Car won't start

[WhyTwo]

Not driven it for 3 weeks and when I try to start it yesterday and nothing, window won't close, battery must be dead. So I plug in the trickle charger overnight and try again today, again nothing. But today the windows, doors etc work and I have 11 volts, is this just not enough to turn the starter motor?

I've tried jumping it off my X5 and still nothing which makes me think it must be the starter motor? Would this be your guess?

My problem is it's in a tigh garage with a steep drive so I've just about managed to squeeze down the side to plug in the jump leads and daisy chained them to my normal leads to reach the other car. God only knows how I'm going to get it out to change the starter motor!

[Chequred Demon]

I would suggest that the problem lies with the battery. It sounds like one cell has gone.

Its actually the amps that you need to turn the starter motor, but there is no amp meter fitted to a Tuscan. Anyway A good battery should push out around 13 volts; 11 volts is too low.

The cold is the biggest killer of batteries. I keep mine on trickle charge whenever it is in the garage.

[dav3]

I agree with Mr. DEMON sounds like you have lost one cell, a healthy batt should give out about 13.2v or more. It might be worth trying to connect up your jump lead and leave the 2nd car running for about 10 to 20 mins then with 2nd car still running try to start the Tuscan only problem is that if you do get her started you prob wont be able to start her up again on its own battery but at least you can drive to a level area to fit new batt.

Good luck

[tuscan lucy]

After a weekend on the PI** i think i have lost a cell or two (brain cell that is) i love VODKA @ RED BULL to much.

Edited by tuscan lucy on Monday 16th February 10:59

[gifdy]

Sit in the drivers seat, get the missus to push it out of the garage, up that steep drive & down the street. If you can't bump start it, she can keep going until you get to Halfords.

Happy to help

[s6boy]

WhyTwo said:

Not driven it for 3 weeks and when I try to start it yesterday and nothing, window won't close, battery must be dead. So I plug in the trickle charger overnight and try again today, again nothing....

Leave it on charge for a few more days, if you're using an Accumate type charger it will condition it too which takes longer than a normal trickle charger. My lights were left on for 8 hours discharging the battery completely, after 5 days on an Accumate it started first time and I'm still using the same battery 3 years later so worth being patient.

[WhyTwo]

Well after some consideration I decided it was a flat battery and an issue with my jump leads so I plugged them in again and made sure I had a good connection to my std leads that were daisy chained and jumped him off the X5 and...

Bingo! It's ALIVE! Bit of a stuttering start but that's to be expected. Took him out for a spin and all is well. Have 13.9 - 14.2 volts and he started a number of times no problem.

That's the good news. The bad news is a coolant leak so obviously Racing Green hadn't fixed it properly when they had a go recently so dropped him off for them to have another look. Fingers crossed I'll have him back with all the issues fixed within a couple of days.

Just need to get the new wing mirror sorted and he'll be as good as new!