Dead car battery - advice please

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glasgowcyclist

Charming but somewhat feckless
Location
Scotland
As I haven't used my car in over four months, it appears that the battery is now dead - not even enough juice to switch on the radio.

I'm looking for both short and longer term fixes for this so give me your wisdom. For starters (geddit?) I'm looking at this Arteck power pack for immediate jump starting. However, since I have become accustomed to almost never using the car, I am also looking for something that will maintain the battery health while the car languishes in the drive.

Give me your 'best value' suggestions please.

The car is a 2011 Skoda Fabia 1.2 diesel which, until my off, averaged just under 9,000 miles per annum.
 

NorthernDave

Never used Über Member
You can buy solar powered trickle chargers that keep the battery topped up. They're popular amongst caravanists for keeping their leisure batteries charged.

I'd imagine that the battery would need to be in good condition to start with - a totally flat battery might need more juice to bring it back to life.

Or you can get mains powered trickle chargers, but they're more suitable for a car that's kept in a garage than outdoors.
 
OP
OP
glasgowcyclist

glasgowcyclist

Charming but somewhat feckless
Location
Scotland
Also, will I need to worry about stuff like the radio needing the factory code re-entered or any other thing resetting itself in the car's electronics?

Does it matter if my battery is lead-acid or gel? (I think it might be gel.)
 

KneesUp

Guru
Also, will I need to worry about stuff like the radio needing the factory code re-entered or any other thing resetting itself in the car's electronics?

Does it matter if my battery is lead-acid or gel? (I think it might be gel.)
Re: radio code - if it needs one, it will have been lost. I bought a s/hand Seat (also VAG, obviously) a few years back with no code for the radio, but it said in the manual that the dealer would give it to me for free, so I took a 14 year old car I'd bought for a few hundred quid to the dealer and to be fair they got the code for nothing and gave me a cup of coffee while I waited.

On newer cars I think the stereo is coded to the car via the fancy-pants electronics though, so it may not need anything doing as it's still in the same car. If that's the case it would need re-coding if you put it in another car I think.
 
D

Deleted member 26715

Guest
If you have somebody close who has jump leads use them to get an initial start, however ensure that before you connect the leads put the lights on. In the event of a power spike it will go through the lights & not the ECU, as to those power banks I've never used one, my Luddite brain says they can't work, but I know somebody who claims they do. As to long term charging us some form of trickle charger, optimate, oxford, although https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CTEK-MXS...751989?hash=item48a62f21b5:g:8MEAAOSwNchaNMIA is supposed to be the daddy of them all.
 

Globalti

Legendary Member
Being discharged will have irrevocably damaged the battery. Don't go to Halfrauds to buy a new one, find a proper battery specialist and give them the business. They will assess the condition of the battery and even check the alternator if you ask, as well as making recommendations for keeping it topped up.
 

SpokeyDokey

67, & my GP says I will officially be old at 70!
Moderator
As I haven't used my car in over four months, it appears that the battery is now dead - not even enough juice to switch on the radio.

I'm looking for both short and longer term fixes for this so give me your wisdom. For starters (geddit?) I'm looking at this Arteck power pack for immediate jump starting. However, since I have become accustomed to almost never using the car, I am also looking for something that will maintain the battery health while the car languishes in the drive.

Give me your 'best value' suggestions please.

The car is a 2011 Skoda Fabia 1.2 diesel which, until my off, averaged just under 9,000 miles per annum.

Just get one of these - around 50 notes should see you right.

https://www.ctek.com/products?category=313f09f3-7f67-4d37-94c5-bb684196d572

These are the go-to choice for a number of friends that I have who own seriously nice cars.

BMW etc supply the same pieces of kit re-logoed and charge an absolute fortune.

We use one at home is we leave the car for extended periods of time - computer controlled to keep the battery in optimum condition, also has recondition & winter modes plus different connection options eg direct to battery terminals, via cigarette lighter socket and a trailing option that permanently connects to the battery that has a little plug-in thingy for quick hook-ups.

We have the MXS 5.0
 
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