Joeman Posted February 18, 2014 Posted February 18, 2014 Im part exchanging my car for my new bike. BMW wont take my car without at least 3months MOT, so i've booked it in for an MOT tomorrow.I went to start the car tonight - battery is dead. Put it on the car charger, but its not taking a charge.Went to get my jumper pack, but thats also dead, and i cant find the charger for my jumper pack, so i'm a bit stuffed.Decided to try the Optimate bike charger on the car battery, so i took the seat off my GSXR to disconnect the Optimate4 charger cable, tried that on the car battery - it tried to "save" the battery then started charging - great!left if for two hours, went to start the car - still too dead, and the car charger wont do anything as it thinks the battery is charged, so i think the car battery is well and truly stuffed.Problem is i need to get the car to the MOT station tomorrow, so I need to jump start, so now i've taken the jumpstart box apart, connected the Optimate4 bike charger to the jumper box battery and hoping i can jump start the car from the jumper box in the morning!What a bloody palaver... Quote
CGD217 Posted February 19, 2014 Posted February 19, 2014 Ouch things always go wrong at the most inconvenient times. Quote
Tankbag Posted February 19, 2014 Posted February 19, 2014 How long has the BMW been standing ?There are those anti sulphating pills you can drop in each cell, but, generally I've found when a battery has stood for too long flat, its never going to recover Quote
Joeman Posted February 19, 2014 Author Posted February 19, 2014 So I got up early this morning, the optimizer was saying the battery in the jumperbox was fully charged.So I put it all back together, tried it on the car, and nothing. Didn't even turn the engine over once!!Lucky for me a neighbour was close by with his transit to jump start the car from... Looks like some lucky person is going to have a brand new battery in their used beemer Quote
Stu Posted February 19, 2014 Posted February 19, 2014 Don't write the battery off just yet optimates won't charge car batteries i have tried before A good run in the car may charge it enough so it starts all the time Quote
Joeman Posted February 19, 2014 Author Posted February 19, 2014 Don't write the battery off just yet optimates won't charge car batteries i have tried before A good run in the car may charge it enough so it starts all the time Trouble is I just dropped the car off at the same branch of halfrauds who couldnt open the bonnet of my other car. I asked if they could try charging the battery (assuming they would have a more industrial type charger) but they told me they are not allowed to put any power into cars in case it breaks any electrical equipment... So my guess is they will just swap the battery I only bought the battery last year so I'm going to see if I can find the receipt. These big batteries cost about 120quid so expensive if I can't. Quote
Mr Fro Posted February 19, 2014 Posted February 19, 2014 Dude, if it's a Halfords battery (or Bosch) they have a manufacture date code stamp on the lip at the top. If it's from Halfords they will read off the code from the stamp and swap it out if it's a dud one. Quote
Joeman Posted February 19, 2014 Author Posted February 19, 2014 Dude, if it's a Halfords battery (or Bosch) they have a manufacture date code stamp on the lip at the top. If it's from Halfords they will read off the code from the stamp and swap it out if it's a dud one. Nice one!! great info... its a big Bosch battery. the bloke from the halfords auto centre just called to say he cant get another that big! ( i bought an extra big one)So i told him to just fit any old battery as the car is going anyway...he mentioned i should be able to get a swap, but would be esiaer if i had the reciept.... will be searching about tonight for it.. not realy happy about having to pay for another, so i'll make sure i negotiate a free one - the info you provided will certainly help! Quote
Guest Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 How long has the BMW been standing ?There are those anti sulphating pills you can drop in each cell, but, generally I've found when a battery has stood for too long flat, its never going to recover Ah yes.. You can also add a small spoonfull of epsom salt, into each cell.. This is meant to de-ionise the lead plates or something..But wouldnt really plan on it giving the battery much life.. Quote
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