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[D]

Went to fire up the other car today and it won't even open. The battery has probably died due to inactivity and the cold weather. To make things better I had a look at our breakdown cover and it expired 2 weeks ago. Perfect timing! Well done D!

Options are to pop into Halfords or somewhere similar tomorrow and get a set of jump leads suitable enough for a 3.0L engine. Or buy a battery booster pack. But the better rated booster packs are approx £100+ and I am not sure I really need those given that I usually have breakdown cover and it was sheer forgetfulness on my part to renew this year.

Third option seems to be one of these ciggy socket chargers. Do they work? Something like this:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_179963_langId_-1_categoryId_255204

Otherwise wait a few days and get breakdown to come out, but I really want to get the other motor out for tomorrow if possible.

Are either of the 2 jump/charging leads safe. I have heard of radios/electronic equipment going tits up after a jump start.

[TheBoy]

Ciggy chargers are pointless on modern cars.

Nobody near you with jumpleads?

[D]

Thats good to know. Wont try them ciggy thingies.

I'll happily buy a jump lead tomorrow, but remember from when I had my beemer being told not to jump start due to the risk of damaging electronic components. I am not in a rush to get her going tonight, just wanted to use the car on a longish trip I was planning to make tomorrow.

[hotel21]

Would say as long as you ensure the connections have as much distance between them as possible all should be ok. By that I mean positive to pos on batt and neg to metal ground a good bit away such as chassis mount or other underbody metal bit.

[D]

Once I get the car jump started, its very likely I will need a new battery. The current one is about 5 yrs old. Probably get a Halfords calcium one or the Bosch silver version. Anyone in SE London or Kent with a Halfords trade card willing to get a new battery for me?

[Andy B]

Once I get the car jump started, its very likely I will need a new battery. The current one is about 5 yrs old. Probably get a Halfords calcium one or the Bosch silver version. Anyone in SE London or Kent with a Halfords trade card willing to get a new battery for me?

A Vauxhall battery using a Trade Club card (via Autobahnstormers ??) is very good valve for money 

[D]

Bugger. Further googling reveals it might have something called a smart charge system which cannot be jump started.

[D]

Once I get the car jump started, its very likely I will need a new battery. The current one is about 5 yrs old. Probably get a Halfords calcium one or the Bosch silver version. Anyone in SE London or Kent with a Halfords trade card willing to get a new battery for me?

A Vauxhall battery using a Trade Club card (via Autobahnstormers ??) is very good valve for money 

Yes, but its not a Vx. Its made by a company called F*** which I dare not mention on here. 

[hotel21]

Bugger. Further googling reveals it might have something called a smart charge system which cannot be jump started.

Thats why the terminals need to be seperated as far as possible.  Land/Range Rovers have similar (as do BMW, Audi etc etc on newer models) and there will be a common ground or similar on a strut top, bonnet slam panel or similar, a fair distand (couple of feet) from the battery neg terminal.   

[Andy B]

....

Yes, but its not a Vx. Its made by a company called F*** which I dare not mention on here. 

As long as your F***'s battery has round terminal posts, it won't car whether the new battery came from Vx or Halfrauds 

[hotel21]

....

Yes, but its not a Vx. Its made by a company called F*** which I dare not mention on here. 

As long as your F***'s battery has round terminal posts, it won't car whether the new battery came from Vx or Halfrauds 

.... as long as the amps and outside dimensions to fit the hole match up....   

[Andy B]

....

Yes, but its not a Vx. Its made by a company called F*** which I dare not mention on here. 

As long as your F***'s battery has round terminal posts, it won't car whether the new battery came from Vx or Halfrauds 

.... as long as the amps and outside dimensions to fit the hole match up....   

That too. 
The old dear's Rover across the road has a Vauxhall battery fitted courtesy of Vx Trade Club 

[D]

Just read this, not sure I want to fry anything yet:

http://www.bba-reman.com/forums/Topic56772-2-1.aspx

Might have a browse through the user manual. If I can unlock the bloody thing.

[Andy B]

.....
If I can unlock the bloody thing.

Key in door & turn!  It'll be hard to turn with no assistance from the battery but it will turn - NB that the door button won't necessarily pop up, but it will turn. 
A squirt of lub in the lock first won't do any harm though. 

[fiend61]

Key in door & turn!

clockwise