Car keeps going dead: 5 mechanics later, still unresolved
Discussion
V8covin said:
What you're describing here is a flat battery,a different fault to your previous one.
I'm a bit confused; how is it a EDIT: I'm not sure if this comment comes across as really blunt or not - apologies if so, not meaning to be dismissive, just confused.
Edited by Becky88 on Friday 4th June 20:33
Edited by Becky88 on Friday 4th June 20:35
As above, what you have just described is 100% a flat battery.
Just because it is 18 months old doesn't mean it has to be good.
It could be, that with your other issues the battery has been severely weakened and the only remaining problem is this, it certainly ins't a fuse causing it.
If you can fully charge it overnight, borrow a multimeter & test it, that will help tell you what the problem is.
Just because it is 18 months old doesn't mean it has to be good.
It could be, that with your other issues the battery has been severely weakened and the only remaining problem is this, it certainly ins't a fuse causing it.
If you can fully charge it overnight, borrow a multimeter & test it, that will help tell you what the problem is.
Becky88 said:
I'm a bit confused; how is it a dead flat battery? Car has been driven regularly, nothing has been left on. Battery was purchased new from halfords 12-18 months ago. I can't believe it's a flat battery and that it's not somehow connected to the ongoing issues I've been having.
EDIT: I'm not sure if this comment comes across as really blunt or not - apologies if so, not meaning to be dismissive, just confused.
A battery needs enough charge in it to be able to crank the engine fast enough that it will start.You are describing a battery that doesn't have enough charge.EDIT: I'm not sure if this comment comes across as really blunt or not - apologies if so, not meaning to be dismissive, just confused.
Edited by Becky88 on Friday 4th June 20:33
Edited by Becky88 on Friday 4th June 20:35
Why doesn't it ?
Could be a number of reasons.Here's 4.
The battery is reaching the end of it's life.
The alternator is not charging the battery sufficiently
A badly adjusted fan belt
There is a drain on the electrical system.
Those are all easily checked by a competent electrician/mechanic
E-bmw said:
As above, what you have just described is 100% a flat battery.
Just because it is 18 months old doesn't mean it has to be good.
It could be, that with your other issues the battery has been severely weakened and the only remaining problem is this, it certainly ins't a fuse causing it.
If you can fully charge it overnight, borrow a multimeter & test it, that will help tell you what the problem is.
I'll try to borrow or buy a multimeter to test it. I'm honestly pulling my hair out with this. I can believe the battery has been weakened by an underlying issue, but I have trouble accepting that this problem is just a random flat battery unrelated to the ongoing trouble I've had. It just seems way too coincidental to be a totally separate fault. Just because it is 18 months old doesn't mean it has to be good.
It could be, that with your other issues the battery has been severely weakened and the only remaining problem is this, it certainly ins't a fuse causing it.
If you can fully charge it overnight, borrow a multimeter & test it, that will help tell you what the problem is.
This car has me feeling like I'm going bloody mental.
EDIT: you also said it isn't a fuse causing the problem, yet Ford thought it was and seem clueless now I've said the car has died again. They're convinced it's not the BCM but I honestly think it is. Not only have two independent mechanics/autoelectricians diagnosed this, but multiple people in this thread think the BCM is at fault as well.
Edited by Becky88 on Friday 4th June 22:33
V8covin said:
There is a drain on the electrical system.
Thanks. I honestly think this is the issue. There must be a drain on the electrics somewhere. The burnt out fuse, the aux issues, people telling me I have my brights on when I don't etc. Why all these mechanics/auto-electricians can't find the fault? No bloody idea. Either I keep picking quacks or this car is just f
king with me for sts and giggles. v8covin said:
The battery is reaching the end of it's life.
Unlikely. Have had two new batteries. Current battery has 3 year guarantee. Will dig out receipt and take battery to Halfords for them to check it. v8covin said:
The alternator is not charging the battery sufficiently
Again, I've been here before. Car has had two new alternators. Seems unlikely. I'm getting deja vu if I'm honest. Being told flat battery or dodgy alternator again as previous mechanics told me a couple years ago with absolute certainty yet it didn't solve the issue.
v8covin said:
A badly adjusted fan belt
possibly. Never had this suggested before,Edited by Becky88 on Friday 4th June 22:19
Just because a battery has a 3 year warranty doesn't mean it's guaranteed to last at least 3 years & you can't assume that given your latest description of non-starting that it isn't the issue.
