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If you have breakdown cover with us, we'll come out to test your battery to see if it needs a charge or if you need a new one. You can find out more about breakdown cover with our guide. Most batteries will last somewhere between 5 and 7 years. However, our mechanics see cases where the battery has failed after only 2 or 3 years because of how the car was driven. Another vehicle with a fully-charged battery (avoid a hybrid or electric car as this could cause damage). If your car won't start at home, it could be because of a flat battery, failed starter motor or a faulty alternator – all things we can help with. Will the AA come to my house? On average, batteries last between 5 and 7 years but you should only consider changing a car battery when it's showing signs of deterioration.
What to do if your car has a flat battery | The AA
If you've got a flat battery, we won’t just jump-start you and send you on your way. As well as charging or replacing your battery, we'll try to find out why it went flat in the first place.
3. Connect the black jump lead
Our recommendation? Having both a jump starter and a battery charger can be helpful. A battery charger is better if you have access to a power outlet and have enough time to charge the battery, while a jump starter is better in a pinch for those who need to get on the road right away. It's an add-on to Roadside Assistance, which covers you for breakdowns within 1/4 mile from your home. Without it, you'd need to break down more than 1/4 mile from your home to claim. Make sure all electricals like heaters, windscreen wipers and stereo are off when you park or start the car.
AA Power Station - Car Jump Starter Tyre Inflator AA1678
If we can't see why the battery died or we think it's faulty, we'll carry out a battery test. Our test is very thorough and we'll only ever recommend a new car battery if you really need one. If you’re keen to do it yourself, take a look at our advice on how to jump start a car. But make sure you read the instructions in your handbook and follow those if they're different to our steps.
8. Restart your car
Keep both engines off and wait for 3 minutes, then start the working car’s engine and let it run for 1 minute. Find someone with a car who’s happy to help. Their car must have a fully charged battery with the same voltage as yours (usually 12 volts). 1. Line up both cars In 2018, a flat battery was the second-biggest reason why our Members broke down, and we were called out to more than 300,000 of them.* Does the jump starter need to multi-start 12v diesel engines including cars, vans and 4×4’s? Supplied to the AA and RAC, the MR26 is a well proven professional 12v jump starter capable of starting up to 8 litre petrol and 4 litre diesel engines. Maximum capacity – Engine sizes have been shrinking in recent times, and unless you’re running a huge land yacht of a car, you won’t need a hugely powerful jump starter.
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There are a few ways you can avoid getting a flat battery and help your car's battery last longer: 1. Go for regular drives Park both cars so their batteries are within easy reach of one another (without the cars actually touching).We prefer models with built-in safety features and alerts, to warn against wrongful connection, dead shorts, and a low charge on the car battery, when being used as a jump starter. Such alerts may just save you damaging your jump starter and your car’s delicate electronics.
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