I, too, get long life from my batteries, replaced at the first sign of decline, and these days carry a jump pack in case I get it wrong especially with my forays into the “wilderness”.
But I have had my moments in my years of motoring and had flat batteries on two occasions in nearly new cars in “wilderness” situations.
Firstly a Volvo whilst on the banks of the river Spey. New battery fitted by RAC and had a repeat fail a month later. Then again. Never got to the bottom of it but car soon went.
Secondly, a BMW 5 series in a field in the middle of Bedfordshire. RAC got me going, fault found by BMW service people.
I raised the thread because should i err and become juiceless I don’t want to faff around. You would be brave indeed to try putting jump leads on the battery (unless 4 terminal) via the saddle board, having firstly removed the board, removed tool tray (after removing tools from tray cos one if bound to fall out onto the wing), and navigating around the suspension hoop and metal fixing strap with croc clips to terminals you cannot see. This would be why my service book instructs jumping the starter.
It’s tight in there (actually you are hooking up full load to to the solenoid), so again the instruction, rightly, gives a warning.
Incidentally, well done the RAC for finding me in the past!
