Electrical issues

Electrical issues

Author
Discussion

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
Hi all,

I wanted to pick the collective brain regarding an issue with my chim.

She's been sat in the garage for about 5 weeks, and was utterly dead when I went to take her for a drive yesterday (strangely with the exception of the little green door lock light in the middle of the door knob).

Popped to Halfords this morning and picked up a set of jump leads and tried to start her from my golf. No luck.

(To come clean at this point, I had to google (other search engines are available) how to perform the jump so this should give you all some idea of my level of technical expertise in such matters.)

So here I am frankly out of ideas and hoping one of the wise heads out in the PH community could give me some potential pointers.

(PS I used one of the wishbones on the chim as an earth for the jump, was that appropriate?)

Thanks all,
Taz

miniman

24,826 posts

261 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
No, wishbones are connected to the vehicle by bushes, which are rubber.

Technically you should connect negative to somewhere on the engine, but I always used to jump start my Chim with a boost pack directly to the battery terminals. Hook up the leads direct to the battery, leave the donor car running for a few minutes then try turning it over.

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
Appreciate the quick reply miniman, will try this now.

Fingers crossed!

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all


She lives! Thanks again miniman!

miniman

24,826 posts

261 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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thumbup

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
Me again, in a move that will probably win me the award for retard of the year, after I successfully jump started the chimaera over the weekend I thought to myself 'better put these in the boot in case I need them again! '.

Went down to the garage today, needless to say the battery is flat again and now I've locked my lovely new jump leads in the boot.

I have accessed the relevant section of the car as specified in the Bible, only to be presented with nothing but a tiny hole, which I have naturally proceeded to jiggle every tool at my disposal in.

Again, no joy. Could someone PM me some assistance?

Thanks again all,
Taz

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
Did you actually try the release button, with the ignition turned on? I am surprised the battery was THAT flat.

I would seriously consider changing the battery, and frankly, given your level of skill is even lower than mine, I would get the car running and take it to a good local battery independent. They can then have the faff of getting the old one out and the new one in. And they will test your present one for free first. The battery box bolts through the floor, so they need to look under the car for the nuts. Batteries only last about 6 years, less if abused by lack of use. Cost of a new one should be less than £90 fitted.

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2014
quotequote all
I have now!

Nothing.

I agree it's new battery time and also agree that if I were to try to fit it it would be an utter disaster. I assumed it wouldn't be the battery as the dealer had apparently changed it prior to the purchase...

(Interestingly the electrics were dead the first time the car was viewed so I'm actually hoping he didn't change the battery and this isn't indicative of a more serious problem...)

Anyway, trip to Halfords this weekend to diagnose existing battery and fit new one as required.

Still need those jump leads though!


s p a c e m a n

10,752 posts

147 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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The thing that you're trying to hit through the hole is tiny, it normally takes me a couple of attempts and I know where it is hehe

Just emailed you a couple of photos, I normally hit mine by just pushing straight up but I guess it depends on where they drilled the hole.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Up to you, I would go to a good local tyre and battery place, not Halfords. They just tend to have a better knowledge.
In my car the battery box is held in by two bolts through the floor, then you move the ECU and spaghetti, disconnect the battery and lift and slide the box backwards to extract the battery. Reverse the process to install.

You have to make sure the replacement is a good quality and will fit the box. And that it is correctly orientated.

When I bought mine, they tested the old one first. It still had a reasonable charge, but I had been having odd starting issues. Their professional battery test machine showed I had a failing cell, and t new one spins up the starter so much better and holds its charge.

They then went to the Exide chart to choose a battery, got the one it recommended out of the stores, and it was the wrong way around. You need the positive terminal to be as close as possible to the Passenger's left foot - the recommended one put that terminal on that side, but at the back, by the fuse box. A bugger for jump leads! So that one was an 072 I think - the 073 was differently handed and was the correct one. There are loads of opinions on battery choice on here. All I can tell you is that in 12 months of use my Exide Excell as been excellent. Cost £7 more than having the same battery to my house off t'internet. Best £7 I have spent in a long time!

