Stuck - need a jump start

ash1511

Hi,

My car's battery has given up on me. It just won't start and now I'm stuck at stepaside! Anyone knows of any help nearby? Any idea where can I get a reasonable self jump start kit from?

Thanks!

Atlantic Dawn

Lidl/Aldi do them as weekly specials often but no sign this side of Christmas. If you see a Taxi passing perhaps flag it down and they might have jump leads you could use. Most insurance policies have free breakdown cover included, does yours? If you have a friend who is in the AA if that person comes to your car as a passenger the AA will cover you...http://www.theaa.ie/AA/AA-Membership.aspx

Personal cover - We cover you in any car even if you’re a passenger

If there's a reason your battery is dead like a light has been left on then it is likely just drained, otherwise it might be better to just buy a new battery instead as you will have to buy one either way if it's not holding a charge.

ash1511

Thanks! I checked for the lights and everything but no they weren't left on. I think it's the climate. I did drive a long distance on Sunday. Any idea about the self starter jump kit-which one to buy? Still waiting on a taxi

Atlantic Dawn

Here's one in Argos for €108, but it would be more than likely cheaper to get a new battery. If you did a long distance drive on Sunday the battery should be fully charged so I would say the battery or the alternator are gone. Are you sure it's not the starter motor? It could be that too, are any lights working?

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10152&langId=111&q=STARTER&c_1=1|category_root|Garden+and+DIY|14418702&pp=20&c_2=2|cat_14418702|Car+equipment+and+accessories|14418747

ash1511

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Here's one in Argos for €108, but it would be more than likely cheaper to get a new battery. If you did a long distance drive on Sunday the battery should be fully charged so I would say the battery or the alternator are gone. Are you sure it's not the starter motor? It could be that too, are any lights working?

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10152&langId=111&q=STARTER&c_1=1|category_root|Garden+and+DIY|14418702&pp=20&c_2=2|cat_14418702|Car+equipment+and+accessories|14418747

Donno if it's the starter issue or something else. How can I check that? None of the lights are working.

Atlantic Dawn

None of the lights would normally indicate the battery is fully flat. Do you know how old the battery is? It's recommended to replace them every 5 years or sooner in some cases.

ash1511

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

None of the lights would normally indicate the battery is fully flat. Do you know how old the battery is? It's recommended to replace them every 5 years or sooner in some cases.

Nope have no clue at all. But I know that it has happened to me for the 1st time in 2yrs. I'm assuming it is more than 5 yrs old.

cormie

Maybe try a few local taxi companies or Halo/Uber and you might get somebody close by with jump leads, although I'm not sure you can put special requests through these aps?

ash1511

Came across this one. Any suggestion?
http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10152&catalogId=14551&langId=111&productId=102426

ash1511

cormie wrote: »

Maybe try a few local taxi companies or Halo/Uber and you might get somebody close by with jump leads, although I'm not sure you can put special requests through these aps?

Did. No one helped.

cormie

You're probably better off just getting a new battery unless you envisage a true need for a jump starter:

There's some good info on this thread about jump starters: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057365817

cormie

Are you parked facing downwards on a hill by any chance?

ash1511

cormie wrote: »

Are you parked facing downwards on a hill by any chance?

Nope. Not on a hill. I would have tried a bump start had been facing downhill. I'm in a parking lot with a million speed bumps.

Landr

Are the connections well tightened down to the positive and negative terminals on your battery

Stheno

ash1511 wrote: »

Nope. Not on a hill. I would have tried a bump start had been facing downhill. I'm in a parking lot with a million speed bumps.

Are you still there? And is your car automatic?

ash1511

Landr wrote: »

Are the connections well tightened down to the positive and negative terminals on your battery

I think so. Drove a fairly long distance on Sunday

ash1511

Stheno wrote: »

Are you still there? And is your car automatic?

Yup still here. No it's manual.

Stheno

ash1511 wrote: »

Yup still here. No it's manual.

Have you rang any local taxi companies, explained that you need a jump and asked if any of their drivers with leads could come out and you'll pay the full fare there and back?

ash1511

Stheno wrote: »

Have you rang any local taxi companies, explained that you need a jump and asked if any of their drivers with leads could come out and you'll pay the full fare there and back?

Nope. Didn't do that. I'm sure they'd be ready to do it if I offer them this fare. I think I'm gonna leave it for today and buy a battery booster tomorrow morning.

