Flat Battery

[Ronaldw]

Went to start my car VE Calias yesterday morning and battery was flat, reliased I had left key in ignition for couple days with key not turned all the way back about a couple of millimeters forward.

got my Dads VT put the jumpers on and did what they said in the manual and away it went. went round the block once and car runs and starts perfectly.
Point is they must respond very well to the old way with the jumpers.
Has anyone done it this way and had any problems further down the track.

 

[Benboy]

Er....using cables from one car to another in order to start is called a 'jump start'. It is nothing new. Drving the car around the block was sufficient to replenish some of the charge in the battery so the next time someone went to start it - no problems. Common method and expected results.

 

[RiCeY]

Really should give the battery a full overnight charge with a trickle charger as a quick drive will only give it a topup. If you dont have a charger then go for a nice long drive. These batteries dont like being fully drained so if it starts playing up it may need to be replaced.

 

[UFO]

07 model chances are original battery still in there. around 4 years for battery life is standard.... i'd be more inclined to not stuff around charging the curent one and just get a fresh one.

 

[Gambel]

I've read in the manual that if you have a phone system installed you should take the fuse out before jumping, is that for the standard ssv bluetooth or do higher models have different system.
What's the purpose for that when any fuse can blow during a jump start?

 

[UFO]

unlike other accessories that you can turn off (and protect to a certain degree), bluetooth is active all the time.
that's why you should make sure all accessories are turned off when jump starting (lights, air con, radio, fan, demister etc).

a way to avoid things blowing up is to try and start dead car after turning off charging car (after a few minutes of charging). it wont always work (dead battery could be too low or dead for good), but this puts far less strain on both cars. no harm in trying... then if it doesnt start on its own THEN do an assisted start.

 

[Pete in Perth]

happy new year

Similar problem here. Jan '08 VE Calais V, V8. New year's day.

Went to start the car and battery is all but dead; nowhere near enough charge to start.

I'm most surprised because I've just done over 3,000 km this week and thought I'd have the best charged battery in Perth! Went up to Karijini national park & back. AFAIK no accessories were left on & the car was fully locked - so no key left in it.

The present battery was installed just under two year's ago.

The suddenness of the battery failure is surprising too. Wouldn't have been much fun if it had happened in the middle of nowhere in Karijini national park. I always have jumper leads in the boot, though.

What can I do to ensure this doesn't happen again?

Surely I shouldn't need to replace the battery every 18 months?

 

[Lumps of cheese]

What battery are you using?

 

[Pete in Perth]

I haven't looked, but almost certainly it is an "extra heavy duty" battery from Car batteries | RAC Perth WA - Motoring - Batteries - because less than two years ago I had the RAC replace the battery & talking again to the RAC just now the 'extra heavy duty' is the only one they supply for the V8 VE Calais.

Extra heavy duty with a two year warranty - I wonder how good they really are... Something cheap out of China I guess.

 

[TinSnips]

Their batteries are generally pretty good - well the equivalent NRMA batteries here are fine anyway. Never had a problem with the quality of batteries I've bought from them.