Fed Up - Considering gettin rid
Discussion
After the fourth time this year I have had new battery, fan belt tightened, four weeks ago garage checked everything, current ok through the car.
this morning after four solid weeks of running the car, no power to ignition or lights, just slight clicking sound. got green flag out to start the new westco battery, current ok no probs, fan belt tight enough, et etc. Nipped to my garage, they said it could be anything with it being electrical fault. I am at a loss what to do, this has happened so many times since dec I am now considering selling my 'S' Ltd.
I have spent an awful lot over £2k on it, new roof, wheels etc and this electrical fault is making me so stressed out that every time it breaks down I cry. I need my car to see my daughter and get to work and as I live alone I really need some professional advice about it from an auto electrician. I don't want to pay over the odds to get the fault found as I am on low income and I think selling it is the only option.
This on top of existing problems I have is making me very unhappy.
Can anyone please refer me to someone who knows electrical faults?
this morning after four solid weeks of running the car, no power to ignition or lights, just slight clicking sound. got green flag out to start the new westco battery, current ok no probs, fan belt tight enough, et etc. Nipped to my garage, they said it could be anything with it being electrical fault. I am at a loss what to do, this has happened so many times since dec I am now considering selling my 'S' Ltd.
I have spent an awful lot over £2k on it, new roof, wheels etc and this electrical fault is making me so stressed out that every time it breaks down I cry. I need my car to see my daughter and get to work and as I live alone I really need some professional advice about it from an auto electrician. I don't want to pay over the odds to get the fault found as I am on low income and I think selling it is the only option.
This on top of existing problems I have is making me very unhappy.
Can anyone please refer me to someone who knows electrical faults?
Just found another fault, its been fine since started today by green flag, but today twice when I turned engine off the radiator fan started running for longer than five minutes so have disconnected the plug to it and its now stopped. I reckon it could be this. No the alternator has been checked and its okay. Its going in garage tomorrow.
lets hope it starts tomorrow again. yes dennis the menace I will have yours !
lets hope it starts tomorrow again. yes dennis the menace I will have yours !
What fault codes? My car has no computer its 1993 K reg.
The fan only switches on when I turn the car off and I only noticed this today.
the car had only been running on the road for ten minutes from radcliffe to bury.
a year ago I had a temp sensor fitted on the exhaust, its not that is it cause to be honest I have no idea where to look.
Where should I look? Is it accessible to me on top of the engine, cause if its underneath I have no chance of sorting it myself. I need to know where to look, my manual does not tell me really and need to know what part to get to replace and where from with cash as I cannot purchase online with my card at moment as its blocked.
The fan only switches on when I turn the car off and I only noticed this today.
the car had only been running on the road for ten minutes from radcliffe to bury.
a year ago I had a temp sensor fitted on the exhaust, its not that is it cause to be honest I have no idea where to look.
Where should I look? Is it accessible to me on top of the engine, cause if its underneath I have no chance of sorting it myself. I need to know where to look, my manual does not tell me really and need to know what part to get to replace and where from with cash as I cannot purchase online with my card at moment as its blocked.
freerange7 said:
OK, look for the simple things first.
A lot of batteries are sold and come back after a short time with an unhappy customer blaming the battery.
Every battery we sell has the terminals sanded before leaving the premises, we have the lowest return rate in Europe as a result.
When the terminal is typical lead colour, grey, it has oxidised and this can lead to a bad connection, OK for starting the car but not great for accepting a charge back to the battery, the result can be a flat battery in a matter of days.
Ideally the battery needs to be recharged properly, if it has been charged on the car with the terminals connected you may not have charged it enough, this will result in you being able to start the car and restart later when all is warm but the problem may come back the next day. Disconnect the battery, sand the terminals and charge properly.
One thing a lot of kit car owners encounter is bad earths causing all sorts of weird problems including a flat battery, check yours, clean it, sand it, reconnect and cover with some grease AFTERWARDS.
Sometimes a bad connection on the positive side of the starter motor will give the impression of a flat battery and it will help to flatten the battery, undo it, clean it, sand it and reconnect.
Both batteries on the two MX5s we purchased were short of electrolyte and under performing, both have been topped up and charged, terminals sanded, no problems so far.
Hope this helps, some handy tips if you have not tried already.
thanks but the battery is a westco and is brand new, terminals have new clamps and are greased as I did that myself. The terminals were checked to be ok many times. I have asked many people to check the terminals and they said were ok. they do not look corroded or fuzzed they are totally covered in grease.A lot of batteries are sold and come back after a short time with an unhappy customer blaming the battery.
Every battery we sell has the terminals sanded before leaving the premises, we have the lowest return rate in Europe as a result.
When the terminal is typical lead colour, grey, it has oxidised and this can lead to a bad connection, OK for starting the car but not great for accepting a charge back to the battery, the result can be a flat battery in a matter of days.
Ideally the battery needs to be recharged properly, if it has been charged on the car with the terminals connected you may not have charged it enough, this will result in you being able to start the car and restart later when all is warm but the problem may come back the next day. Disconnect the battery, sand the terminals and charge properly.
One thing a lot of kit car owners encounter is bad earths causing all sorts of weird problems including a flat battery, check yours, clean it, sand it, reconnect and cover with some grease AFTERWARDS.
Sometimes a bad connection on the positive side of the starter motor will give the impression of a flat battery and it will help to flatten the battery, undo it, clean it, sand it and reconnect.
Both batteries on the two MX5s we purchased were short of electrolyte and under performing, both have been topped up and charged, terminals sanded, no problems so far.
Hope this helps, some handy tips if you have not tried already.
