starting / battery issues

[Noogly]

I had the famous hot start issue on my 2001 chimaera 500, I have seen it before on a previous Chim, so I didn't mess about and got a new starter. I'd also let the battery go totally flat a couple of times and didn't fully trust it any more so I replaced that too while I was there.

With the new starter I had different starting problems, turned over really slowly even after an hour of cooling down but was fine if left over night. Took it in to the local specialist who diagnosed bad new starter. That was replaced and all seemed well.

Drove it home from the specialist, tried to restart it hot, it span fast and fired up straight away! But the charge light stayed on. I didn't have time to look at it then, but the next time I took a look it started fine and the charge light DIDN'T stay on. Strange.

I didn't do anything and it was a couple of weeks before I tried to start it again yesterday. It hadn't been on the trickle charger but started fine, I drove for more than 30 minutes then stopped for petrol. It wouldn't restart, turned slowly like the battery was flat. A couple of guys gave me a bump start and I drove home, left it to run for another 10 minutes or so on the drive then turned off and tried to restart again. Almost nothing, probably flatter than it was in the petrol station

I put it on a charger last night and today it started fine, so:

The battery DOES take charge from the ciggy socket trickle charger and holds charge
Starter spins fast and car starts fine when the battery has been charged
Battery/charge light comes on with the ignition but goes out as soon as the engine starts
However it behaves as if the battery is not being charged when the engine is running.

I have had the big main fuse go before, but that caused the charge light to come on, so this time I am a tad confused!

Any pointers?

Andy

[daveparry]

Have you checked the belt? sounds too obvious I know!

[Noogly]

daveparry said:

Have you checked the belt? sounds too obvious I know!

Belt is tight and going around as it should!

[daveparry]

Next time you start it wait for the ingnition light to go out and note revs....then put car in gear and slowly and carefully engage clutch to slow the engine and see if the light starts flickering and comes on!

[Tyre Tread]

Get alternator output checked

[BillC99]

My battery went flat and it turned out to be a loose connection on the 100amp fuse. The charge light went out when started as the alternator was working ok. Might be worth a look!

[Noogly]

BillC99 said:

My battery went flat and it turned out to be a loose connection on the 100amp fuse. The charge light went out when started as the alternator was working ok. Might be worth a look!

That sounds like it! Stupid that the battery isn't charging but the warning light doesn’t come on.
I'll get underneath and check that first chance I get in the week.
Ta,

[Noogly]

Battery was charged up from a trickle charger, voltage was 13 at rest and 14.1 with the engine running. Odd as I expected there to be no difference if it wasn't charging.

Jacked it up and took the fuse out. Fuse looks fine, but one end wasn't securely screwed down and the fixing post is wonky. Seems to have been melted at some point! Cleaned it all up and reassembled tightly. Voltages are the same after as before.

Hopefully that was the issue, but I guess I'm not going to know until I've used it a few times and see if it leaves me stranded!