I jump started another car from my 02 Honda and then left the honda for about 5 weeks. Came back and the battery was completely dead. Jump started from my mates clapped out Vauxhall Corsa. (Was sure I smelt something bad from the S2 when that was happening.) At tyhe same time the engine ran out of petrol!!!!
After jumpstarting the S2 it ran ok for a bit but just didn't feel like it was driving properly. VTEC seemed ok but shifting between the lower gears just felt awkward.

Went away again for two weeks and the battery has gone again. Sounds like it needs a new battery. That's fine, but does anyone think there is any chance I have damaged the engine or anything else !?!???

 

If you were to damage anything, it would have been the electrics. Can't see how you could have done any damage that would have affected anything connected with changing gears.

Sounds like you discharged the battery starting the other car and then left it discharged. that would have killed your battery. Any smell was probably from sparking when you connected the terminals, as long as you didn't connect them the wrong way round.

 

If you used cheapy jump leads they may have been the route of the smell.

I would get yourself a new battery and go for a good run to get everything nicely warmed up. You due for a service?

Peter

 

I wouldn't just jump start the engine and then switch it off and leave it for 2 weeks - the battery has got no chance to recharge and recondition!

 

It will have erased the ECU memory so will have to relearn its idle and fuelling - may be lumpy for a few days

MB

 

With all the time it's spent doing f**k all I would expect the battery to be going flat and it to be feeling grumpy. Get out in it for a long run and it'll probably be fine, and start on its own the next day.

 

I bought a solar trickle charger for the Elise the other day - only a tenner, ideal for long periods of inactivity. I haven't used it yet, but it is worth being aware that if you plug into the 12v socket rather than onto the battery you either need to leave the keys in the ignition or bypass connect the 12v socket.

BB - ours is great as the Elise doesn't need the key in to use the socket.

 

I used the 12v supply on the S to power an electric socket gun to change a spare wheel on my Dad's trailer. Then when I went to start the car it just clicked and did a nice colourful light show on the dash - do turn over at all. Had to use a Booster box to jump the car and since then it hasnt started as easily as before, with a few turn overs before it fires up. I think the battery is on the way out as I have done about 500 miles since then and its still happening.

Its quite odd that the battery can drain so quickly - I can only assume that its the original one and that at 6 years old its had a good innings.

Any suggestions on good battery suppliers outside of the dealers?
Would a halfords one be just as good (but cheaper!)?

 

Funny because mine has just started to play up. Only holding enough charge to start for about a week and a half and slow starting when hot. Mine is the original six year old battery (I know because I am the only owner).

I was going to get the Halfords one. Take note of a previous post on here that gives the correct model number and not the one in the list at Halfords. Apparently the posts are the wrong way round on the Halfords recommendation.

 

Yep - in the tech FAQ it notes the number is HB053