Not used since Xmas

[gazzad]

Well she is nearly ready for her first run after a major clean up / change of carpets etc. My only concern now is that the battery has been flat since just after Christmas, and I didn't worry about it as I had the door panels off, window switches out and generally everything ripped out so just to be safe no electrics was a good thing I thought!
I am no mechanic so when I come to charge the battery and turn the key for the first time, what can I expect. Are there any checks that I should do first? or just cross my fingers.
She is due an MOT & service at the end of this month, so hopefully all will be well.
By the way my Chimaera is a 93 4.0 and if it makes any difference it is Red (the car that is)

[M@H]

You'll have fun charging a totally flat battery as most chargers need a couple of volts to move the plates together in the charger.. have you got another battery you can connect in parallel to your chim one if this is the case ?

Cheers,
Matt.

>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 9th March 10:55

[gazzad]

No I don't have a spare although I was thinking of buying one. The previous owner has told me that the battery was purchased when he owned the car.
Is it correct that a push start isn't a good thing to do? Will it push start?

[M@H]

Push Start..! Forget it. If the battery is flat, you've got no spark to ignite the petrol. Plus the "size" of the engine would doubtless just skid the car to a stop when you dropped the clutch rather than turn it over.

If I was in your shoes (and I am actually !) I'd just go and buy a new battery. They only last a few years anyway, and having them fully drained then re-charged doesen't do them much good either..

>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 9th March 10:57

[Podie]

Get a new battery, be prepared to have to reset the alarm etc etc, and if you're not going to use it, invest in an Accumate charger from the likes of Leven.

Best solution (IMHO) is to use it.

[razorman]

They can be push started, but this is not advised as it can damage the catalytic converter if you have one fitted.
The advice is to jump start, but you need to read in the handbook the correct way to do this with the corect connection points or you could damage the electrics.
The bible also points out that the starting current for a Chim is about 2-3 times that of a normal saloon so it advises the use of a set of heavy duty starter leads as the thiner cheaper ones can melt.

[gazzad]

OK everybody thanks for the advice, I think I will replace the battery - AND invest in an Accumate charger.
I haven't taken the battery out yet. I have read up on this (bolts underneath etc) but which battery do I require, and are they fairly common as the connections seem to be on the side of the battery?

[Tyre Smoke]

Gazzad, get a new battery from Halfords - any HD Rover V8 option will do.

Then repeat after me:

I will drive my car every week or I will give it to a more deserving driver.

[M@H]

I've only used mine twice since october..

[jem]

yoru battery is likely not to accept or hold charge, they need to be exercised, buy a new one.

J

[gazzad]

Tyre Smoke said:

Gazzad, get a new battery from Halfords - any HD Rover V8 option will do. Then repeat after me: I will drive my car every week or I will give it to a more deserving driver.

I am so sorry everybody "I must try harder...I must try harder...Do....not....want...to...let....TVR...downnn"

[Roobarb]

M@H said:

I've only used mine twice since october..

Thats outrageous ! Too busy writing guff in online forums eh I've spent 4 months out of the country since October and I've managed to get out more than twice.

[M@H]

not quite.. lost my job late last september, couldn't afford to drive the thing, however did manage to hang on to it through the financial storm which ended 3 weeks ago. New Carpets are arriving from coverdale in a week or so, so I'm just going to spend a few weeks tidying it up and giving it some TLC to be back on the road soon after

>> Edited by M@H on Wednesday 9th March 16:38