09 Astra starting problem

[Yorkyexile]

Hi all. Got an 09 Astra with a starting problem. The last couple of days ive gone to start it and nothing, just the dreaded click. Jumped it off my works van yesterday and it started fine but this morning turned the key and nothing, jumped it off the van again and started. Checked the battery before jumping and it showed 12.1v, checked it running and it showed 14.5v.turned it off and checked battery again and 12.6v. Went to turn it over again and just a click volmeter this time showed 10.6v. It`s the 1.7cdti ecoflex version if thats any help

Don`t know if its connected but the fuel gauge is now reading flat zero with the light flashing when i know for a fact there was 1/4 of a tank in last night when i parked up. No signs of a leak of tampering with the fuel flap or anything.

The voltmeter readings makes me think the alternator is ok but other than that I`m stuck. Any Idea`s? Thanks in advance

[Penelope Stopit]

99% sure that the battery is faulty, lost its capacity

The fuel gauge fault is surely unrelated to the starting fault but that said, perhaps the loss of voltage to the instrument cluster has caused a fault that will possibly clear

[Yorkyexile]

Penelope Stopit said:

99% sure that the battery is faulty, lost its capacity

The fuel gauge fault is surely unrelated to the starting fault but that said, perhaps the loss of voltage to the instrument cluster has caused a fault that will possibly clear

cheers

[paintman]

As PS says.

Your battery is flat.

Is there any obvious reason that might have caused that - something left on for example such as an underbonnet light or a light in the load area?

Starting it,running it for a short period & then turning off & rechecking the battery achieves little. Taking it for a short drive will have much the same effect. It's deeply discharged & will stay that way. What you've got with your 12.6 reading is a tiny surface charge.

The voltage when running suggests that your alternator's output is fine.

You could try charging the battery with a battery charger to see if it will hold a charge

[E-bmw]

paintman said:

As PS says.

Your battery is flat.

Starting it,running it for a short period & then turning off & rechecking the battery achieves little. Taking it for a short drive will have much the same effect. It's deeply discharged & will stay that way. What you've got with your 12.6 reading is a tiny surface charge.

The voltage when running suggests that your alternator's output is fine.

You could try charging the battery with a battery charger to see if it will hold a charge

^^^^ Wot 'e said, 100%.

12.1v is flat, very flat.

[Yorkyexile]

E-bmw said:

paintman said:

As PS says.

Your battery is flat.

Starting it,running it for a short period & then turning off & rechecking the battery achieves little. Taking it for a short drive will have much the same effect. It's deeply discharged & will stay that way. What you've got with your 12.6 reading is a tiny surface charge.

The voltage when running suggests that your alternator's output is fine.

You could try charging the battery with a battery charger to see if it will hold a charge

^^^^ Wot 'e said, 100%.

12.1v is flat, very flat.

Thanks for the replies all. Is it best to take the battery off and charge it overnight?

[Saleen836]

Yorkyexile said:

hanks for the replies all. Is it best to take the battery off and charge it overnight?

If it is safe to connect up the charger with the battery in situ (on your drive or in your garage) then do that now for 3-4 hours,if the car is parked on the street take the battery off and charge it in your house

[Yorkyexile]

Saleen836 said:

If it is safe to connect up the charger with the battery in situ (on your drive or in your garage) then do that now for 3-4 hours,if the car is parked on the street take the battery off and charge it in your house

Thanks

[Pothole]

Be prepared for it to be failing/ed alternator. My 1.9 did something similar a few years back. Only £700, though, so that's good...

[sunbeam alpine]

OP - if you're able to take your car for a drive under the current conditions (maybe essential worker or needing to deliver something to family), and you can drive for about 20 minutes, your battery should be fully charged. If it isn't, the battery needs replacing.

If it charges and then discharges overnight, maybe just disconnect the earth cable and reattach when you need to start the car - a temporary "fix" until you can get it checked out.

[Yorkyexile]

Pothole said:

Be prepared for it to be failing/ed alternator. My 1.9 did something similar a few years back. Only £700, though, so that's good...

Eek!!!

[Yorkyexile]

sunbeam alpine said:

OP - if you're able to take your car for a drive under the current conditions (maybe essential worker or needing to deliver something to family), and you can drive for about 20 minutes, your battery should be fully charged. If it isn't, the battery needs replacing.

If it charges and then discharges overnight, maybe just disconnect the earth cable and reattach when you need to start the car - a temporary "fix" until you can get it checked out.

cheers

Update I went to town, took the daughter and left it running while i nipped in the shop. Went to Autovaux and got a new battery for the sake of 40 odd quid. I`ve changed batteries and took another reading off the old one once disconnected and it read 12.7v. Fingers crossed it`ll have dropped when I read it again tonight.

Cheers for the help everyone and i`ll let you know