Completely dead!

[Didcotman]

Went to start the car, puzzled that remote key didn't open it, so used key to get in the old-fashioned way.

Put key into ignition and turned - nothing. No lights, no engine start, nothing at all in any position.

No lights on the dashboard (except the airbag lamp). Absolutely and completely dead.

Used it Saturday lunchtime to go and buy a new headlamp Bulb, decided I needed to read up on how to change it.

Went out to car on Sunday night and found it dead on the drive.

Will call AA at some point, but want to understand the issues first, or maybe fix it myself.

Any ideas? Can't find anything exactly like this in the forums.

:-(

 

[Claws]

Hi Mark

Sounds like a dead battery to me? do you have access to a set of jump leads? if so, you could connect to your battery, from a good battery, and then see if you get your dash lights back...

Just a thought

Regards

Steve

[Didcotman]

Thanks, I'm kinda thinking dead battery - but this dead? All of a sudden??? Not even any lamps glowing anywhere? Never seen a battery that dead.

If I get AA out and they jump start it, where does that leave me? Buying a new battery and hoping that's fixed it?

Thanks for the input, just a bit bummed out at the moment...

 

[Claws]

i was thinking the same, either the battery has decided to pop its clogs, or there is a short circuit somewhere, did you get around to changing your Bulb?

[Old Peter]

If a battery is getting old, and the battery on the s type last 5 years or so, it dies, and that's it.

My last battery was 4 years and 11 months old when it stopped holding a charge.

Peter.

[Didcotman]

I never changed the Bulb.

I suppose if the battery is too low, maybe the console won't even power up, but nobody has suggested that that I can see?

I guess I need recommendations for a good brand of battery (or ones to avoid...)

[Old Peter]

There are plenty of good battery around.  Bosch is well recommended.  My local Auto Accessory shop got me the correct battery for the car within an hour.  The brand I have is a Platinum which also gets some very good reports.

Regards,

Peter.

[Didcotman]

I'm getting Yuasa 3019 on searches, a little over £100 online, or the AA will bring one and fit if for £155.

[simonhirst]

Hi.

I agree with last comment. Unusual to find the battery that dead. AA won't diagnose the problem. Based on my experience of a similar problem:

- Get your local garage to test the battery. This shouldn't cost anything. 

- If the battery is good, you'll need a specialist electrician to test the car.

[piria33]

If you're going to change the battery yourself be aware (if you're not already) the support bracket can be a pain to loosen as the bolt goes through the floor and rusts from the underside. I changed mine a few weeks back and took me a good 30 minutes to loosen the bolt. Don't force the bolt out as that can destroy the threads that hold it onto the floor.

I did mine 1/8 at a time to loosen the rust and applied a lot of wd40. wirebrushed the underside thread also.

AA might just use brute force and damage it.

[Claws]

not wanting to put a spanner in the works but....

it still may be worth getting it jump started, by the nice man from the AA, so he can also check the alternator is delivering a good charge rate, although everything and consensus of opinion does seem to point to the battery

My battery is a Bosch

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Check the simple things first..........without wanting to sound too obvious, you were looking at changing a headlight Bulb..............did you leave the lights on when you left the car, or maybe a door slightly ajar.            Can't think that if you have had no warning signs, the battery would go completely flat just like that.            Our experience shows that if the battery has gone completely flat, then a slave battery won't start your S, the battery will need to be charged first.

Needless to say, don't have the slave car running when you jump start, and make sure the two cars aren't touching.

Might be stating obvious, but often the simple things are the answer.     Or as the meerkats would say "Seemples".

Good luck

[Old Peter]

7 hours ago, Didcotman said:

I'm getting Yuasa 3019 on searches, a little over £100 online, or the AA will bring one and fit if for £155.

I have heard of Yuasa, but not seen any reviews.

My local Auto accessory shop owner will fit your battery at no cost plus any other items  --- widscreen wipers etc.  Very handy.

Peter  

[Guest]

Hi Mark,

All the advice above is spot on and I can confirm that a battery failure on the S Type can occur without any warning. My first S Type greeted me with exactly the same condition on a visit to HMRC in Telford. I had driven there from Birmingham so a reasonable lengthy high speed run in good conditions before parking up for a few hours. Dead as a DoDo when I returned but started with jump leads and battery replaced on my way home.

When you get the battery checked out make sure whoever does it also checks that the alternator is providing an appropriate level of charge.

Cheers,

Steve

[Didcotman]

In conclusion, thanks to everyone who responded, got a new battery fitted and all is back to normal.

The battery, believe it or not, is the original one that came with the car in 2005! I think it lasted well.

It's surprising how easily the pillar on the retaining arm sheers off.  :-)  Still, the other bolt seems to hold the battery in place firmly enough and the only way it's going to jump out of the cradle is if I roll the car, and if I do, the battery falling out of the cradle will be the least of my worries.

[Claws]

glad you got it sorted

regards

Steve