Not starting...

[pmanson]

I think I may possibly have left the lights on over night by mistake so this morning the battery was flatter than a flat thing... the car wouldn't even turn over.

Can I just jump start the car as normal and take it for a good run to get some charge in it? (I had heard the mazda used a different type of battery so just wanted to check)

Also can some remind me on the usual jump starting procedure... i'm having a thickie moment.

[DennisTheMenace]

Positive to positive on the battery then from the ground of the jump battery to the chassis of the vehicle your starting . should start pretty much instantly then , leave them connected for 5 mins then remove the leads starting with the positive.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Assuming you have a Panasonic Gel battery (that's the one Mazda usually fitted as standard), it's not recommended but yes you can jump-start it. Going for a bit of a run won't be enough to charge it though, you'll need to put it on a slow trickle charge overnight.

[MX-5 Lazza]

DennisTheMenace said:

Positive to positive on the battery then from the ground of the jump battery to the chassis of the vehicle your starting . should start pretty much instantly then , leave them connected for 5 mins then remove the leads starting with the positive.

I think, if it's a gel battery, then you need to jump across both battery terminals, not earth to chassis. It will take more than 5 mins to put any charge into it so you'll need to use the donor cars battery to start the car.

[pmanson]

Well i've borrowed a charger and removed the battery to trickle charge it over night.

Found a slight issue that i'm going to have to deal with though... under the battery was a pool of water! Bugger

[DennisTheMenace]

Check your aerial , mine was loose and letting water in .

[pmanson]

DennisTheMenace said:

Check your aerial , mine was loose and letting water in .

Cool with do. It started first time this morning (trickle charged it over night).

That'll teach me for leaving the lights on

[DennisTheMenace]

Cool hope you gave it a good thrap... run to charge it up again

[pmanson]

DennisTheMenace said:

Cool hope you gave it a good thrap... run to charge it up again

Couldn't give it too good a thrap as it's not stopped raining all day! Looking forward to a bit of sunshine!