Batteries go flat for three common reasons: something was left switched on, cold weather, or the battery has simply reached the end of its life. In the cold a battery delivers less current while the engine needs more to turn — the car that started fine in summer will not start on a winter morning. Short city trips also never give the battery a chance to charge fully. A jump start means supplying enough current from outside to turn the engine. It gets the car moving but does not repair the battery: if the charging system can refill it once the engine runs, that is the end of it; if it cannot, you will be in the same spot a few hours later. We tell you which of the two it is while we are there.
- No crank or slow crank points to the battery first
- Cold weather cuts the current a battery can deliver
- A jump start gets you going, it does not extend battery life
- We tell you on the spot whether it is the battery or the charging system
Common questions
Will the car stall again after a jump start?
Not if the charging system is sound — the alternator refills the battery while the engine runs. But if the battery is worn out or the alternator is not charging, the same problem returns once you switch off. We check which it is while jump starting.
Do I need a new battery?
Not every flat battery needs replacing. If you left the lights on, the battery is fine and a jump start is enough. But if it is over four years old and goes flat often, it is time.
What we do
