What's a reasonable number of times to be asked to give a jump start?

It may not be a problem with his battery. A friend helped me to buy a new battery, which then slowly went flat. I had to have a reconditioned alternator, then had an unwanted spare battery which I had to keep charged for the next couple of years.

Or he might just have a loose belt to the alternator.

Tell him that more damage can be done to the electronics by jump starting than by replacing the battery.

Encourage him to buy a charger and connect it to his battery overnight.

Would you feel as resentful, if it was an attractive young woman with a prominent cleavage. Just checking !

Get his wife/kids to buy him a jump starter for Xmas, then the problem will go away tomorrow.

It wouldn't do your ears much good on my car, the alarm is self powered and very loud.

Mine would probably order me to shut the bonnet if I opened it. I certainly would need to phone the tracking company before disconnecting the battery.

Colin Bignell

The missus would have it sorted in no time at all.

There is a line. It's between being in genuine need and taking advantage of the generousity of others. ISTM the OPs neighbour has crossed this line and is therefore not really "in need" he's taking the mick.

My personal view would be, help him once. If he comes knocking again then jump him but only on the condition that he goes _directly_ to the main dealer - with me driving behind (in case he breaks down en- route). If he doesn't want to accept my terms, then it's "sorry: but I've got all this stuff to get ready for christmas ...."

The last time one of them lived on the street I was married to her.

So don't disconnect it. Put a 12V back-up supply on (usually through a cheapo gadget plugged into the cigarette lighter) before disconnecting.

Buy him one of these for Christmas

I had a neighbour like that. Long since departed. He was a teacher, so perhaps used to being obeyed. Guess he thought since he'd seen me working on my cars I'd enjoy working on his. ;-)

Knocked on the door one day and asked if I had engine oil. I enquired what he wanted it for and he said his was low. There's a 24 hour garage about 5 minutes walk away, and a Halfords 15 minutes or so.

Felt like saying did he need to borrow the money to buy some. But knowing him he would have taken it.

Generally, I'll help anyone out. I suppose seeming useful gives me a good feeling. ;-) But as soon as I feel 'used' I get very stubborn.

Urban myth. Some ECus may need to 're-learn' things, though.

Can you imagine the lawsuits in the US if something so simple as a flat battery broke things?

Or when you have a big bloke in the back and they say "This seat is getting warm". I forget for the moment what was causing the short, but it was a good job the passenger was alert or it could have been very exciting.

he may be right, at that.

Half the car needed recoding and nothing worked properly when a dealer swapped one battery i had.

Actual fact.

All the electric windows forgot where 'closed' was.

All the powerfold mirrors forgot where folded was.

The radio ceased to work. I did not even HAVE the code: the main dealer did.

That's all cos the battery went flat after a month of 'tracker' and I charged it up..but..

Doesn't break them, but it took my an irritated call and half an hour to restore the car to sanity.

What a coincidence, my neighbour is a teacher.

My wife is a teacher, don't worry, you get used to it after a while and learn to ignore it and not be offended. I'm still learning after 15 years.

Those who can, do... Those who can't, teach.

In message , Tim Watts writes

Try it one day, not as easy as it appears.

PS. don't start on about the holidays, that is an urban myth.