Jump Start Car Battery Service Melbourne

Flat Battery Jump Start Service in Melbourne

Car won't start? Mechanic Near You sends a mobile mechanic to jump start your car at home, at work or at the roadside across Melbourne's west. A jump start costs from $70 and takes about 30 minutes. We test the battery and charging system while we are there, so you know whether the car will start again tomorrow.

• Jump start from $70
• About 30 minutes on site
• Battery and charging system tested
• Replacement batteries carried for most cars
• 7 days a week, 7 am to 9 pm

The click that ruins your morning

You turn the key or press the button, and the car answers with a click. Or with nothing at all. The dash lights fade, and so does your plan for the day.

It always seems to happen when you can least afford it. The kids need to be at school. Your shift starts soon. You are in a shopping centre car park with a boot full of groceries.

You don't need to flag down a stranger with jumper leads. Call us, tell us where the car is, and a mechanic comes to you.

What our jump start car service includes

Our flat battery service does more than get the engine running. A jump start on its own only tells you the car can run today. Ours tells you why it went flat.

1. You call or book. Tell us where the car is and what happened when you tried to start it.
2. We come to the car. Driveway, workplace, car park or roadside.
3. We test the battery first. A battery that has failed needs replacing, and no jump will fix it for long.
4. We jump start the car. We use the right method for your vehicle, including keyless and hybrid models.
5. We check the charging system. If the alternator isn't charging, a jumped battery will soon be flat again.
6. You get a clear answer. Good to drive, needs a new battery, or needs another repair. We explain any cost before doing more work.

How much is a jump start service?

A jump start is from $70. If the test shows you need more than a jump, these are our starting prices.

Your exact price depends on your vehicle and where you are. We confirm it before we start.

Jump start or flat battery replacement?

A jump start is the right fix when a healthy battery has been drained. The usual causes are lights or accessories left on, a car that sat unused for weeks, or a run of short trips.

A flat battery replacement is the right fix when the battery itself has failed. Car batteries typically last three to five years. An old one may take a jump and then die again the next morning.

Signs you need a new battery, not another jump:

• The engine cranks slowly, mostly on the first start of the day
• You have needed more than one jump start lately
• The battery case is swollen, or the terminals are heavily corroded
• The car starts after a jump but fails again soon after

Our guide to the 7 warning signs of a failing car battery covers each one. We carry replacement batteries for most makes and models, so a failed battery can usually be swapped in the same visit.

How fast can a car battery service reach you?

When you are stranded, you want an instant car battery service. No mobile service can promise instant, and we won't pretend to.

Here is what we do. We answer the phone, ask where you are, and tell you how soon we can get there. Call-outs where the car is stuck somewhere unsafe are prioritised. We take calls from 7 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week.

How to jump start a car yourself

If you have jumper leads and a second car, you can try it yourself. Your owner's manual comes first, because the method differs between cars. This is the general procedure RACV gives.

1. Park the working car close to yours without the two touching. Switch both off and apply the handbrakes.
2. Clamp one red lead to the positive (+) terminal of the flat battery.
3. Clamp the other red lead to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.
4. Clamp one black lead to the negative (–) terminal of the good battery.
5. Clamp the last black lead to bare, unpainted metal on your car's engine. Do not attach it to the flat battery.
6. Start the working car and let it run for a minute.
7. Start your car. Leave both running for several minutes.
8. Remove the leads in the reverse order.
9. Drive for about 20 minutes so the battery can recharge.

A portable jump starter pack follows the same red-then-black order, without the second car.

When not to try it

Do not jump start a battery that is cracked, leaking or smells of rotten eggs. Take care with late-model cars too. NRMA warns that jump starting a modern car can damage its computers if the leads are connected wrongly, and recommends leads with spike protection. If you are unsure, stop and call a mechanic.

Car won't jump start? What it usually means

You connected the leads, waited, and still nothing. That tells you something useful.

When a car won't start, a mechanic with a tester can usually find the cause in minutes. Our guide to why a car won't start explains each cause in more detail.

Why does my battery keep going flat?

A battery that goes flat again and again is telling you something. The common causes are:

• An ageing battery that no longer holds charge
• A faulty alternator
• Something drawing power while the car is parked
• Corroded or loose battery terminals
• Lots of short trips that never recharge the battery
• Very hot or very cold weather

Repeated jump starts will not fix any of these. A test shows which one you have.

Jump start near you: where we come

We are based in Wyndham Vale and cover Melbourne's west and the Geelong side: Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Point Cook, Manor Lakes, Williams Landing, Eynesbury, Melton, Melton South, Caroline Springs, Deer Park, Altona, Altona North, Williamstown, Geelong, Lara and Corio.

Need a car battery replacement in Point Cook or Manor Lakes? The mechanic who jump starts your car can fit the new battery on the spot. See all our service areas.

Jump start questions

Is it safe to drive after a jump start?

Usually, yes. Drive for about 20 minutes to put charge back into the battery. If the battery is old or damaged it may go flat again quickly, which is why we test it before you leave.

Which vehicles can you jump start?

Petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, SUVs, 4WDs, utes and vans, including keyless-start models.

Do you carry batteries with you?

Yes, for most makes and models. If yours has failed, we tell you the cost and can usually fit a new one in the same visit.

Can a completely dead battery be jump started?

Sometimes. A battery drained by lights left on will usually take a jump. A battery that has failed inside will not hold the charge, and needs replacing.

Will a jump start damage my car?

Done correctly, the risk is low. The danger comes from leads connected in the wrong order or to the wrong point, which can harm the electronics in modern cars. That is the main reason to have a mechanic do it.

What should I tell you when I call?

Your location, your car's make and model, and what happens when you try to start it: clicking, slow cranking or nothing at all.

H2: Stuck with a flat battery in Melbourne? Call a mechanic.

Call 0406 396 397 between 7 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week. Tell us where you are, and we will tell you how soon we can be there.