Discussion
Grrr, damn Gruff!
Had the AA replace the Alternator the other week. Since then, apart from running the battery down at work last week cos I left my lights on, it has been fine.
Started this morning, was idling, pulled it round the front of the house and turned it off. came back out, 5 mins later, turn it over and ...no start. Hmm. Ok, I think I may have run out of juice as I knew it was low. Trip to petrol and station with jerry can. Think Ill try and start the car again without putting anything in just in case....low and behold ...it starts! Hmmm. Ok, take her back round to the garage and turn her off. Put the juice in. Right, Ill just leave Gruf for a while and came back and start it in a bit. Come back, crank her over and....no start. Try a few more times, starting to look like no electricity type juice. The battery guage doesnt get out of the red.
Push car back in garage. Bollocks!
Had the AA replace the Alternator the other week. Since then, apart from running the battery down at work last week cos I left my lights on, it has been fine.
Started this morning, was idling, pulled it round the front of the house and turned it off. came back out, 5 mins later, turn it over and ...no start. Hmm. Ok, I think I may have run out of juice as I knew it was low. Trip to petrol and station with jerry can. Think Ill try and start the car again without putting anything in just in case....low and behold ...it starts! Hmmm. Ok, take her back round to the garage and turn her off. Put the juice in. Right, Ill just leave Gruf for a while and came back and start it in a bit. Come back, crank her over and....no start. Try a few more times, starting to look like no electricity type juice. The battery guage doesnt get out of the red.
Push car back in garage. Bollocks!
If the car is turning over on the starter motor, you have enough battery power for it to run - the starter draws far more current than the ignition system or anything else on the car.
The battery gauge won't get out of the red until the engine is running and the alternator is charging it!
The battery gauge won't get out of the red until the engine is running and the alternator is charging it!
Martin_S said:
The battery gauge won't get out of the red until the engine is running and the alternator is charging it!
When you turn the ignition to stage 2 (so that just the electrics are on) it should show a voltage on the battery gauge of about 11 volts. When you go to stage 3 and actually start the engine then it should jump to just over 13 volts if its being charged properly.
There are a few things you didnt make quite clear in the original post. When you turn the key to stage 2 can you hear the fuel pump priming? Does the voltage actually move at all from zero? When you try to start the engine does the starter actually try to turn the engine or is it totally dead? When it did start and then failed to start shortly after, did the car warm up much before you you turned it off? If so then do a search for 'soleniod' or 'hot start' problem as there are quite a few threads on the hot starting problem.
>> Edited by jamiet on Wednesday 19th January 14:15
jamiet said:
The battery gauge won't get out of the red until the engine is running and the alternator is charging it!
When you turn the ignition to stage 2 (so that just the electrics are on) it should show a voltage on the battery gauge of about 11 volts. When you go to stage 3 and actually start the engine then it should jump to just over 13 volts if its being charged properly.
There are a few things you didnt make quite clear in the original post. When you turn the key to stage 2 can you hear the fuel pump priming? Does the voltage actually move at all from zero? When you try to start the engine does the starter actually try to turn the engine or is it totally dead? When it did start and then failed to start shortly after, did the car warm up much before you you turned it off? If so then do a search for 'soleniod' or 'hot start' problem as there are quite a few threads on the hot starting problem.
>> Edited by jamiet on Wednesday 19th January 14:15
Aye, my first thought was this hot start problem, but the circumstances didnt seem to quite fit.
I can hear the fuel pump priming yes. The last time I tried to start her, she didnt turn over at all
It sounds like the fact you've had a new alternator is just coincidence, it doesnt sound like its anything to do with the level of juice in the battery. The first thing I'd check is the earth lead for the engine block. It could also be a problem with the immobiliser not deactivating.
>> Edited by jamiet on Wednesday 19th January 14:58
>> Edited by jamiet on Wednesday 19th January 14:58
May sound like a stupid suggestion, but it caught me out over new year
On my escort (dont laugh..too much) there are 2 connections on the negative terminal of the battery, one for the starter motor, and one for everything else. The one for the start motor had magically undone itself, causing intermittent problems with the engine starting.
HTH
On my escort (dont laugh..too much) there are 2 connections on the negative terminal of the battery, one for the starter motor, and one for everything else. The one for the start motor had magically undone itself, causing intermittent problems with the engine starting.
HTH
Does the starter turn? Are the igniotn lights on or glowing when it was running?
1st port of call is the starter fuse. A 100 amp thingy attached to the chassis, around about the starter motor position. It is in a black case.
2nd check all the connections
3rd is the battery 4 years old and therefore a little jaded?
4th port is the starter overheating.
5th swear loudly and often at it!
1st port of call is the starter fuse. A 100 amp thingy attached to the chassis, around about the starter motor position. It is in a black case.
2nd check all the connections
3rd is the battery 4 years old and therefore a little jaded?
4th port is the starter overheating.
5th swear loudly and often at it!
veg said:
Does the starter turn? Are the igniotn lights on or glowing when it was running?
1st port of call is the starter fuse. A 100 amp thingy attached to the chassis, around about the starter motor position. It is in a black case.
2nd check all the connections
3rd is the battery 4 years old and therefore a little jaded?
4th port is the starter overheating.
5th swear loudly and often at it!
1) yes the ligths come on.
My main culprits at the mo are this starter fuse and black case and the battery being old.
Ive got your 5th point covered
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