Haven't drove my car, punto 2001 elx 16v, for about a year now, started the engine up and the battery was completly flat. I'm a complete novice when it comes to cars and have no idea what to buy. I've been told to buy a battery charger from Halfords or Argos but no too sure which one to buy. Any help would be great, thanks.

You went to start it and battery was flat, or it started through jump start and battery was still flat, or it started fine from battery and battery has since gone flat

Hi, Welcome to the FF.

If the battery has been completely flat for more than a few weeks, it's unlikely to fully recover. You may be better off buying a new battery.

Dave.

:yeahthat:

don't get the batt from hellfrauds, go to a good motorfactor it'll be alot cheaper

If I were to buy a new battery would this one be suitable and at a decent price?

carbatteryshop.co. uk/ mb-Punto-1.2-1999-I4.html Address has been edited, can't post URLs.

Also, for a car novice is it fairly simple to remove and replace a car battery?

wipe clean battery terminals, undo bolt on the terminal clamp until it is loose on black cable first, this is the EARTH, then do the same on the red cable, this is LIVE. Warning before removing battery make sure you have the radio code as this will have to be entered after reconnection in some cases. Remove whatever you have holding the battery in place(normally its a metal plate on top held by bolts, then carefully lift out of car, put in new battery, and reverse removal precedure, connect Red cable first & tighten then the Black cable (make sure you do it in this order) then thinly coat terminals in vasaline not grease, job done.

also you could do with checking the alternator

Thanks for the replies guys, i'll give it a go.