Non starter!

Author
Discussion

JRH63

Original Poster:

166 posts

122 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Jumped in my Tam for a 6 mile journey to the shops, everything was fine.
Came out of the shop, and she wouldn't turnover. 12.1v on the dash, and barely turning the motor.
No phone, or jump pack..... Had to get 3 guys out the pub to push start me))))
Drove 6 mile home, 13.4v on the dash, and she turned over a dream.
Any ideas?
Nothing left on, brand new battery...etc.
Hot start issue maybe? But why 12.1 v, when she turned over fast, 6 Miles earlier?

m4tti

5,427 posts

155 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Hot start ... Bad earth problem.

Clean the chassis earth points up behind the battery and the drivers side of the engine. Then coat in dielectric grease.

K4TRV

1,819 posts

252 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Check the battery terminals are Vaselined/tight - yes, its a pain to remove/replace the battery cover. That the starter motor connections are tight and as said above, earths are checked/cleaned/copaslipped?

T

peteA

2,681 posts

234 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Wouldn't turn over at all? Mine did this once and I put it down to the immobiliser - I unplugged it to reset it and it's been ok ever since (he's says holding onto a large piece of wood). Good advice to check the earths though - I guess you will know if you check them and they are corroded and need cleaning?

Also check the main fuses while your at it.

Hope you get sorted

NJP

119 posts

256 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
quotequote all
Mine played that game. Always started fine when it was cold or cooler. Was very uncooperative when it was hot.

Turned out to be the high current cabling was cooked and the earths were all a mess. That said mine does have 140k+ on the clock!

Certainly worth checking the battery connections and the earths for corrosion and security. There are at least three of them!

JRH63

Original Poster:

166 posts

122 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
quotequote all
Cheers everybody...... Looks like I have a busy weekend!!

shep1001

4,599 posts

189 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
quotequote all
Maybe the battery was in a low state of charge (depends on when it was last used I guess) 6 miles may not have been enough to sufficiently charge the battery after placing it under load to start the first time? How big is the CCA & amperage on the new battery?. Could be the starter (see recent thread as mine was misbehaving) or the earths/cables as mentioned. Might also be worth a new 100/125A fuse under the airbag incase its fractured and on its way out so the alternator can't charge properly.

QBee

20,953 posts

144 months

Saturday 25th April 2015
quotequote all
Don't completely rule out the part you changed recently.

I fitted a new battery in my Audi in November, decent make, then had loads of electrical/non-starting issues. Eventually it dawned on me that the sudden discharges could be the battery itself, took it back to the supplier, who tested it, confirmed the fault and replaced it. Problem over.

Similarly, I had all the plug extenders on my Chim replaced by my TVR guy at a recent service. Legit items from a top supplier. Started getting misfires, two of the new extenders were found to be faulty, with different faults, then a FOC replacement was also faulty. Other owners have reported the same, even though their extenders were bought elsewhere. Bad batch from the manufacturer, we conclude.

Your problem does sound like a cooked cable or a bad earth, but keep faulty battery in mind.....my local auto-electrical place told me that as many as one in five have to be replaced under warranty.