Wet weather starting problems
Wet weather starting problems
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Discussion

Luckyone

Original Poster:

1,091 posts

261 months

Friday 24th December 2004
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Does anyone else have trouble getting their Cerby going in the rain & cold this time of year?

It's happened before but I put it down to the battery being on the way out, but now it's just had its 12K service & a new battery. I'd only left it two days (on the street) & the window shot down on opening the door so I thought it would be ok, it turned over alright but just wouldn't fire, tried 6 or 7 times until my other half got back for a jump start, but that wouldn't do it either. So the next night I took the battery out to charge it up, as it was to far from the flat to plug it in Put it back in the next morning & it started first time (in dry weather).
Left it for a week on our new drive, in some very bad rain, tried it yesterday (now dry weather) started first time, so I went of a spin in celebration But this morning it started ok (still dry) got half way up the new quite steep drive, took a wide sweep at the gate (have to get the angle right or it grounds out ) rear wheel went on the grass - got stuck Hydratrack... Thought just give it some beans that will transmit more torque to the other wheel, nope, just a big hole in the new lawn So I let it roll back down the drive, only I forgot how steep it was till I was out of the hole, so made a panicked stab at the brake, stopped, just, only for the engine to die. Would it start again, well almost first time but then not, was turned over faster than I've ever heard it but nothing So I was forced back in to my beat up old VW which of course always starts...

I just hope it starts & I get out tomorrow, what's the good of going to work on Xmas day if you can't take advantage of the empty roads?

So what I want to know it:

1. Do you think there is some thing wrong, or is it one of those "they all do that sir"?

2. What the is the point of a Hydratrack if it can't even get you up a hill? I mean it can't transmit that much torque to the other wheel - I though it was torque you needed to get up hills?
My old BM got up with no drama (one wheel on the wet grass) with its new clutch plate type LSD. My worry is that it can't be doing much good on the road.

Oh & a Happy Christmas to you all!

carl_w

10,731 posts

287 months

Friday 24th December 2004
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I'd try the usual suspects first:
spark plugs
leads
stick a bit of WD40 all over the ignition bits

Luckyone

Original Poster:

1,091 posts

261 months

Sunday 26th December 2004
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That's not a bad idea, although the plugs are only a week or two old.
Is it normal to get a slight shock through the insulation of the plug leads when the engings running?
Been going great the last few days started ok when covered in ice this moring...
Although that freshly layed grit is bit slippy

Extra 300 Driver

5,282 posts

275 months

Monday 27th December 2004
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If the leads are damp and you touch them and get a shock its time for new leads!

It happens on minis as well, thats why they miss in the rain when the leads get knackered!