Sick Monaro :scratchchin:

[nickb1969]

Any Ideas anyone before I take a trip to the dealers,went to start the Ro this morning,turned the key and no thunder from the big V8,only a clicking sound presumably the starter motor.The CD autochanger went berserk(changing through all discs) every light came up on the dash,even the ghost ones that are there but not in use.Air bag fault,service engine,check engine along with beeps,then really slowly after 30 seconds or more the engine coughed to life and everything went back to normal! could it just be the start of the demise of the battery or is it something serious. volt meter reading was around 12 when the engine started.The car was in use last week so it hasn't been standing for too long for the battery to drain.
Any advise would be appreciated

Edited by nickb1969 on Saturday 16th February 21:22

[BigNige]

Should be reading more than 12v when the engine is running - 13-14 is more usual I believe.
It has been very cold in the mornings lately and that will show up any weak battery.

[Kevin k]

Have you checked cheap things first. Have you got a good connection with the battery (both positive and negative leads are bolted tight/firmly to the battery). Is the earth strap connected to your block firmly.

I agree with BigNige your battery should be showing 12v when off, and 12-14v when given a few revs (as the alternator spins fast enough to recharge battery).

Colder weather will show up weaknesses in battery, loosing charge, but I do not understand why it would cause other electrical circuits to malfunction (ie your CD player). Which is why I am hoping that its just a bad connection.

[Boosted LS1]

Flat battery. Under cranking you place a huge load on the battery especially when it's cold and the engines tight. I used to get this as well as all the lights flashing etc. As said, check connections and recharge the battery. Maybe it's a few years old or you haven't been driving very much.

[baz7175]

I've had this once in the 18 months of owning mine - I just locked the doors, opened them again and retried the key in the ignition and hey presto everything back to normal...I just put it down to being another of the resident gremlins in the system that like to make sure we're awake every so often

[ads_green]

Voltage isn't a good way to tell if the battery is good or not. If you *know* the battery is good then it's a rough guide at best.

A battery loses it's ability to keep a charge as it gets older and even more so if it has ever been allowed to run completely flat as the metal plates develop a kind of oxidised layer preventing future charging. If you have let a battery run flat the only way to restore it's full capacity is to use a battery conditioner (I think you can get a unit that fits in the lighter socket and you can use it whilst driving - not sure though).

A completely stuffed battery might be able to show 12 or even more volts but when you come to crank the engine there's just no amps available so no start.

The only way to tell if a battery is good is to test it using an amp meter (specialised battery testing tools are even better) before, during and after cranking.

[atco2]

Exactly the same happened to me. Got new battery courtesy of networkq.

[BO55 VXR]

Easy way to see if battery is to "jump lead" it

[nickb1969]

Thanks for the info guys .Checked the car this morning, no starter -showing 4 volts on the guage.Must be a dead battery as everything else shipshape.Does anyone know whether the battery comes under the warranty,if not wheres the best place to buy one.

[S600VXR]

nickb1969 said:

Thanks for the info guys .Checked the car this morning, no starter -showing 4 volts on the guage.Must be a dead battery as everything else shipshape.Does anyone know whether the battery comes under the warranty,if not wheres the best place to buy one.

Any vauxhal dealer can sell you a battery for about £55! Ive just been around this loop so PM if you need reference numbers etc. They started off unhelpfull but ended up sorting me out with 4 yr garentee one! Should be under warentee if not to old...just having that conversation with Greens about getting the money back.

[nickb1969]

Good news on the battery front,contacted Belmonts of Aberdeen and they said that the battery does come under the warranty and sending one down to a local dealer for fitment.Well done Belmont especially Alistair who was more than helpful