DennisTheMenace said:
trace1967 said:
its the right hand one, the other is disconnected permanently because i have no air conditioning in the car, the whole system was removed before I bought it. I will print this off tomorrow and take it to the garage.
Righto , i think there is a relay for the cooling fan so i would get that checked as well , it could be sticking there fore holding it on and running the fan untill it either unsticks or your battery is flat . another thing to do is get a optimate trickle charger for the westco , as they are a matt type battery they have to be slow charged (think of it as an onion , its built up in layers)
Edited by trace1967 on Friday 17th April 22:30
freerange7 said:
[thanks but the battery is a westco and is brand new, terminals have new clamps and are greased as I did that myself. The terminals were checked to be ok many times. I have asked many people to check the terminals and they said were ok. they do not look corroded or fuzzed they are totally covered in grease.]
Please do not assume that as the battery is new that is not the problem, as I suggested it maybe worth sanding for a decent connection anyway as it sounds like you may be disconnecting it again anyway to do the test suggested.
You say that they are well greased, hopefully this has been done after the terminals are connected as grease can insulate causing a bad connection.
Ask an electrician about a dry joint when soldering, if the solder is moved when cooling it can become a poor conductor even though it is a strong joint, the reason why circuit boards are machine made these days.
Some will advise that your battery terminals have a good connection assuming because it is on tight, this does not always make a decent electrical connection.
Only suggestions, good luck
yes they were greased after the batter fitted, I will ask the garage to resand them and fit them again. Can I get plastic caps to cover them as I feel because they are bare they invite problems.Please do not assume that as the battery is new that is not the problem, as I suggested it maybe worth sanding for a decent connection anyway as it sounds like you may be disconnecting it again anyway to do the test suggested.
You say that they are well greased, hopefully this has been done after the terminals are connected as grease can insulate causing a bad connection.
Ask an electrician about a dry joint when soldering, if the solder is moved when cooling it can become a poor conductor even though it is a strong joint, the reason why circuit boards are machine made these days.
Some will advise that your battery terminals have a good connection assuming because it is on tight, this does not always make a decent electrical connection.
Only suggestions, good luck
DennisTheMenace said:
Optimates are around the £40 mark , one here
http://www.gear4bikes.com/acatalog/Battery_Charger...
but you shouldnt be needing it , i would do the dark current test and see how much is being drawn off the battery , then looking at anything thats been fitted aftermarket , something aint right . has it only just started doing this or has it done it ever since you bought the car ?
it will get sorted and summer is coming so keep smiling
yes you're right I do not want to spend money if the garage really checked my car out properly I am sure they would find the fault. The owner has an mx5 so he should know. I bought the car May 2007 and its only started doing this in december. Before that the fan belt was fitted in sept 08 and its needed tightening twice since. Nothing electrical been fitted since I bought it. Only new bulbs etc and general maintenance. I have a mini steering wheel and the horn on that is playing up too. Not connecting properly. http://www.gear4bikes.com/acatalog/Battery_Charger...
but you shouldnt be needing it , i would do the dark current test and see how much is being drawn off the battery , then looking at anything thats been fitted aftermarket , something aint right . has it only just started doing this or has it done it ever since you bought the car ?
it will get sorted and summer is coming so keep smiling
Car started today ok. Plugged fan back in it started spinning again so disconnected again.
I decided not to take it to garage and will phone an auto electrician today to come out next week on my rest day. I have emailed andy at autolink to order a new relay and fan switch and see if that makes any difference. But I still believe this a new fault and no the whole cause of the battery problem. I also have the aerial problem still to solve when I get my socket set and a new rain rail.
I decided not to take it to garage and will phone an auto electrician today to come out next week on my rest day. I have emailed andy at autolink to order a new relay and fan switch and see if that makes any difference. But I still believe this a new fault and no the whole cause of the battery problem. I also have the aerial problem still to solve when I get my socket set and a new rain rail.
Andrew from autolink told me to get in touch with a guy called wayne bates on 07919377303. Spoke to him and he now fixes mx5s as a hobby. He now knows what the problem is so I have arranged to pop down after dropping my daughter off, he lives in eccles. He was very interested in helping me. He says its the relay and it could be waterlogged as some mechanics forget to fix it back onto the bracket the right way up. So grateful to everyone who has helped me with this annoying little problem. the guy said do not get rid of the car or I would regret it a lot.
On Sunday went to wales with my daughter, had a puncture and had to drive home on the spare. Tiny hole on the edge of tyre wall. Went to see wayne bates and hes great. He pulled the relay off and replaced it and so far its been fine. But he wanted to see the fan turn on after engine turned off and it had been doing that in wales but at waynes it failed to turn on after engine turned off. So he scrutinised my engine and found lots of bits missing. He has a gorgeous mk1 that looks like a brand new car and he let me look at his engine to see what I should have. He has offered to fix all bits missing for me and has asked me to send him a list of what I need for the car, and he is so interested in getting my car right. One have my headlights also has a bad earth and is dim and he is going to sort that for me too. He only lives eccles and very happy and helpful guy. He has fixed mx5s as a job and now does it in his own time as a hobby. My power steering bottle is dented and has come off the bracket, he advised me not to get rid of the car as things can be fixed for pennies. I have sent him a list of all things I think the car needs and he will order them for me from autolink as he knows andrew there. I enjoyed looking at his immaculate cars and he said mine will look just as good as long as I look after it, wash it polish etc. If anyone wants their mx 5 serviced etc or bits doing you can ring him on 07919377303 and he will defo help you. Have had to order my toyo tyre, as all the local tyre fitting places and small shops cannot get the toyo tyres till next day, but I am at work till 6pm and so ordered mine from camskill for £37, just need to get it fitted now for sat. Spare wheel looks bloody stupid!
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