Sorry for the abrupt title, but i am desperate to get this sorted this week, to cut a long story short, my dad has got a s type jag, and he has gone away for 4 months, has asked me to start his car twice a week, and it was working fine until today when i tried to start it and it wouldnt start, when i put the key in the ignition it just kept clicking and would not turn over, now i know i can call jaguar out to start it for me, but i havent got £200 quid spare, so is there anything i can do to make it turn over and get it up and running again before he gets back next week? on reflection i think i left it without starting it for about 5 days, any help would be brilliant guys.

Cheers jamie

 

It sounds like a classic weak battery issue, especially if it is rather old, sitting for long periods of time, and only starting it briefly (without a drive) so the alternator can really provide the energy to recharge it, may have reached its necessary 'starting' voltage. Jump it, or put a trickle charger on it...which is highly recommended for long periods of non driving activity on these cars.

 

Could well be the battery. Don't panic and do anything that makes it worse. I would NOT jump start it. (Other threads with bad outcomes if you feel inclined to read.)

If you can, put it on charge. Either disconnect the battery or at least connect the charger with -ve to the bolt holding the spare tyre in (see handbook if you want more) and +ve to the + terminal. (This is to try to reduce voltage spikes in sensitive places.)

It will take hours to charge - say 12. Make sure there's reasonable ventilation. Do NOT try to start with the charger still connected. (May be safe, but why experiment.)

 

battery...../thread

 

Damn jagv8! how'd ya get here so fast? Yes my dear chap, charge the battery then start her up. If it goes wak again, check for dead cells and/or charging system fault.

 

Just an alternative time stream

 

"alternative time stream"? What? jagv8 R U riding Hawkins worm holes? That's it isn't it?! For the longest time I'm wondering how's this guy gittin to the threads before they're submitted. Ha! You're a clever Brit.

 

aww, you sussed it

Just blame Russell T Davies

 

Thanks for the advice guys, i know last time this happend my dad had to call out jag and it cost him £200, because he is a frequent traveller away for about 6 months of the year, if it charge the battery and put it back in, it wont have any problems with the security or anything will i? thanks again guys

 

Ps its a 2004 s type

 

Completely, 100% correct.

 

Even if the battery is flat, no need to call the main dealer. Surely the auto club or a local garage would give it a boost for a small fee. Do your Dad, yourself and the car a favour and buy a battery float charger. Hook it up leave it alone and the battery will always be at 100% whenever the car is needed.

 

Lead-acid batteries may be "trickle-charged" for years as my experience in the security/alarm business has indicated. Far from doing any harm, it does then positive good. If you leave a lead-acid in a low state of charge, it will gradually damage it. Your dad is (I'm afraid to say) doing the car a dis-service by telling you to simply start it, then switch off. NOT a good idea. A safe charge for a low Jag. battery is 5amp for around 20 hours. A safe trickle is a quarter amp. You CAN charge a low/flat battery at a much heavier charge, say 50amp, but you must stop as soon as the plates start gassing. Continuing the heavy charge will force the paste out of the plates by gas pressure and damage it. Refer your Dad to me if you get into trouble!
Leedsman.

 

Thanks mate, where can i get a battery float charger? and how does it work? like a normal car batter charger? thanks again

 

Sorry jagv8, I was joking. Be well.

 

Something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/RING-RSC501-.../dp/B004APKVA0

It's different from a normal charger in that it shuts itself off when not needed. This avoids overcharging the battery and potentially damaging it. Just plug it in and forget it.

 

Thank you, and so i would just plug it in, and leave it in the boot? would i leave it in there contantly? and would i have to take it out every so often to charge the charger itself? do you think its worth a shot? cheers

 

It needs to be plugged into the mains similar to a normal battery charger.