I wanted a jump start off them, not a bloody transplant kidney.

[BoysofMelody]

Came back to the car after a visit to the shops, turned the key and .... nothing.

Thankfully I had my trusty jump leads in the back of the car. Opened the bonnet, stuck the hazard flashers on and stood by my car with the jump leads. Forty fucking minutes I stood there waiting on a relatively busy street by a shopping centre and cars were streaming by. At first it was quite amusing watching people driving by avoiding eye contact or making a big show of looking at their watch and looking apologetic. Well the novelty soon wore off. I'm a member of the AA, but an hour to two hour wait didn't appeal much.

Eventually a lovely Italian couple on holiday stopped and helped, they were amazed how long I'd had to wait before someone stopped. They claimed in Italy, you'd be helped pretty much in an instant.

Is it just people being selfish arses, or perhaps not knowing what a pair of jumper leads look like (perhaps they thought I had a huge pair of oversized nipple clamps in my hand? Surely learning how to jump start a car is something everyone learns at some point?

Or did they think it was a scam or robbery attempt? It was in broad daylight, with loads of passersby and CCTV coverage.

YANBU.

Around these parts, every car that passed you would at least roll down the window to see if you needed help.

You aren't supposed to jump a car that has an electronic ignition or uses alternate fuel. My car doesn't use alternate fuel, but I have no clue about the electric ignition thing.

So why haven't you?

I know how to jump start a car fine well, but needed someone with a car and a working car battery.

I was stood in the road pointing to the jump leads and not a person stopped in forty minutes.

Did you actually phone the AA?

I think some of the replies to this thread like 'my car couldn't do it' or 'there's the potential to damage my car' suggests why people may not have stopped; they had no idea what to do or how it works.

FWIW, I'd have offered.

I dont understand why you didnt just phone the AA, thats what they are there for. Apart from anything else, it might not have actually been the battery and you could have knackered someone elses car trying to jump it if a jump wasnt what was needed.

I wouldnt have stopped tbh.

I could in no way have helped you unless you knew exactly what to do.

I do and had a set of jump leads with me and in my hands!

Red terminal (+) to red terminal (+), black terminal (-) to black terminal. (-) Car with working battery is started up. Wait 30 secs and then turn ignition on car with a flat battery. Unclip in the reverse order. Drive car around for a bit to give battery a chance to recover.

It takes the person stopping about two minutes.

I know what to do class and how it works, which is why I wouldnt have stopped and would expect the OP to call the AA.

I dont understand why you didnt just phone the AA, thats what they are there for

Because I (foolishly) thought someone would stop in five minutes and I'd be on my way, rather than waiting up to two hours for an AA van to turn up.

I was stood in the road pointing to the jump leads and not a person stopped in forty minutes.

I'd have thought you were trying to sell some jump leads.

Your problem to fix OP.

I'd have assumed you wanted a bloody transplant kidney. Sorry.

Your problem to fix OP

Well I hope you don't breakdown! FWIW always stop if possible to help someone out (obviously not if they're broken down in the motorway). if I can either on my bike or in my car.

your problem to fix op

Jesus Christ what kind of world do we live in now. This is why people walk or drive past people hurt or injured etc. It's fucking sad.

you were stood pointing to the jump leads? But did you actually try to flag any of the people down who were walking past or ask them for help or anything?

I would have stopped, OP.

My DH even gave someone a bump start the other day (took us back a few years!)

i broke down recently and no less than 4 seperate people stopped within the first 20 mins offering to help! its weird no one did.

Last time there was a thread like this, 500 women said, "My DH told me never to jump start another car, as it may blow my electrics." The rest of us were capable of independent thought and would have offered to help.

www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/garage-equipment/battery-chargers-jump-starters/phaze-4-in-1-jump-starter

I ordered this when dh's alternator was packing up and we had to wait until payday to get it sorted. Always charged up and in the boot now, best thing I've ever bought car wise.

Red terminal (+) to red terminal (+), black terminal (-) to black terminal. (-)

Things may work differently in the US, but this is why I would be wary of helping. It's red to positive terminal in dead car, red clip to positive terminal in live car, black clip to negative terminal in live car, black clip to unpainted metal surface in dead car. Putting the black clip on the negative terminal of a dead battery could cause an explosion.

It's tricky doing jump leads because the cars have to have engines facing each other (unless you've got freakishly long jump leads). So anyone helping you would have to turn round and cross the traffic to park on the 'wrong' side of the road, and and then end up facing the opposite way to where they were going. If you know you've got plenty of time, then fair enough. You'd have more luck if you were stuck in a car park - more room, less hassle etc.
I'm sorry about your car - just trying to offer a reason. I don't think people were unhelpful because they were horrible people.

Invest in a jump starter and keep it in your boot. Means you don't need to rely on finding someone willing to give you a boost. I keep one in the boot cause my car has it's moments with random no-starts. You just need to make sure you keep it charged, otherwise you'll come to need it and find its flat!

I wouldn't stop to give someone a jump start...I'd assume you were waiting for a friend.

Was putting the hazards on with a flat battery such a good idea ?

I'd have stopped OP, though I'd have needed you to know what you were doing as although I've had my car jump started (I've also pushed it round a car park on another occasion) in the past, i wasn't paying enough attention to be sure of what to do. But if you knew your way round jump leads I'd happily have helped.

I do feel your pain. Yesterday i had a flat tyre. Loads of people passed (mostly men) , not one offer of help. Possibly because I'm a fat middle-aged brunette!

I think there's a geographical aspect too; I'm in the London suburbs. No one ever helps anyone round here!

Was putting the hazards on with a flat battery such a good idea ?

Battery was flat as a pancake. Made no odds.