Hi all

Just returned from a wonderful week abroad came back to a lovely valeted mini (courtesy of parents) and the car would not start!!!!!!:angry:

Was unable to open car using remote central locking, had to do manually. When i turned the key in the ignition no lights nothing.

RAC came out and jumped started the car and he said that the battery was fine and he was not sure what was wrong?

The only thing that i can think of is that the two weeks before my holiday the auxiliary belt started to slip/squeal when cold or at low revs.

Spoke to Mini Synter Coventry, first he said that when you leave a car for more than a week you should leave the battery plugged into a battery mate/optimizer to keep a constant current and charge.

I then mentioned the problem about the belt and he soon changed his mind and said that the belt would need to be changed or re tensioned. £75 for a change or £25 for a re tension.

Have people come across this before with the battery when left for over a week, is the bloke at Sytner just telling white lies to increase there business?

Any help would be appreciated.

Sorry to hear about your problems!

I have had a 75bhp up to 50k and am in a 88bhp with 47k on the clock and never had a problem with the battery. Both cars have been left for over 2 weeks while we have been away and both started without a flinch upon return.

Might be worth getting the dealer to do a voltage check to see ing is draining it accidently, I have read about something similar on another thread somewhere. Will try to findit if I can.

Hope you get it sorted soon though.

Sytner Coventry got back to me, they have changed there mind. They need to do some investigating work first at £85 + VAT and hour:eek: then the cost of any additional parts and labour on top of that.

Wollaston Mini in Northampton have quoted me £32.50 to diagnose the problem then any parts and labour on top.

Have booked in at Wollaston Mini Northampton a week Saturday to have the problem looked at. Fingers crossed the tensioner just needs to be adjusted.

There is a local garage that does free battery checks, going there on saturday first.