Finally, you don't say where you are in the UK - you may well be near a PHer who would happily come and jump start you. As would the RAC if you have the right level of cover.

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Spaceman - appreciate the PM, will give it a go when I'm back from work this evening. Seems like it could be a pretty frustrating exercise!

QBee - Always happy to support the local community! Have found an independent close to me that seems to be pretty well reviewed. Will check them out this weekend. The place is in Putney (South West London) and I'm based pretty close by in Wandsworth.

Thanks again everyone!

s p a c e m a n

10,752 posts

147 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
It's one of those things that takes a load of attempts the first time and then you do with ease after that, still doesn't help you this time though does it hehe

swallet

453 posts

142 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Don't waste your time with Halfords.

Their batteries are over priced (I have a Halfords trade card and get them at 2/3 the price you will pay which shows the markup)
Their staff are unlikely t touch a Chimaera due to the non-standard fitment of the battery.

A local garage will charge you less and hopefully do a better job.

swallet

453 posts

142 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Your profile doesn't say where you are.
If you happen to be in West Yorks or East Lancs I would gladly help you out and swap a new battery in for you.
]
EDIT - See you are in Wandsworth, I was in Fulham yesterday but bit of a trek now!

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
I will just give a nod for a local group in the East Midlands. They are not the cheapest for everything, but the service, facilities and knowledge are excellent.

TANVIK changed my battery. They selected a guy who was in his 50s and had a Z3 of his own, so liked sports cars, and he did a top notch job. Took great care not to damage anything, made sure i was happy, tested the old battery properly first and showed me that his tester said it was holding charge, but that there was a faulty cell which was causing the sluggish starting.

I helped him to locate the bolts into the floor holes, and helped him to understand how it was fitted, and he involved me in ensuring we got the right battery. As I said above, all for £7 more than the cheapest i could have bought that battery on't t'internet and had it delivered for me to do on my own with no 4 post lift. Bargain.... yes

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Me again, in a move that will probably win me the award for retard of the year, after I successfully jump started the chimaera over the weekend I thought to myself 'better put these in the boot in case I need them again! '.

Went down to the garage today, needless to say the battery is flat again and now I've locked my lovely new jump leads in the boot.

I have accessed the relevant section of the car as specified in the Bible, only to be presented with nothing but a tiny hole, which I have naturally proceeded to jiggle every tool at my disposal in.

Again, no joy. Could someone PM me some assistance?

Thanks again all,
Taz

Oldred_V8S

3,714 posts

237 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
Just a thought.

If you are having a problem getting into the boot via the method outlined in the bible; you could get a 12v battery and a couple of leads, connect it to your battery so that you can then operate the boot release. You would still need the ignition switched to on.

Also if you say the battery was checked by your dealer recently, it could be that you have something draining the battery like an interior light. Or it could be that the dealer didn't really check the battery.

QBee

20,903 posts

143 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
The best mod is one we should all be doing, and that i keep seeing on cars at my TVR guy's workshops - a permanently wired Anderson connector.

It is left wired to the battery terminals, then a few feet of cable are routed to a suitable location that you can reach from outside the car, and there is a neat plug on the end. The opposite plug is then on the end of two leads that are effectively a pair of jump leads, a few metres long and with the usual sprung connectors on the other end. This is a lead that you keep IN THE CAR (the area behind the seats comes to mind) so that you can always get at it in a flat-battery-emergency.

It saves having to disturb everything in the footwell on a dark country lane in the rain at 10.30 at night to jump start the car - you just plug your leads into the Anderson connector and get a jump start

Mr meme

Original Poster:

14 posts

119 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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Success!

Thanks again everyone!!!

s p a c e m a n

10,752 posts

147 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
quotequote all
woohoo

Here's an idea, keep the jump leads in the golf hehe