Atlantic Dawn

ash1511 wrote: »

Nope. Didn't do that. I'm sure they'd be ready to do it if I offer them this fare. I think I'm gonna leave it for today and buy a battery booster tomorrow morning.

But if the battery is on the way out buying the booster is a false economy, would be better to get a taxi to a shop selling new car batteries and buy one.

Stheno

ash1511 wrote: »

Nope. Didn't do that. I'm sure they'd be ready to do it if I offer them this fare. I think I'm gonna leave it for today and buy a battery booster tomorrow morning.

If your battery is flat as a pancake/your alternator is gone, the booster may do nothing.

How are you going to get home?

ash1511

Stheno wrote: »

If your battery is flat as a pancake/your alternator is gone, the booster may do nothing.

How are you going to get home?

Oops! Now how do I know what is wrong with it? Not going home tonight. A friend lives nearby so gonna crash on his couch for the night. One of those days.

Stheno

ash1511 wrote: »

Oops! Now how do I know what is wrong with it? Not going home tonight. A friend lives nearby so gonna crash on his couch for the night. One of those days.

If I were you I'd be getting a rescue service out to see if it can be jumped. Then drive it home and get a new battery.

A battery booster is gonna cost at least what a new battery does.

ash1511

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

But if the battery is on the way out buying the booster is a false economy, would be better to get a taxi to a shop selling new car batteries and buy one.

True. But nothing is open this time of the night.

ash1511

Stheno wrote: »

If I were you I'd be getting a rescue service out to see if it can be jumped. Then drive it home and get a new battery.

A battery booster is gonna cost at least what a new battery does.

Right. I'll bring my friend along tomorrow and try a bump start. If the car starts then it'll mean the battery gone has gone flat, right?

Stheno

ash1511 wrote: »

Right. I'll bring my friend along tomorrow and try a bump start. If the car starts then it'll mean the battery gone has gone flat, right?

It's not quite that black and white tbh.

If it starts then it means there is some power in the battery.

Over time, batteries essentially lose their ability to recharge, so your battery could currently be half dead and a jump start might start it. Or the alternator could be gone so the battery won't get charged.

If you can get it started, take it for a drive to charge up the battery, then take it to a motor factors who can test your battery and tell you if it's half dead and needs replacing.

ash1511

Stheno wrote: »

It's not quite that black and white tbh.

If it starts then it means there is some power in the battery.

Over time, batteries essentially lose their ability to recharge, so your battery could currently be half dead and a jump start might start it. Or the alternator could be gone so the battery won't get charged.

If you can get it started, take it for a drive to charge up the battery, then take it to a motor factors who can test your battery and tell you if it's half dead and needs replacing.

Hmm.. Sounds like a plan. I was refraining from buying a new battery but by the looks of it, it seems I might have no other option.

Stheno

ash1511 wrote: »

Hmm.. Sounds like a plan. I was refraining from buying a new battery but by the looks of it, it seems I might have no other option.

Here, that's what I'd do, now other more knowledgeable posters may have an alternative suggestion.

If it's only a new battery you need, that's a pretty cheap fix.

travelledpengy

If there is a hotel or B&B nearby they usually keep a battery operated jumper kit.

Skatedude

try ringing your insurance company, you might have breakdown coverage and google your insurance company as they might have an out of hours emergency number.
People often dont realize that breakdown is included in a lot of policies.

ash1511

Stheno wrote: »

Here, that's what I'd do, now other more knowledgeable posters may have an alternative suggestion.

If it's only a new battery you need, that's a pretty cheap fix.

I hope it's cheap. I have central locking in the car and even that wasn't working today. No light on the ignition as well. Battery change it is I think.

ash1511

travelledpengy wrote: »

If there is a hotel or B&B nearby they usually keep a battery operated jumper kit.

Ah.. There aren't any in this area.

BohsCeltic

ash1511 wrote: »

Hmm.. Sounds like a plan. I was refraining from buying a new battery but by the looks of it, it seems I might have no other option.

A new battery will probably cost less than a booster kit.
The garage should be able to check the battery and the alternator aswell as the connections.
Bad connections can prevent the car from charging and starting properly.

Do you not have breakdown assistance on your insurance ?

Stheno

ash1511 wrote: »

I hope it's cheap. I have central locking in the car and even that wasn't working today. No light on the ignition as well. Battery change it is I think.

Was this when you got back to it? Or did it stop while you were driving it?

