To drmel and XERAM

My car is very well looked after serviced at the correct intervals and maintained regardless of cost. Last week I returned to it after parking at Coventry Airport for eleven days. Pressed the button on the key fob....nothing, opened the door manually put the key in the ignition and turned it on.....nothing. The battery was completely flat. I live in Sheffield over eighty miles away. Now before you scoff at the cost of breakdown assistance, what would you have done in my place, 1. Phone a friend to come and tow you home, 160 miles round trip, you'd find out who your friends are!!!. 2. Get some-one to start you with jump leads, if you’re lucky.
3. Phone the nearest garage to help, at what cost? I am a member of GREEN FLAG so I went to phone them 0800 freephone explained my problem (time 1.45 p.m.) they said some-one would be there within the hour, as I was walking back to the car I got a text from them telling me name of the garage who would be coming to help. Van arrived with mechanic at 2.05 p.m. The car was started and checked the battery was charging and I was on the road at 2.15.p.m. 30 minutes after I called them. Leaving the map light on had caused the problem. Incidentally the mechanic said jump leads were not used now as there was a danger of 'blowing’ the E.C.U ( Electronic) Control Unit) of the car being assisted, a point to bear in mind for the non breakdown members of the forum.

Stainless