UKC

So the cold is well and truley screwing my car. The battery is dead again. I'm intending on calling out the AA when I get back from work to start it for me. My question is, if they start it tonight and I let it runn for a little while will it work tomorrow? I left it for 48 hours over the weekend which is why it's currently refusing the work

In reply to Zygoticgema: You might need a new battery, or at least a long run, and probably get your alternator checked.

In reply to Zygoticgema:

Halfords and Maplins have those emergency start batteries ofr sale from about £40 so you can jump start your own car, useful if you must get going and can stick it on charge at work and carry in the boot. For larger engines they are about £70.

In reply to sutty: EEK I can't afford that! Curses! So if the battery completely screwed then? Even recharging it won't fix it?

<hangs head in shame for being such a girl about this>

In reply to Zygoticgema: get the garage or AA to check it first, battery might be OK. Could be alternator (as said above), you don't want spend twice to fix one problem.

The battery will take longer to charge if you have lights, rear demist, heaters etc etc whilst driving it, so it might depend if you have been doing lots of short journeys.

In reply to Zygoticgema: If it loses its charge after 48hrs, even after being fully recharged, then either the battery is failing, or the alternator is not working properly. The AA man should be able to tell you if the alternator is working or not. If it is, then it's probably time to replace the battery

In reply to Zygoticgema: if the battery has gone completely flat, it is likely you'll need a new one i'm afraid.

In reply to Zygoticgema:

It may be that the battery is just discarged, if you do a lot of short runs which don't get to recharge it.

It may be that the battery is knackered.

It may be the alternator is knackered.

It may be (though unlikely) the battery is too small and not up to the job of starting in cold weather.

The AA man will be able to tell you - you're paying for his service, so you might as well ask him. He will have a tool for testing the battery.

In reply to Jack B: Thanks everyone! Looks as if the AA man is coming out tonight!

In reply to Jack B:

First sentence is most likely.

Short runs in winter with all electrics on combined with lower output due to cold temps similar to torch batteries.

If car is in the drive, maybe put battery on trickle charge overnight to get its best out of it.

Forget about having the radio on if only doing short journeys, you don't need it.

A new battery will be more than the emergency one anyway, if it is needed, and will still go flat on short runs. One good thing about cold snaps is the school run can be brought to a halt, and they have to walk.

In reply to Zygoticgema:

If you stated to have this problem in the cold weather, then the chances are your batter is not up to the job and need replacing. How old is it? You can expect maybe 3 - 5 years from a decent battery, less if it was a cheap one or hasn't been looked after well.

In reply to Zygoticgema:


I could do with jump starting in the mornings at the moment...

...and yes that could be taken in more than one way.

In reply to Tiberius: surprised batteries are only meant to last such a short time. My last car had one battery for the 13 years it ran. Current car still on original battery (6 years old)

In reply to Zygoticgema:

This is a big file but it is the real deal. All the quality info about car batteries is in it.
http://www.batterymasters.co.uk/ProductDocs/CARYUAF075PW212-TECH.pdf

Batteries come with warranties of 3 or 4 years these days. If it has an relatively easy life then a typical lifetime is twice that . The more often you drain it by leaving the light on, or try to charge it when it's -2C, or overcharge it, the shorter its life will be.

Don't be at all surprised if your 4 or 7 year old battery dies in these conditions. The cold is good at killing batteries. A good condition battery can be left with a good charge for a month in good environmental conditions and still start your car easily. In the cold, things are not so good. The battery has a higher load to start the engine, it's below its ideal operating temperature and then it is charged in low temperatures.

If it's below 3C then you should take the battery off the car and charge it somewhere warm. To keep the memories in the car electronics, you can use jump leads from another car or a starter pack. I have used a trickle charger for this for a few minutes while charging a battery but I'm not sure how well that would work for longer periods. Look in the Yuasa guide for charging time and rates. These should be good for any lead-acid technology: try to be good.

If you are replacing a battery then you might be wise to look for a bigger one. I had a 065 (55Ah/480A) in my BMW but now I have fitted a 075 (60Ah 550A) which is the same physical size and has the same fittings. A few cars will have space for a much larger battery but most will be restricted for space and length of cables. You need to be very careful to compare sizes and fittings and get those right. If you live a long way from help, end up jump starting other vehicles regularly or live in a particularly cold place then getting a bigger better battery is really worthwhile. If not a bigger battery then one with a higher specification.

In reply to sutty:

This works. It also warms the battery so when you take it off charge then there's more chance of it starting.

I am likewise not having a good time of it car-wise. Lady Blue's car had £250 of repair last week due to the wiper linkage freezing and burning out the motor, and my car is in the garage for £300 of work now as the window linkage inside the door froze and when I tried to open the window the regulator burst, followed by the window dropping down inside the door.

