Managed to flatten my battery today whilst cleaning the upholstery etc., so I guess it was the interior lights that have done it.

Tried to start and it turned over sluggishly and then the low battery message appeared.

Then attempted to jump start and when I pressed the start button nothing happened with the engine but the rev counter and speedo needles started jumping erratically and the analogue clock hands started spinning at speed. Then the direction indicator lights on the dash stayed on and I got smart key not recognised message. Then nothing.

I've taken the battery off to trickle charge and will attempt again in the morning. I think that the battery is around 4 to 5 years old.

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks

All normal flat/knackered battery symptoms... Replace it

Thanks GundogSD4. Refitted charged battery which I intend to replace today. Press start and needles do the usual up and down sweep as normal but then I get smart key not found. Any ideas how to solve?

How’s the battery in the smart key ?

Replaced 6 months ago

Should last longer I suppose but I’ve had them go in less time than that in my wife’s a Nissan.

Resolved. Checked battery with multimeter and it was 11.2 volts so it clearly hadn't charged up despite being on overnight so I thought I'd check the battery charger with the multimeter too, just to rule out it being faulty.

Despite the battery charger lights being on it wasn't putting out any charge. With hindsight I should have touched the two crocodile clips to get the spark to check it was working before I attached it to the battery but I didn't.

So I put the battery on another battery charger (tested and working) and three hours later the FL2 started perfectly without any smart key errors or weird electrical stuff going on.

So as GungogSD4 said all the weird stuff was typical flat/knackered battery symptoms.

Have to say that his comments put my mind at rest as I was worried I'd fried the ECU or similar trying to jump start it as there are some horror stories about that happening on forums.

Am going to replace battery as it also appears to have been leaking acid which is not good. Now to decide which battery to buy?

Yuasa Battery from Halfords, good quality and price and even cheaper if you or a friend have a trade card

Jump starting the FL2 is covered in the hand book, you must never connect the black jump lead directly to the battery but to another earth on the the car to avoid damaging any electrical gubbins like the ECU...