FLAT or faulty batteries continue to be the most common curse on motorists, according to AA statistics.

One in seven of the 4.3 million breakdowns attended by the AA in 1998 were for flat or faulty batteries.

It is the fifth consecutive year that batteries have topped the AA's list of breakdowns. Tyre problems proved almost as frustrating for the AA's 9.4 million members, accounting for 211,615 call-outs. The AA was able to get to members faster than ever in 1998, averaging an arrival time of 34.8 minutes and completing the job within an hour of being called out.

Alistair Cheyne, director of AA Operations, said: "Batteries rarely last longer than four years, so replacing them near the end of their life can save a lot of time and inconvenience at the side of the road when they finally fizzle out. Most modern batteries are maintenance-free, but there's no harm in checking that the top of the battery is clean and the connections are tight."

He added: "When you're starting up the car, it's always best to ensure that non-essentials, like radios and interior fans are turned off. Don't use the starter motor for more than ten seconds on a cold morning. If the engine fails to start, wait at least 30 seconds for the battery to recover before trying again."

Story date: Wednesday 10 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.