Am. Fed. Up. With. -9. Temperatures. Now.

They are way too expensive.

In reply to Jack B:


Zygoticgema

in addition to this list and the other good advice above, have you checked for daft things like the courtesy / map light being left on? (Have you switched it on recently whilst in the car?

is there a light in the boot of the car - is this going out as the boot is shut?

In reply to John_Hat:

Linkage to wipers should have thermal cutout. Of course wipers may be frozen to the screen, LIFT THEM OFF TO CLEAN SCREEN then you are in with a chance of them working. Windows, if they are frozen to the rubbers, as soon as you find they do not open switch them to close to save burning things out.

That may have saved you £500 if you had thought things through first befoe assuming things will work normally in these temps.

In reply to interdit:


Next post from Zygoticgema by mobile - Help! how do i open the boot of my car from the inside? :0)

In reply to Paul F:

You've ruined my plan now!

In reply to sutty:

Thank you for the patronising comments Sutty, I suggest you f**k off.

For what its worth the wipers and the window were thoroughly de-iced before use. If you'd actually read what I put rather than firing out half-cocked insults like a patronising t*unt, you'd have noticed that I said that the ********LINKAGES******** <-<-<- were frozen. These are well out of sight and not actually gettable-at, in the case of the wipers its a sealed unit buried beneath the bottom of the windscreen, in the case of the door window its INSIDE THE DOOR.

Or are you suggesting that I dismantle the door, spray everything with de-icer and a hair dryer, put everything together and drive off?
Also, please don't be patronising towards my partner, it tends to get me irritated.

In reply to Zygoticgema: Another quick thought. The AA try and sell you a new battery if yours is shot (Correct me if I am wrong).

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/breakdown_advice/flat_battery_advice.h...

"Batteries are heavy so AA patrols can't carry replacements for every make and model. They do carry a selection of the most popular ones which cover around 70% of cars on the road. "

So price up a battery beforehand to make sure you know what a good price is.

In reply to Zygoticgema:

Anyone trying to get warmth to components of their car may find a hot water bottle useful. Also the durable polythene containers often used for washing liquid or screenwash are larger (up to 5 litre) and hold more heat BUT make sure the top seals securely. Fill with hot water from the tap and put near the component.

Also use these heat sources on top of the dashboard to warm the windscreen while you are having breakfast.

Bits of corrugated cardboard can be used to guide heat to where its needed.

In reply to sutty:

Oh, and while I'm at it, both cars were run for >15 mins to warm them up before driving, and yes, as soon as the window didn't work I stopped trying. Unfortunately it would appear that one try was enough.

Please don't treat me as an idiot. It's not nice, it's not justifiable, and frankly it just makes you come across as a nasty, patronising bit of work. OK, accepted this is UKC, but I'm been on this site a long time and frankly thought better of you than that.

In reply to John_Hat:

Stop being a total prat. I gave general advice for people, not just you.

If you read what I ended with it says MAY have saved you £500, I did note you mentioned the linkages were frozen and the lifting the blades may not have helped.

I mentioned the windows as I did the same, and reversed the switch straight away.

I wasnot being patronising, think you just read things wrong.

In reply to John_Hat: Come on, it hurts that it cost you £500, but I don't think Sutty was having a pop.

It may be selfish of me, but I will now be MUCH more careful when using the window or wipers in cold weather. I hope others learn from your misfortune as well.

In reply to Tobias at Home:
(In reply to Zygoticgema) if the battery has gone completely flat, it is likely you'll need a new one i'm afraid.

Unless you happen to know someone with a good variable voltage power supply, you can re-juvenate a dead battery fairly effectively with a bit of fiddling around with the charger (upping the charging voltage significantly while keeping a careful eye on the current).

YMMV and don't blame me if the battery blows up

In reply to sutty:

"That may have saved YOU £500 if YOU had thought things through first befoe assuming things will work normally in these temps."

Yes, that certainly came across as "general advice for people".

As you have generally come across for the 8-odd years I've used this site as a reasonably helpful human being, and, as I said, I generally (up until a few minutes ago) respected you for that, I'm prepared to accept it as a not brilliantly worded post which I, rather smarting from significant expenditure which we are going to struggle to afford, and (currently) no car, over-reacted to.

However, I think there was fault on both sides but I apologise for my side.

In reply to ebygomm:

Really it depends on what you do with them. In the summer they will be fine, it's just whether they last the winter, it's the cold that kills bateries generally, that and leaving them discharged. If you look after them, keep your car in a garage etc, then you'll get a lot more from them.

Car batteries are require to give out a high current for a short time, it's surprising they last as long as the do really. I have some batteries on my boat that are over 10 years old, but they're never required to do much work and always kept fully charged.