There is a known issue with bluetooth on some Fords that drains the battery.
My eldest's Kuga had this.
Disconnecting it solved his issues.
Don't know if this could be applicable to your problems or if you're already aware of it.
Plenty on the internet & various Ford forums.
There is a known issue with bluetooth on some Fords that drains the battery.
My eldest's Kuga had this.
Disconnecting it solved his issues.
Don't know if this could be applicable to your problems or if you're already aware of it.
Plenty on the internet & various Ford forums.
Becky88 said:
E-bmw said:
As above, what you have just described is 100% a flat battery.
Just because it is 18 months old doesn't mean it has to be good.
It could be, that with your other issues the battery has been severely weakened and the only remaining problem is this, it certainly ins't a fuse causing it.
If you can fully charge it overnight, borrow a multimeter & test it, that will help tell you what the problem is.
I'll try to borrow or buy a multimeter to test it. I'm honestly pulling my hair out with this. I can believe the battery has been weakened by an underlying issue, but I have trouble accepting that this problem is just a random flat battery unrelated to the ongoing trouble I've had. It just seems way too coincidental to be a totally separate fault. Just because it is 18 months old doesn't mean it has to be good.
It could be, that with your other issues the battery has been severely weakened and the only remaining problem is this, it certainly ins't a fuse causing it.
If you can fully charge it overnight, borrow a multimeter & test it, that will help tell you what the problem is.
This car has me feeling like I'm going bloody mental.
EDIT: you also said it isn't a fuse causing the problem, yet Ford thought it was and seem clueless now I've said the car has died again. They're convinced it's not the BCM but I honestly think it is. Not only have two independent mechanics/autoelectricians diagnosed this, but multiple people in this thread think the BCM is at fault as well.
Edited by Becky88 on Friday 4th June 22:33
I didn't suggest it was a random flat battery, I said it is likely related.
I didn't mean the original issue, I meant the battery being flat issue.
It sounds like what Ford did has probably sorted your original issue. By the sound of it, the "not starting" issue you mention last is a different/new issue that is likely caused by the original issue, which now could well be fixed.
You need to get the "battery has a 3 year warranty & is only 18 months old" idea out of your head, it is clouding the issue.
Your battery is flat for a reason as you have already been told, one of these could well be that the issue you had has severely shortened its life, either way it is either goosed or it isn't being charged. See what others after my previous post have said.
i would trying the suspect battery on a known good car ...does it start that yes/no
simple £5 meter should help indicate if its charged and the alternator is working ....if replacing the battery gets it running i would disconnect it each night for a couple of weeks and see if it works
do you have any non standard radio /dash cam /alarm etc
simple £5 meter should help indicate if its charged and the alternator is working ....if replacing the battery gets it running i would disconnect it each night for a couple of weeks and see if it works
do you have any non standard radio /dash cam /alarm etc
I'm curious as to why you say Ford fitted a second hand fuse?
If it was just a fuse, then they just wouldn't. A fuse is as common as petrol. It's not something they wouldn't have.
They must have replaced something else. And if you have been doing lots of short runs, then the battery may well have not recovered enough each time and you have effectively drained it yourself.
Suggest you get one of those jump packs that you can put in your glovebox too. Very handy.
If it was just a fuse, then they just wouldn't. A fuse is as common as petrol. It's not something they wouldn't have.
They must have replaced something else. And if you have been doing lots of short runs, then the battery may well have not recovered enough each time and you have effectively drained it yourself.
Suggest you get one of those jump packs that you can put in your glovebox too. Very handy.
Tyre Smoke said:
Suggest you get one of those jump packs that you can put in your glovebox too. Very handy.
Are these any good?https://tinyurl.com/n6m4xsbj
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