Some issues after jump starting
Some issues after jump starting
Author
Discussion

Gixer_fan

Original Poster:

290 posts

227 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Hello all, I'm suffering from the usual garage with no power problems.
My car (K-series) has an immobiliser and tracker (the latter needs power and the former drains it).
I usually need to start the car jumping off another car battery I carry around, but last time this wasn't enough. So I jumped it off my daily driver whilst running.
It started OK but it looks like the extra voltage (14.4V odd when running) has damaged both the water temp and oil pressure gauges. The oil press shows zero and the water is now reading about 20 degrees higher than previous. The fan cut-in doesn't seem affected. The oil press gauge is ok as earthing the lead to the sender gives a FSD on the gauge. I have a separate oil press switch/light so I am getting pressure!
Anyone else experienced this? I'm pretty sure the ignition was switched off when I connected the jump leads. The car is still driving fine, but I'm wondering what other damage I could/should check for. At least I didn't wreck the digital speedo/odometer as I heard stories of this happening. Thanks in anticiption.

TeflonT

1,670 posts

292 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Your problem is unrelated to the jump start. It is more than likely a problem with the instrument earths or +12v supply. The instruments are nothing more complex than a coil of wire and a magnet.

mickrick

3,759 posts

202 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
It´s the duff battery. Get a new one and I´m pretty sure your problems will go away. Dodgy batteries always give strange symptoms.

Gixer_fan

Original Poster:

290 posts

227 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
The battery was very low (less than 12V) but the optimate seemed to recover it again.
The car started and ran normally, but the gauges were still in error. I'll see what resistances I'm getting from them.

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

233 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
The standard caterham gauges are exceedingly unreliable

Bin the senders and replace


or even better

Bin the whole lot and fit some SPA gauges