Hi Everyone
Sorry, but I am a bit of a muppet when it comes to fixing my car! Yesterday when I first tried to start my car, it was a bit reluctant to start, and then it did the second time but reset the clock. Today, I think it was even colder at night, and it was shaky the first time, but the second time it didnt work, and the third, fourth, fifth... Im hoping I didnt do too much damage to it by doing it loads of times. One of my friends got his car and tried to jump start it, but it still wouldnt work. The Cd player and heating turn on when its on ignition though. What he did was connect it to the big circle type thing on top of the battery, and tried the same on the other one, but it was really hard to get into. Tried it using the screw on top of it, and the circle part after making it go in.

How do I properly jumpstart it, and does it sound like I need a new battery, or just to do it properly?

I have a fiat punto mk2.

Thanks!

Lots of places do free battery tests. Could be a poor earth is contributing. Try a single jump lead from the battery -ive (it'll be marked -) to somewhere solid on the engine.

Proper way to jump is:

live car + dead car +
live car - dead car chassis earth

Any warning lights?

fingers99 said:

Lots of places do free battery tests. Could be a poor earth is contributing. Try a single jump lead from the battery -ive (it'll be marked -) to somewhere solid on the engine.

Proper way to jump is:

live car + dead car +
live car - dead car chassis earth

Any warning lights?

Click to expand...

Hi
Thanks for the reply. Im sorry, I dont know what you mean by poor earth! So are you saying that I should connect one of the jump leads to the negative side, and the other part of that one to the engine? Which part of the engine would I do it on, and what is that supposed to do? Told you I was clueless!

When I try and start it just stutters for less than a second, and then goes off, so no engine lights then. When it is in ignition, it shows the usual lights.

Also, How do I take the battery out? We tried it before but no use! We took out one side, though to take out the red side of it was hard, and didnt want to break anything.

Connect the single jump lead to anything metal and solid on the engine.

Generally the battery leads are held on by clamps tightened by 13mm nuts. Slacken the nuts, remove the - (earth) cable first, then the + (red) one. Sometimes you'll have to gently lever it to get the clamp free.

There's supposed to be a bar holding the battery in. but sounds like yours is missing. Just lift the battery out.

Battery may be dying (they live about 3 or 4 years and usually die after a cold spell or prolonged non-use) but will likely need a jump or charging.