Battery Dead - jump or charge?

[ruay]

I've just bought a transit van 2004. It was delivered to me yesterday (3 hour drive to me from last owner) and noticed after bloke had left that battery light was on (stupid i know). The kids were playing in it and left the parking lights on - it was about 4 hours before i noticed and turned them off. I tried to start it today and it is completely dead - the central locking doesn't even work. I've been reading through other similar threads on here re flat battery but can't figure out what to do? Should I could jump start if off my car and hope for the best or get hold of a charger and charge it up (this will be tricky as it's parked on a street around the corner so no power source). Should i jump start it, drive it round the corner and charge it up? Did leaving the lights on cause it to go flat or have I got a problem?? All help appreciated! thanks!

[ake]

Battery light being on means its not charging, so alternator me be knackered, but leaving the lights on certainly didnt help. you can try jumping it if you have some decent jump leads, then see if it charges, or if the battery light stays on

[APH]

You will never get a full recovery charge by letting it re charge itself after jumping, best to charge it on a proper charger for a day or so. Why not take the battery off and take it home to do it...rather than taking charger to van

[ruay]

Thanks v much both. I'm going to get a charger and give it a go and then if the warning light is still on drive it to the garage. Was hoping to be able to avoid having to figure out how to remove charger from under driver's seat (yes, i am completely hopeless where motors are concerned!). thanks again guys.

[APH]

Slide seat fully forward, and wind back of seat forward too. lift up bttery cover flap, 2 x 10mm nuts to release battery leads, make sure you take negative off first, and put it back LAST. 3 x 8mm bolts undo to remove the battery clamp. Lift out battery.

Andy

[ruay]

Thanks Andy! Am going to buy a charger and try this tomorrow.