Tuscan flat battery - hazards flashing

[ericgreveson]

Hi all,

I've just returned from a 3 week holiday to find the Tuscan's battery has, unsurprisingly, gone flat. There was enough juice to open the door and start the electrics, but attempting to turn over the starter motor appeared to drop the voltage to a level where everything flickered on and off, and then the alarm went off. I managed to kill that, but then foolishly got out of the car. Winding the window back up when I closed the door must have been enough to finish it off, since now nothing will open and the hazards are flashing.

Any idea why the hazards are flashing, and is there a way to make it stop? (Pressing the keyfob doesn't work, and getting in the car may take some time, using the "special" way, so I'm guessing not). If not, then I'll just have to let them flash until the battery goes completely dead, which doesn't sound ideal, but I don't have any other option.

My plan is to get the AA round tomorrow, as they should be able to charge the battery through the external charge point. I may need to use the "special" way in to get to the Anderson connector (locked in the boot - another error) as I assume they don't tend to carry them around. Does this sound like a reasonable course of action? Should the connector be able to handle the current for turning over the starter motor?

Thanks in advance

Eric

[mrcyeo]

You'll be lucky if the external socket still works, you might have to get access to the battery for normal jump leads to be attached. Some of us have an extra connection in the passenger footwell with thinker cable to take a better charge.

The lights flashing will be the alarm still going off (minus the siren) as the battery is so flat, you'll find that the siren will soon kick in once you have a successful charge!

[Curdster]

Eric Same happened to me at the weekend. However I had the Anderson leads in the house.phew. Managed to start it from my wifes car and off I went. But here is the point of this post. Got to the garage, filled with petrol and then tried to start it again. Nothing. Called the AA. Great bloke, got it started and showed me that although the alternator was working the battery would not hold the charge. So before you start you may wish to deep charge the battery before just jump starting and drivng off, that is unless you don't intend to stop!! Assuming that a deep charge will work. My battery is only 8 months old so hoping so.

[ericgreveson]

Thanks for the responses guys, it looks like removing the wheel and connecting to the battery directly will probably be the way to go. I think the battery is only a year old or so, I'll bear the deep charge advice in mind!

[TomOSmith]

I've never had a problem recharging through the Anderson connector (and I've plenty of experience of the flat battery) even with a practically dead battery (at least until the battery is three years old and beyond resuscitation).