In reply to John_Hat:

Nor me
Olga the Van hates the cold. She takes ages to start at the best of times and she's only just over 3yrs old. Today I've just been towed home by the AA after (I think) coolant in the pipes has frozen. Whatever it is, water temp is reaching max and no heat coming through the air vents. Bit peed off since I asked the garage to check it 2 weeks ago when they were doing other stuff, but it seems they didn't. Of course since, 4 weeks ago, she started fine in -12C so I have no idea. AA mechanic is supposed to be coming here later today. We shall see.

In reply to Paul F:

why does everyone try to get me in the boot of my car!?

In reply to Zygoticgema:

or in a bouldnering mat...

In reply to Zygoticgema:

Because you'll fit?

In reply to Scarab9:

yes why is that!?

In reply to Caralynr: sounds like the thermostat is not opening

In reply to Zygoticgema:

short people can't be trusted and therefore need to be punished or used for our amusement <sneaks up with haul bag>

In reply to Scarab9:

I will punch you in the testicles.

In reply to Caralynr:


Sounds like your water pump my have broken.

In reply to Zygoticgema:

so you carry a ladder everywhere now do you?

In reply to doz generale:

she hasn't punched me yet

General question:

is it better (if no long journeys are planned), to

a) leave the car for a week before long journey is undertaken
b) start it every day or 2 and have a 10min runaround?

And what does count as a long journey anyway?!

In reply to Castleman:
And what does count as a long journey anyway?!

Not sure where I heard it but to recharge the battery after starting takes a journey of circa 8 x miles. This just replaces the juice you have used for the starting phase tho.

In reply to Scarab9:

*YET*

In reply to Niall:

it's inevitable. She's bound to get drunk at some point and lose her limited self control. She just can't handle that Mr Zyg keeps saying my name during sex.

In reply to Scarab9:

That's ALL kinds of wrong dude...

In reply to Zygoticgema: Bloody annoying that women pay the same for breakdown services, but use them loads more and get a quicker service.

A bit like the NHS.

In reply to wayno265: I'll have you know in the 10 years since I passed my test this will be the 2nd time I have called the AA.

In reply to Niall:

He's taken it to a bad place. I will definately punch you in the testicles now.

In reply to wayno265:

A female has just called me to ask about jump starting her car as RAc said earlier they would be there in fouror five hours, but now say could be couple of days.

Make sure you have good quality jump leads in your boot and know how to use them.

BTW, an 8 mile run with most auxilliary electrics off may be needed to bring your car back up to full charge. You MAY get away with a coupleof miles but you can't be sure.

In reply to Zygoticgema:

Not me! Him!

*points*

In reply to Niall:


>Not me! Him!

>*points*

she's a fickle beast! Enjoy your slow death Niall :-p

In reply to Scarab9:

Oi, you two, piss off down the pub for chat and leave this for serious stuff please

In reply to sutty:


yes you're right Sutty, because after the first 15 comments that answered the question the rest of it was so worthwhile and to the point.

In reply to sutty:

Now THAT is the best idea I've heard all day. Mine's a Smithwicks.

In reply to Zygoticgema:

To get some weight over the back wheels for traction ?

<runs and hides>

In reply to Caralynr:

How much anti-freeze was in it and is it less than 2 years old?

In reply to Jim Fraser:

It's sorted now
Fan heater under the front, then siphoned off the coolant from the tank (I knew O2 tubing had its uses), and added in antifreeze. Seemed to cure it. AA mechanic rocked up at about 8pm (so nearly 10hrs after breakdown) to have a look and broadly concurred with what I'd done, then revved the engine for 20mins to get the antifreeze properly circulating. So pretty much what I'd done, but I was hoping he'd have a gizmo to measure if I'd got a decent mix in, but he didn't. Never mind.

It's 3yrs old, and I have no idea re antifreeze levels before - the stuff I siphoned off was sort of orange tinged water, so I'd guess not much.

In reply to Caralynr:

You may have to replace the lot as it's not a good idea to mix antifreeze types.

red/pink (or may appear orange if old) Organic Acid Technology

blue/green etc - Glycol Ethelene

The two do not mix, they react with each other and turn into a brown sludge that blocks the system.

In reply to Paul F:

It's OK, both were orange
I would have drained the whole system but couldn't see where to do it. I need a Haynes manual for the van, I think. Anyway, seems fine for now, thanks

In reply to Caralynr:

You really are a pathetic girly-girl aren't you?

In reply to shingsowa:

Naturally
The antifreeze WAS pink (well, orangey pink!)

In reply to Caralynr:

That'll be the one for girl's vans.

In reply to Jim Fraser:

Yep, it's unclefreeze for boy's vans!