can't even jump start
Discussion
Chimaera 4.0 '99. After a couple of months of non-use the battery is flat but I cannot even jump-start it.
Nothing comes on now when turn ignition - even dials remain at zero. Battery was brand new in Feb.
Is the immobiliser on? How do I check and how do I turn it off? Red light on dash not flashing and not responding to key fob.
Nothing comes on now when turn ignition - even dials remain at zero. Battery was brand new in Feb.
Is the immobiliser on? How do I check and how do I turn it off? Red light on dash not flashing and not responding to key fob.
If something as simple as the clock or the alarm isnt working then sounds as tho' you are not getting power into the circuits at all.
Sounds like a problem with the source or connectors you're using rather than the chim! either that or a fuse on the main circuit (altho' I haven't got my 'bible' handy to check if there is such a thing!)
There are two main stages of battery probs.
a) flat as a pancake
b) charged but incapable of the cranking ampage (>600)
My recent flat batt probs looked solved when I charged up the batt and reconnected, bit of a chirp from the alarm and all was well except that the car wouldn't start, i.e. no starter 'action'.
Turned out the batt had seen better days.
Sounds like a problem with the source or connectors you're using rather than the chim! either that or a fuse on the main circuit (altho' I haven't got my 'bible' handy to check if there is such a thing!)
There are two main stages of battery probs.
a) flat as a pancake
b) charged but incapable of the cranking ampage (>600)
My recent flat batt probs looked solved when I charged up the batt and reconnected, bit of a chirp from the alarm and all was well except that the car wouldn't start, i.e. no starter 'action'.
Turned out the batt had seen better days.
not using for 2 mths: it is amazing how much a new baby stops you from getting out at the weekend...
Thanks for the tips it does seem there is absolutely zero power. I will try charging it overnight - is this OK to do in-situ or do I need to take battery out of car?
Could it be the immobiliser on?
Thanks for the tips it does seem there is absolutely zero power. I will try charging it overnight - is this OK to do in-situ or do I need to take battery out of car?
Could it be the immobiliser on?
Hi,
Well in my experience that wouldn't stop power getting thru to all the accessories.
Yeah, if you charge the batt up you should definitely get some life out of the clock and alarm as soon as you reconnect. Not sure about 'in situ', personally I wouldn't do it with the batt connected.
From that point failure to start is a sign of a batt no longer up to the job, but if it's a new batt it shouldn't (imho) be that knackered.
Once you get power thru to the electrics, arming and disarming the alarm should sort the immobiliser out
Well in my experience that wouldn't stop power getting thru to all the accessories.
Yeah, if you charge the batt up you should definitely get some life out of the clock and alarm as soon as you reconnect. Not sure about 'in situ', personally I wouldn't do it with the batt connected.
From that point failure to start is a sign of a batt no longer up to the job, but if it's a new batt it shouldn't (imho) be that knackered.
Once you get power thru to the electrics, arming and disarming the alarm should sort the immobiliser out
If the battery is absolutely cream crackered it acts as a big resistor. Try jumpimg with the positive jump lead to positive on battery and negative lead to earth, ie chassis, exhaust manifold or any good earth. This bypasses the battery and should give you power to starter, instruments etc and should start. try trickle charging overnight and battery may respond to slow charge. If it has the correct battery fitted it is a leisure battery and will have a plastic tube which vents the battery to the outside of the car so charging in situ is ok. if that fails its new battery time sTeVeR
the one time that my battery on the griff was so flat that i couldn't get any juice out of it at all, i tried jump starting it off all the other cars in he house - Ford, Saab, Rover etc. Didn't work, so called the AA out. He was a nice man, a very nice man, and he jump started it immediately. He said that I'd need some serious welly to start the Griff, and most cars wouldn't have enough beans to do it. Don't know if he was telling the truth or having a laugh - electrics mean absolutely nothing to me!
Bought a trickle charger and never had a problem after that (although it was a b*gger trying to attach it direct to the battery - you MUST get an adaptor for the ciggie lighter or similar!).
Bought a trickle charger and never had a problem after that (although it was a b*gger trying to attach it direct to the battery - you MUST get an adaptor for the ciggie lighter or similar!).
got the one from Leven (about £40 I think). It tops up battery then disconnects itself when the battery's full. Eejut proof, which helps in my case.
It tells you if you connect to the wrong side of the battery (+ or -) so you can't even get that wrong - and that's pretty easy to do when you're upside down, in the dark, covered in sweat, trying a gynaecological manoevre trying to get to the battery in the first place. It also shows whether the battery needs a top up or not.
I attached it if the car wan't going ot be used for more than a week or so. Not sure if strictly necessary, but couldn't bear the thought of climbing aboard only to find that it wouldn't start.
Ordered via their website and arrived the next morning - really amazing. Leven must give fat backhanders to Postman Pat, methinks - everything arrives so damn quickly! Excellent!
It tells you if you connect to the wrong side of the battery (+ or -) so you can't even get that wrong - and that's pretty easy to do when you're upside down, in the dark, covered in sweat, trying a gynaecological manoevre trying to get to the battery in the first place. It also shows whether the battery needs a top up or not.
I attached it if the car wan't going ot be used for more than a week or so. Not sure if strictly necessary, but couldn't bear the thought of climbing aboard only to find that it wouldn't start.
Ordered via their website and arrived the next morning - really amazing. Leven must give fat backhanders to Postman Pat, methinks - everything arrives so damn quickly! Excellent!
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