2008 Citroen C3 HDi battery "dies" when trying ignition

[royski]

Hi all,

I have just joined the forum (so hello and nice to meet you all). Hopefully you can help me with a problem...

I have a weird thing going on with my C3. Sometimes when I try and start her up, I get a click and a total loss of electrics. If I pull the battery terminals for a minute and the turn the key as soon as possible after reconnecting, the damn thing starts straight up.

Last week, the issue only seemed to happen on subsequent starts (coming back from the supermarket or the time when I was a total tool and stalled at some lights 'cos I was in 4th not 1st). This morning, it failed straight from the get-go.

Any thoughts where I should start looking? If its a big job, I might have to replace because she's getting on and is a bit crap.

Thanks in advance.

[paintman]

Fully charge the battery with a battery charger then see what happens.

[royski]

paintman said:

Fully charge the battery with a battery charger then see what happens.

Call me stupid, but I didn't actually think of that. I just assumed that because it starts straight up after being disconnected, it wasn't the battery.

I'll try it tonight. Cheers.

[SlimJim16v]

Possibly a loose connection on the starter/solenoid.

[E-bmw]

SlimJim16v said:

Possibly a loose connection on the starter/solenoid.

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

If it starts fine many times the battery will be fine.

Every time you wiggle/disconnect you likely disturb the loose connection & it then starts.

Either loose or covered in cr@p/verdigree/rust.

Remove & clean all connections on the battery/starter circuit.

[royski]

Typical.

Cant see anything wrong with the connections, the battery is fine, and to top it all off. the damn thing isn't doing it anymore.

I've cleaned the contacts anyway and replaced the battery. Got a starter coming through the post in case its something there.

Cheers for the advice.