Advice On What To Check...

[Kavey]

Hey all

I'm finally getting my ankle cast removed next week, having been crippled for 2 months now due to my Xmas snowboarding accident.

Anyway, as a result, my car's been stationary for 2 months now, and I know this isn't great for it, especially considering the cold spells we've been having with the snow etc.

I checked it this morning and the Battery is totally flat, and there is some condensation visible in the LCD bits of the stereo etc., and the tyres are looking a bit flat.

I'm going to top up the oil, jump start the car, sort the tyres out, and give it a good long run to recharge the Battery and work that condensation out, but has anyone got any advice of anything to be wary of given that the car hasn't moved for a while? I have a feeling that the Battery will have packed in and won't hold much of a charge having been flat for several weeks now.

I'm sooo looking forward to getting it cleaned and on the road again!

Cheers

[Rob]

would get a trickle charger on the Battery instead it would be better for the Battery also when you brake for the first few times you will hear some sounds - its the rust coming off the discs, before you start going too fast test the brakes

[Steve]

err like rob says.. trickle charge.. Do not jump start the Battery.. I nearly lost my ECU by doing that. (big big money)

Let it stand and warm up for half hour!

[Kavey]

err like rob says.. trickle charge.. Do not jump start the battery.. I nearly lost my ECU by doing that. (big big money)

Let it stand and warm up for half hour!

Right - that's good - i didn't know that! Is jump-starting generally bad, or just from a cold depleted Battery?

What about bump-starting if I can get someone to push?

[Steve]

unplug the Battery and stick a Battery charger on it.

Not sure about bump starting... i guess it would be ok.. let the other guys advise you on that... i have never had an unreliable car

[Monster-Mat]

DO NOT BUMP START.

to be honest id just buy a new Battery.......if the Battery is totally dead the plates have more than likely warped and the Battery will always be weaker than it was.

ONCE THE NEW Battery IS FITTED......start the car...if you have moisture in the radio....DONT SWITCH it on, allow the car to come to full operating temp.

then slowly work the mechanicals, try the clutch ......wipers steering etc,

then follow the advice above, drive slowly apply the brakes as you go gently to burn of the rust......do the same with the handbrake.

[Kavey]

DO NOT BUMP START.

to be honest id just buy a new battery.......if the battery is totally dead the plates have more than likely warped and the battery will always be weaker than it was.

ONCE THE NEW BATTERY IS FITTED......start the car...if you have moisture in the radio....DONT SWITCH it on, allow the car to come to full operating temp.

then slowly work the mechanicals, try the clutch ......wipers steering etc,

then follow the advice above, drive slowly apply the brakes as you go gently to burn of the rust......do the same with the handbrake.

Cheers Supra

Yeah - I read last night that bump-starting is very bad for the catalytic converter, so won't be doing that then!

I'm inclined to get a new Battery anyway - it's over 3 years old now, though having said that, until Xmas the car had been driven pretty much daily and for an hour a time, so i would have imagined the Battery being in pretty good condition.

I think to be safe tho, a new Battery is the way forward. Is Halfords going to be able to supply a decent one? And any suggestion as to the type of Battery?

Thanks

KV

[ricky_is200]

In the past I've had a car that was off the road and untouched for 6 months at a time and I didn't have any problems with the Battery or the rest of the car. I did however disconnect the Battery so it didn't go flat.

[PQuist]

I guess an new Battery will be cheaper than a new ECU. Get a new Battery especially if the current one is 3 yrs old

[lexicon]

Leaving the Battery to go so flat will probably have caused the plates to become sulphated and you might not be able to recharge it by any means.

Chances are that it wouldn't bump-start either - no power for fuel pump, ECU etc.

Your brakes will probably be horrible and the handbrake might be seized on too.