Autonomy

Dull and probably dumb question - My jeep has sat undriven for 2+ months, went to start it yesterday and battery totally flat. Unsurprising I guess.

Breakdown guys came out and jump started it, the said drive for 30 mins and all should be recharged. Did that. Went to start it today, completely flat again. Even the interior light didn't come on. No juice at all.

Last time I changed the battery was about 3 years ago...

Question - get the guys out again tomorrow to jump start it - would a longer drive recharge it or as it was totally flat this morning is it more likely the battery is not holding any charge and I should drive to a garage to get a new battery.... (can't remember how much they are? 500dhs?)

Thanks for any input...

Beaverstate

Sounds like your alternator is shot. If so drive 1,000 miles and it would do no good.

typical

Once a battery is dead, it is dead.

There's a risk that driving too much with a dead battery could fry your alternator. Three years is a pretty good innings for a battery out here, probably better to get a new one ASAP.

(It could also be the alternator is shot, but more likely the battery was just killed by sitting in extreme heat without charge for a long while. You might want to think about getting a battery conditioner if you park somewhere that one can be plugged in.)

Autonomy

Oh buggeration - I hadn't thought of that - I assumed it would be a dry / dead battery - but it could be it's not even getting charged...

Millhouse

I vote dead.

We had one die after a summer of not really being used in Abu Dhabi. A man with two spanners and a spare battery started it for us and we drove to JBR for dinner (to give it a run). Naturally it wouldn't restart at JBR.

New battery and we were all good again. (although we have probably done 2 more since and 12-18mths is pretty much max for me here)

Anyway... take yourself to ENOC and give the nice man 600Dh.

Oh, even if it is the alternator, you will still need a new battery now. They will test the alternator when you take it in.

mentalist

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=765536
Mine cost Dhs550 including labour. Too bloody hot for me to do it.

britexpat76

It will be the Battery. I am constantly changing the damn things

Autonomy

Cool thanks all.... Will be off to ENOC tomorrow....

rowell

My money is on the battery, alternator will be ok

jackthehat

Same here! The climate destroys Car Batteries in the Middle East! - If you get more than a year, you are lucky!

Jim Smith

I've found 18 months is about you lot here. Oh! for the days when a good Korean battery was 80 Dirhams in Satwa, I kid you not!!!

Boomhauer

I make the same mistake over and over and over......
..namely not drive my Landie for months at a time , leading to dead batteries.



Totally off topic,..... but what genius decided to put the battery under the driver's seat ( NAS D110)

Millhouse

In the old BMW 5 series it was under the rear seat!

typical

My crappy battery almost certainly burnt out my alternator.

Desert Dubliner

I still have the battery in my volvo after two and a half years in Bahrain and 3 years in DUblin.