You remember me?1992 Mazda 121 bubble. Screaming belt problem.
Well, I had planned to bring my car to have the belt tightened this morning. I got into the car, turned the key and heard the laziest attempt to start a car ever. It simply wouldn't start. Funnily enough the wipers and lights worked fine. So I tried to turn the key with the wipers and lights on, and the same almost nothing ignition noise followed and the wipers and lights failed until I stopped the key turn.

I am hoping this is merely a battery problem. Can anyone confirm it?

Well I've just connected the battery up to the charger. Any idea how long this'll take?

It's a challenge 5amp, 12volt battery charger up to 1200cc. It has diode lights. One says Battery Charged, one says battery charging and one says reverse polarity replace fuse. At the moment the orange battery charging one is on. I'd love to know how long it'll take? And why this has happenned?

Battery chargers are meant for slow charge. It could take aroung 6 hours to charge your battery. May be a good idea to get a jump. The belt thats the problem sounds like it might be the alternator belt.

Burt is right on the $$. Alternator charges battery, belt turns alternator, belt slips, alternator doesn't turn fast enough or not at all or intermittently, battery goes dead. Gav old boy, it's time to get down to the basics of auto maintenance here. No offence, but the internet is not the place to learn how to do this stuff, just a great source of info on what to do. How hard can it be to loosen a nut, lever on the alternator to tension the belt, and tighten the nut again?

No offence taken, and I understand your point. How hard CAN it be? But I took a look at the alternator belt, the alternator itself, and the nuts. (Nuts, thats funny) And well, while I can change spark plugs, air filter, and do an oil change, I'm not very up on anything else. For me, it could be any nut at all? I'm just not sure which one to turn!
Anyway, I'm recharging the battery, it will be charged in another 3 or 4 hours. I'll replace it tomorrow, and take a 5 minute drive to my mechanic who will tighten the belt(WHILE I WATCH VERY CAREFULLY!!), and hopefully that will solve the problem. Please God. I appreciate all your help and feedback people, cheers.

No problem Gav, this forum is meant for novices to professionals and you shouldn't be embarrassed by any question you may have. Hope everything goes well and you get your ride back on the street.

Thanks Burt for the vote of confidence!

My mechanic said that the belt will have to be changed as some of the teeth had worn right down. He will replace it this afternoon. That should be the end of it with any luck.

Drove home with the new belt in place! It's only a 5 minute trip, but to have no squealing was fabulous!

I'm glad to see you got your car fixed. Hopefully it will give you many more years of problem free service.