Mobile Mechanic recommendations (6)

Connect the jump leads to both batteries and start the engine on the other car. If your battery is totally and utterly flat, so much that nothing happens when you turn the key, you'll need to leave the other car running for a while so it puts some charge into your battery, then eventually it'll just start in the normal way.

Or failing that, and the car's not diesel or automatic, you can bump start it - ignition on, second gear and clutch pedal down... get someone to push you and when the car's rolling, bring the clutch pedal up to get the engine turning. Little bit of gas and when it starts depress the clutch and stop to thank the pusher

Automatics cannot be bump started (no clutch) and diesels with totally flat batteries can't because the heater plugs will not be warmed up.

You can bump start an automatic, only problem is you need to tow it at least 35mph. So not that practical in North London.

Diesels bump start easily, even without heater plugs. Only problem is that you need enough charge in the battery to operate the fuel cutoff relay.

Before you change the battery, if it's not 'sealed for life', it's worth checking the acid levels in the cells. The plates at should at least be covered, if low top up with distilled (not tap) water. If only one or two cells are low it's fucked.

Once started, stick a meter across the battery terminals. 14.2v is fine for lead acid batterys. At least 14.5v for gel batterys. Below 13.5v, or above 15v it's an alternator fault. Worth checking the battery bulb comes on when you turn on the ignition, then goes out. If the bulb blows, the coils in the alternator don't get energised, and it won't charge at all.

At this time of year, if you're not doing significant mileage, and what you do is with the lights, heater etc on. It's quite possible to run the battery down over a few weeks. Answer is to give it a good run, or invest in a battery charger.

Cars, wonderful things when they work, pain in the butt when they don't.

Hope that helps, and that you get going soon.

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Yup! It's happened in the past, and so whilst the jump-starting tips are appreciated, I just want to get a brand new battery and not let it run flat again!

Ah well. Guess I'll start scouring the Yellow Pages.

Thanks for the help peeps.

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. ~ Groucho Marx

If you don't use it much, or only use it for short journeys it might be worth investing in a solar charger - it's a solar panel that sits on the dash board and you plug it into the cigarette lighter socket so it will prevent the battery from going flat. They are available on ebay for about £20.

Will definitely get some sort of drip charger for when I get her up and running again. And actually, y'know. Drive the damn thing.

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. ~ Groucho Marx