Hi All

 

I recently had the front brakes on my zed replaced and when I went to pick up the car she wouldn’t start. The garage was shut and it was late a night with no one around so I called the RAC. He said that the battery was dead and jump started it for me with no problem first time. He stated that the battery was charging ok, but suggested that I drove the car for an hour or so and that would charge it up.

 

I did that and when I got home I turned off the car and then tried to restart her again and she started with no problems.

 

Next day I went out and she was dead again. I used my mate’s car to jump start her (she’s an automatic so no pushing involved here) and again she started first time. Drove her around for a bit again and stopped at the garage to buy petrol and she started first time again.

 

Next day she was dead again. Someone suggested that it might be the alternator so I jump started her again and drove her for two hours. When I got home disconnected the negative lead and hoped that she would start the next day.

 

Next morning I reconnected the lead and she started first time. I have been doing this for a few days now, but this morning the last couple of days she didn’t start again.

 

Sorry about the long story, but I thought I would give you all the facts lol

 

Any ideas????

 

Spencer

Legarth?

 

 

Check the battery with a volt meter to see if it's A: Holding charge and B:Charging.

bad earth ?

 

A short somewhere ?

 

Or some thing draining the power like electic seat switch jammed?

sounds like the batt is knackered... ihad this...the charge would disapate over nigh nd tat was it... needed jumping again...

if the car doesnt start the next day but, starts if the battery is disconected over night. it would sujest to me that you have something draining the battery some where. possible cause could be the stereo/amps.

with the ignition off, when you connect the battery does it spark at all? if it does then you have an open circuit which is draining it over a period

 

HTH

:)

Need a hydrometer to know for certain, funkysi's advice is a good starting point. Check the water levels and any fur on the plates aswell.

 

Sounds like its not holding charge well.

if the car doesnt start the next day but, starts if the battery is disconected over night. it would sujest to me that you have something draining the battery some where. possible cause could be the stereo/amps.

with the ignition off, when you connect the battery does it spark at all? if it does then you have an open circuit which is draining it over a period

 

HTH

:)

 

I would of said this but the disconnecting the negative means there isn't any current flow to discharge the battery.

 

Has the negative been clear of the body of the car? if it has the battery might need replacing as once you fully discharge a lead-acid (assuming here) they don't recombine well and it just won't hold full charge again.

Exactly the same fault as mine had. Alternator was knackered. Draining battery overnight. Suggest you get it checked first. :)

Exactly the same fault as mine had. Alternator was knackered. Draining battery overnight. Suggest you get it checked first. :)

 

Knackered alternator shouldn't cause the battery to drain if left overnight, only when the car is being used.

Had exactly the same, had to jump start everyday, turned out the battery was dead, enough to start on a jump, and drive, replaced with a higher amp one, never had a prob since.

Dead battery as above! pick a new one up and you will be fine!

Glad I could help LOL :rofl:

Knackered alternator shouldn't cause the battery to drain if left overnight, only when the car is being used.

 

It can do !

I HAD THIS ONLY LAST WEEK! mine turned out to be a fubar alternator. which wasnt charging enough . charged battery car started. went back to it 3 hours later battery dead. replaced alternator now it works as it should.

Glad I could help LOL :rofl:

 

So what do you think is the problem? Surely if the RAC guys say it's charging then the battery is fine. So is it the alternator?

 

Spencer

So what do you think is the problem? Surely if the RAC guys say it's charging then the battery is fine. So is it the alternator?

 

Spencer

 

Reading the voltage of a battery is a good indicator but can be misleading as regards how much charge the battery is actually holding. Check the water level of the cells, for fur on the plates and test the hydrogen content as that is the best indicator.

 

Assuming the battery is fine, easiest way to check the alternator is working is to measure the voltage of the battery with it connected with the engine off and then start it up and measure again, you should see a voltage gain, if its same or lower, the alternator should be tested for insulation breakdown, as i think that is the main problem with our alternators is that the insulation of the windings over time, due to the heat in the engine becomes less effective and the windings short out and thus no ouput.

A Multimeter will help diagnose the problem. With engine off it should be around 12v, with engine running it should be around 14v.

 

If its not around 14v then there is an alternator problem, otherwise its either a duff battery or there is a drain on the battery, you can test for drains by disconnecting the battery negative cable and placing a multimeter between the cable and battery terminal and setting it to 10amps Up top 30ma or less should be fine, anything over would suggest a drain.

Hi All

 

Just thought I would let you know that I had the battery replaced on Wednesday night and everything has been fine since.

 

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

Spencer