Multimeter in Swindon?

[Squashed_Fly]

Long shot probably, but does anyone happen to have a multimeter I could borrow and live local to North Swindon?

We have lost the use of our car due to battery being dead and I need to check to see if it just needs a new battery, or if it's a new alternator job. Hopefully the former! Have tried our breakdown, but as it's on the drive, not away from the house, they want to charge £130 for the pleasure! Daylight robbery :-/

[AndyPV]

I have a multimeter, not at home at the moment though

[Rabb]

I have a multimeter that you could borrow however, I am not close enough.
Just a suggestion though - do you have a friend with a tow rope?
Ensure that you are above the required distance from home ( usually 3 miles )
then phone your recovery people. Hey presto - no 130 pound charge.
I have done it once many years ago when I was short of cash.

[Squashed_Fly]

We can still bump start it, but would rather not take a risk - especially as I already called them to ask about it. Might look a bit suspicious! lol

[R6_Don]

I would say that if you can bump start it and still drive it without the car dying then its the battery at fault and not the alternator. If it was the alternator then the car would just run out of power and roll to a stop, Where as if it was the battery once the car is on the move it will be kept going by the alternator untill you next stop and then you will find that there is not enough power stored in the battery to get it going. Im no mechanic but just going by my own personal experience.

[Rabb]

I would say that if you can bump start it and still drive it without the car dying then its the battery at fault and not the alternator. If it was the alternator then the car would just run out of power and roll to a stop, Where as if it was the battery once the car is on the move it will be kept going by the alternator untill you next stop and then you will find that there is not enough power stored in the battery to get it going. Im no mechanic but just going by my own personal experience.

Spot on as far as car batteries / electrical problems are concerned.

[Rabb]

We can still bump start it, but would rather not take a risk - especially as I already called them to ask about it. Might look a bit suspicious! lol

It would look suspicious but hey £130
I got away with it as an intermittant problem

[Squashed_Fly]

It was the battery. Have been and got a new one and it's all good now

[bobf279]

Just a tip if you can bump start a car see if the charging light goes out. If it stays on then alternator if it goes out then battery

[Rossio]

in future il sit in it for you n use my breakdown cover