It's dead, Jim.
Discussion
Ok, so my mum owns this nicky little 2006 Ford Ka, which due to her health problems has been idle for around 6 months. As my trusty Mondeo shed is probably about to expire, I thought I'd get the Ka going again and use that. Unfortunately, it's being a bit sulky and refusing to start.
First attempt: Nothing. Battery obviously dead.
Second attempt: Tried to jump from Mondeo. Electrics all fired up fine (radio, lights, digital odometer, etc) but when attempting to turnover it tries but immediately fails. After the failure the electrics all die and won't wake-up again unless I disconnected the jump leads and reattached.
The obvious thought is the battery is just totally F'd in the A and there isn't enough life in it to get the engine to turnover. Now, before I go and spunk some hard-earned on a new battery, is there anything else I should consider?
First attempt: Nothing. Battery obviously dead.
Second attempt: Tried to jump from Mondeo. Electrics all fired up fine (radio, lights, digital odometer, etc) but when attempting to turnover it tries but immediately fails. After the failure the electrics all die and won't wake-up again unless I disconnected the jump leads and reattached.
The obvious thought is the battery is just totally F'd in the A and there isn't enough life in it to get the engine to turnover. Now, before I go and spunk some hard-earned on a new battery, is there anything else I should consider?
Rawwr said:
Ok, so my mum owns this nicky little 2006 Ford Ka, which due to her health problems has been idle for around 6 months. As my trusty Mondeo shed is probably about to expire, I thought I'd get the Ka going again and use that. Unfortunately, it's being a bit sulky and refusing to start.
First attempt: Nothing. Battery obviously dead.
Second attempt: Tried to jump from Mondeo. Electrics all fired up fine (radio, lights, digital odometer, etc) but when attempting to turnover it tries but immediately fails. After the failure the electrics all die and won't wake-up again unless I disconnected the jump leads and reattached.
The obvious thought is the battery is just totally F'd in the A and there isn't enough life in it to get the engine to turnover. Now, before I go and spunk some hard-earned on a new battery, is there anything else I should consider?
That set of symptoms occurs when:First attempt: Nothing. Battery obviously dead.
Second attempt: Tried to jump from Mondeo. Electrics all fired up fine (radio, lights, digital odometer, etc) but when attempting to turnover it tries but immediately fails. After the failure the electrics all die and won't wake-up again unless I disconnected the jump leads and reattached.
The obvious thought is the battery is just totally F'd in the A and there isn't enough life in it to get the engine to turnover. Now, before I go and spunk some hard-earned on a new battery, is there anything else I should consider?
A)The terminals are dirty (they could be varnished; look clean but are not).
B)A short or loose wire on the solenoid switch.
I would take a wire brush to the terminals and see that no corrosion is under the the rubber back up along the battery cables. When this is the case, voltage flows (accounting for the electrics working) but the amperage is inhibited (accounting for all going dead once the resistance kicks in from the dirtiness). Good luck.
I went on holiday and left my Octavia with a carPC still trickling on the battery. Came back and battery was utterly dead, tried jump starting from my dads Audi and still nothing. RAC man came round with a heavy duty jump start and that worked, long drive & touch wood no problems since! 
A truly dead battery will not be jump started from another car...there just isn't enough juice in it & you'd need to keep both cars connected for a long time to get the old battery into some form of life (according to the RAC man).
A truly dead battery will not be jump started from another car...there just isn't enough juice in it & you'd need to keep both cars connected for a long time to get the old battery into some form of life (according to the RAC man).
Andehh said:
I went on holiday and left my Octavia with a carPC still trickling on the battery. Came back and battery was utterly dead, tried jump starting from my dads Audi and still nothing. RAC man came round with a heavy duty jump start and that worked, long drive & touch wood no problems since!
A truly dead battery will not be jump started from another car...there just isn't enough juice in it & you'd need to keep both cars connected for a long time to get the old battery into some form of life (according to the RAC man).
Pretty much what I said - the leads won't handle the current without a face-charge on the battery. A truly dead battery will not be jump started from another car...there just isn't enough juice in it & you'd need to keep both cars connected for a long time to get the old battery into some form of life (according to the RAC man).
yep remove battery and put in the battery from your car, or IF YOU WANT TO RISK IT
keep battery in car, leave BLACK cable attached.
connect up your jump leads back to black but the red from your car directly to the red on the KA bypassing battery
like I said, IF YOU WANT TO RISK IT
this will prove it is or is not the battery
I assume you have done the service bits just in case ?
keep battery in car, leave BLACK cable attached.
connect up your jump leads back to black but the red from your car directly to the red on the KA bypassing battery
like I said, IF YOU WANT TO RISK IT
this will prove it is or is not the battery
I assume you have done the service bits just in case ?
Try connecting the leads as close as possible to the engine and starter. I.e put the black lead from you battery to the engine block. If possible get the positive lead on the starter terminal itself (unlikely I know, I've not managed this since jumping a '72 Viva years ago). Remember, you're trying to start the car, not charge the battery.
Failing that, leave them connected together, go and have a brew, then try again in a few minutes.
Failing that, leave them connected together, go and have a brew, then try again in a few minutes.
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