Wont start after time off the road

[Woofers]

My Chim has been off the road for a while, it has been kept on an Accumate charger in the garage and has started without problem from time to time whilst laid up.

After finally getting around to getting it back on the road (yes I know its November!), I went to check it over at the weekend in advance of its MOT. Unfortunately the Accumate had become unplugged and the battery was a dead as a dead thing.

Having charged the battery overnight with a full charger, and then reset the alarm, the car still will not turn over.
I dont think it is the immobiliser - LEDs extinguish as expected, the fuel pump is priming and turning the key dims the dash lights slightly, but there is nothing from the starter.

I measured the battery voltage with a DVM (at the cig-lighter socket) and got just over 11 volts. This seems a little low to me and suggests that the battery is at fault, (although some references suggest 11 volts may be ok).

Putting the Accumate back on, it shows the low battery indicator, the low bat indicator has remained on for 2 days which again points to a faulty battery.

The battery is therefore my prime suspect, but before I replace it, are there any other tests or checks I should do?

Thanks in advance.

John

[V8 GRF]

Woofers said:

Putting the Accumate back on, it shows the low battery indicator, the low bat indicator has remained on for 2 days which again points to a faulty battery.

The battery is therefore my prime suspect, but before I replace it, are there any other tests or checks I should do?

Thanks in advance.

John

The Accumate, as you suggest, is a trickle charger/conditioner and will take a while to get the battery showing a green light assuming the battery isn't too damaged by being flattened.

I left my Accumate on a *very* flat battery for about 4 - 5 days a few years back until the green light came on and the battery then went on for another copule of years. Worth trying I'd suggest.

[haircutmike]

At that voltage it will never start.

I suggest disconecting the battery and putting it on a decent charger for 24 hours.

If still no joy it's a new battery I'm afraid.

Batteries hate being left in a discharged state.

[SILICONEKID340HP]

I would try one of these..

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg//SID-DBE706C4-7...

[Ribol]

Woofers said:

I measured the battery voltage with a DVM (at the cig-lighter socket) and got just over 11 volts. This seems a little low to me and suggests that the battery is at fault, (although some references suggest 11 volts may be ok).

What you need to start a car is amps, a voltage reading isn't the most reliable way of getting to the answer.

Why not just try and jump start it with some "proper" jump leads and cut out the middle man. If it starts with no problems you can check if it is charging ok and then you will probably only have the battery to consider.

A normal/cheap home charger will need more than an overnight charge to fully charge one of these batteries if it is completely flat.

[Woofers]

Thanks for all the comments, now running again.

Despite 24 hours on full charge followed by 3 days on trickle charge the old battery was still dead.

Put a new battery in today and it fired up first turn of the key.

It looks like the old battery was the original (1998) so perhaps overdue for replacement.

I can highly recommend http://www.performancebatteries.co.uk/ (= http://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/)
excellent customer service and free next day delivery.

[Goaty Bill]

Woofers said:

I measured the battery voltage with a DVM (at the cig-lighter socket) and got just over 11 volts.

You mean your cig-lighter actually worked?

[Woofers]

Goaty Bill said:

You mean your cig-lighter actually worked?

It didn't work when I got the car, so this is no special edition!

But I have the grazed arms to prove that I have taken the door trim off and fixed it!
(and the door trim now has wing nuts to ease any future removal should it be required).