Anyone tips for starting a car with a dead battery?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Arwin
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Arwin

Arwin

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Hi,

I don't use my car a lot, and sometimes when I haven't used it for more than 2 weeks, I can't start the car - the battery is completely dead. I think it may have to do with the alarm system that seems to consume energy even if I don't use it, or maybe it's something else (moist?). I have already replaced the battery one and they also gave me one with a higher capacity than I had before, but it doesn't seem to have helped much. I'll have the garage take a look at it, but probably just need to take the car out for a spin once a week, to be sure.

I also heard that some people just take their battery inside during the nights to warm them up / keep them warm, as cold tends to drain them from energy also.

Does anyone else have tips on this? And also on starting a car that has a dead battery? I know you can use starter-cables for this (which I'll buy this weekend), but I was also wondering if there is anything that I can use just plugging into an outlet - I have a nice long extention cord that makes it to my car very easily.

If anyone can come with some useful tips it'd be much, much appreciated. Especially since I need to use the car tomorrow and I don't want to call emergency assistance for something that silly again (it would be the third time ... :S)

Again, so far it has only ever happened after not using the car for a while.

Thanks,
Arwin
 
A std. battery charger comes in sizes that'll fit nicely under your closed hood. I have one of those and use it when the old Commie has been sitting a while. That old 2.5 R6 needs a little "loving" to get turned over...

A kickstarter is another alternative. It's a charger with a built-in battery. It'll deliver enough juice to start almost anything.. - It doesn't require an outlet which is good if it decides not to start away from home..
 
I had the same problem a while back - got a new battery and solved the issue. If your battery is been drained by an alarm i would hazard a guess that it could be your cars alternator that's at fault. Car batteries only have a finite life, but an alarm should'nt drain it that much.

I would also say to 'bump-start' your car as a temporary measure - but then again you live in the Netherlands don't you! :sly:
 
Flerbizky
A std. battery charger comes in sizes that'll fit nicely under your closed hood. I have one of those and use it when the old Commie has been sitting a while. That old 2.5 R6 needs a little "loving" to get turned over...

A kickstarter is another alternative. It's a charger with a built-in battery. It'll deliver enough juice to start almost anything.. - It doesn't require an outlet which is good if it decides not to start away from home..
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Thanks for the tip ...

Something like this?

http://www.halfords.nl/shop/product...43+Acculaders&product_id=207824&cookie_test=1
 
judgeing by the picture, it looks to be it! 👍

Cant read the writing :dunce: but that seems to be what your after :D
 
Small_Fryz
judgeing by the picture, it looks to be it! 👍

Cant read the writing :dunce: but that seems to be what your after :D
Click to expand...

Dutch pwnz :D

It's not too dissimilar from Danish, in writing that is. That I can deal with, but spoken Dutch is a completely different matter :irked:
 
Flerbizky
Dutch pwnz :D

It's not too dissimilar from Danish, in writing that is. That I can deal with, but spoken Dutch is a completely different matter :irked:
Click to expand...

Same for me and Danish. Can't understand a word you're saying (unless you're from close to the German border :D), but I can read it quite well. But then I lived in Sweden for a year and have Norwegian relatives, so I am fairly tuned into the language.

My Swedish ex-girlfriend used to make fun of Danish, calling it 'barnspråk' ... :D
 
Arwin
Same for me and Danish. Can't understand a word you're saying (unless you're from close to the German border :D), but I can read it quite well. But then I lived in Sweden for a year and have Norwegian relatives, so I am fairly tuned into the language.

My Swedish ex-girlfriend used to make fun of Danish, calling it 'barnspråk' ... :D
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I must say that sounds very childish of her ;)
 
If you don't use your car for over a week, why not just disconnect the battery terminals? Wrap each of them in a separate towel, close the hood, and just re-connect them as necessary.
 
the car is harder to start if its cold.
the battery doenst deliver as much juice if its cold.

you could keep your battery in the house and take it out when you need to use it.
you could replace your battery with a higher capacity one.
you could replace your starter with a high torque one.

but to drain the battery completely in two weeks you have serious current drain going on or its really cold. i just started my saab yesterday for the first time in almost three weeks and it had no problems
 
neanderthal
the car is harder to start if its cold.
the battery doenst deliver as much juice if its cold.

you could keep your battery in the house and take it out when you need to use it.
you could replace your battery with a higher capacity one.
you could replace your starter with a high torque one.

but to drain the battery completely in two weeks you have serious current drain going on or its really cold. i just started my saab yesterday for the first time in almost three weeks and it had no problems
Click to expand...

Nah, it's not cold. And I already put a higher capacity one in. So there must be drain stuff going on. I think it's the alarm system, or otherwise some kind of electricity leak. I think when I take the car in for the yearly tests, I will ask them to look at it. Or maybe some friends of my brother-in-law.

I got that portable power thing, and it worked like a charm. :)
 
A lot of new cars will trickle drain their battery. I think the disconnection option is the best one.
 
Roll it down a hill or get some friends to push it.

Turn on ignition.

Put it in 2nd

A little gas.

Drop the clutch*


*requires manual gearbox

VRRROOOOMM :)
 
Arwin
Nah, it's not cold. And I already put a higher capacity one in. So there must be drain stuff going on. I think it's the alarm system, or otherwise some kind of electricity leak. I think when I take the car in for the yearly tests, I will ask them to look at it. Or maybe some friends of my brother-in-law.

I got that portable power thing, and it worked like a charm. :)
Click to expand...

Did I make a usable recommendation ?.. I r t4h 4wesome :D

Have you tried disconnecting your alarm to see if that helps ?.. I've heard about bad or badly installed alarms draining batteries before. I had one on my first bike and until I removed it I had to do more than a few jumps starts...
 
DQuaN
get some friends to push it.

Turn on ignition.

Put it in 2nd

A little gas.

Drop the clutch*


*requires manual gearbox

VRRROOOOMM :)
Click to expand...
Yep that good old fashioned BHP, Brake Human Power.
 
live4speed
Yep that good old fashioned BHP, Brake Human Power.
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Yeah, but you need so many of them ... :D I tried with just one and we couldn't get it done ... The car still weighs 1230+ kg. And we don't have too many hills in the Netherlands, didn't you get the memo? ;)

@Flerbizky: yep, u R t3h r0x0rs. :D

niky, yes, you may be right.

Disconnecting the Alarm sounds a bit scary though. :D
 

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