What make/model of car is it?

ash1511

Skatedude wrote: »

try ringing your insurance company, you might have breakdown coverage and google your insurance company as they might have an out of hours emergency number.
People often dont realize that breakdown is included in a lot of policies.

Yup will do that in the morning now.

The Muppet

Could be the battery, Could be the altenator , could be that you left something on in the car and that ran the battery down and all will be well if you get it moving again, First port of call would be a jump start before spending money on a battery you may not need.

Afraid I,m not anywhere near if i was i'd help with a jump start.

ash1511

Stheno wrote: »

Was this when you got back to it? Or did it stop while you were driving it?

What make/model of car is it?

Just when I unlocked the driver's door using my key, the other doors didn't unlock with it (they always did). Sat in the car and tried to switch on the ignition - no lights in the dashboard. Car didn't start. That's what happened.

Yaris

ash1511

BohsCeltic wrote: »

A new battery will probably cost less than a booster kit.
The garage should be able to check the battery and the alternator aswell as the connections.
Bad connections can prevent the car from charging and starting properly.

Do you not have breakdown assistance on your insurance ?

Don't think so. Will have to check in the morning now.

ash1511

The Muppet wrote: »

Could be the battery, Could be the altenator , could be that you left something on in the car and that ran the battery down and all will be well if you get it moving again, First port of call would be a jump start before spending money on a battery you may not need.

Afraid I,m not anywhere near if i was i'd help with a jump start.

Thanks mate.
Well even for the jump start I will need the cables and the donor car or just that self booster thing, have none of those. So am gonna call up the insurance guys tomorrow and see what happens.

The Muppet

ash1511 wrote: »

Just when I unlocked the driver's door using my key, the other doors didn't unlock with it (they always did). Sat in the car and tried to switch on the ignition - no lights in the dashboard. Car didn't start. That's what happened.

That really sounds like something totally drained your battery when you were away from the car, Batteries don't usually just die in that way.

ash1511

The Muppet wrote: »

That really sounds like something totally drained your battery when you were away from the car, Batteries don't usually just die in that way.

Exactly. And I'm sure (I checked) the lights again and again. Batteries don't drain like this.

BreadnBuddha

ash1511 wrote: »

Exactly. And I'm sure (I checked) the lights again and again. Batteries don't drain like this.

If your alternator wasn't putting out a charging amperage then the battery warning light would have come on during your long drive. Colder weather and a dead cell in an old battery and it could well be knackered now.

Halfords down in Carrickmines can test your alternator and battery using their Bosch tester free of charge, if you can get it started and drive down to them and if you trust them to test it for you. Battery prices there are very reasonable.

The other place you could try is Green Auto Service up at the old Ambrose Glass site in Stepaside beside the filling station. If you called them early tomorrow morning they'd probably send someone down to you with a jump starter to test the alternator. They'd probably have new batteries in stock at the garage as well. They often collect and deliver cars they're servicing for customers so a quick stop in the village might not be a hassle for them if you ask nicely and let them know you're stuck and local.

EDIT: I've nothing to do with them, but a mate in Aikens Village has his car serviced by them and said they always collect and drop him off whenever he's getting his car serviced. Says they're reasonable but make sure you ask what they charge just to be sure!

greasepalm

yaris battery come in a few sizes possibly small and narrow,we have done 6 batteries last week alone with the crap weather.i will say many more will go in the next few weeks with the bad weather.batteries are like that here today and gone tomorrow with no warning.

mfceiling

Fathers car wouldn't start last week. Battery dead. Put a new one in and the next morning it was dead. Jump started it and took it to the garage who charged it up over night. Following afternoon it was dead again!! Problem was the earthing connections (think that's what he said)...A week later and they still haven't come from England!!

scamalert

had similar issue last week,brothers car wouldn't start in the mornings-him being lazy and knowing that his ground wire needed be replaced never bothered it done,the culprit for that was the grounding wire that screws onto chassis was all rusted down,so some sand paper wd40 to clean up and new wire and no more issues.people miss that a lot especially with +10y old cars

cormie

If you're going to buy anything, the first thing should be a set of decent heavy duty jump leads, they'll probably be €20/30 and you should easily find someone willing to give you two minutes of their time to jump it for you. Roll them up when finished and stick them in your boot and you'll always have them if you're ever caught out again. Jump leads are one of them things that every vehicle should have.

Once you're up and running, then go and find out what the story is and if your battery is knackered, just replace it and you should be good to go.

greasepalm

having a magnetic torch to see in the dark where to put cable is a another choice.