as the battery only seems to last about three weeks and I'm normally away for 4.
Just invested in one of those Aldi chargers and very pleased with it.
As pointed out, you dont need to remove the wheel or jack up, just turn to full lock to create the space.
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