My battery's lasted just 18 months :(
Discussion
Car is a 96 Crossflow, so not complicated at all.
Had it out for New Year's Day when, after an overnight charge it leapt in to life, apparently pleased at being dragged out in to daylight.
Since then, the bloody thing simply refuses to start. Even after several days on charge, it just whirs away pathetically for about fifteen seconds before the start relay simply chatters away to itself while the rest of the car sits there like a won't even jump off another car.
It appears the battery just won't hold a charge, which I find pretty poor bearing in mind it's a brand name item less than two years old.
Part of me, deep down, suspects the car has an earth fault so no matter how much I charge the damned thing it's losing it just as fast.
Gotta love Lucas electrics.
Had it out for New Year's Day when, after an overnight charge it leapt in to life, apparently pleased at being dragged out in to daylight.
Since then, the bloody thing simply refuses to start. Even after several days on charge, it just whirs away pathetically for about fifteen seconds before the start relay simply chatters away to itself while the rest of the car sits there like a won't even jump off another car.
It appears the battery just won't hold a charge, which I find pretty poor bearing in mind it's a brand name item less than two years old.
Part of me, deep down, suspects the car has an earth fault so no matter how much I charge the damned thing it's losing it just as fast.
Gotta love Lucas electrics.
Once the battery has failed there's not a lot to do but replace it. Sulphating of the electrodes is a process that starts from new and accelerates towards the end of its life as the capacity is lost.
The life depends on many things, but a small battery has a hard time in a car and a Caterham is about as bad as it gets. Two years to five years is typical life but 18 months is not that bad considering. But is worth checking the alternator (slip rings, if you can, as they may be worn or burnt) and the charging voltage when you fit a new battery. As you say, poor earth continuity to the engine could also result in a shorter battery life.
The life depends on many things, but a small battery has a hard time in a car and a Caterham is about as bad as it gets. Two years to five years is typical life but 18 months is not that bad considering. But is worth checking the alternator (slip rings, if you can, as they may be worn or burnt) and the charging voltage when you fit a new battery. As you say, poor earth continuity to the engine could also result in a shorter battery life.
Alternator is only a couple of years old too. Summer 2011 I got to spend a lovely long weekend with friends in Scotland, whiling away the hours chasing the cause of poor starting and a flattening battery.
New battery, alternator and starter motor later and I finally got to go home......
AA Homestart now inbound. Sod it. At least he'll have the kit to give the battery a health check.
New battery, alternator and starter motor later and I finally got to go home......
AA Homestart now inbound. Sod it. At least he'll have the kit to give the battery a health check.
Crossflow Kid said:
Part of me, deep down, suspects the car has an earth fault so no matter how much I charge the damned thing it's losing it just as fast.
Gotta love Lucas electrics.
Are you sure it's not just a bad earth causing the reluctance to start?Gotta love Lucas electrics.
If it is the battery that's definitely dead, and you've lost the receipt for a replacement, then Halfrauds gives a 5 year warranty on Bosch calcium batteries.
Fit a 'Discarnect' or competition battery isolator and isolate your battery when the car is not in use - the battery will hold charge much longer.
Depending on the spec. of your Crossflow (if highly tuned; high compression and dizzy with non-vaccuum advance) they can be b
ds to turn over even with a fit battery and good earths, mind you, particularly if you're still using an old-fashioned inertia starter motor instead of a modern pre-engaged one (which it sounds like you are if you've got a separate starter solenoid?). Consider a geared starter motor if this is the case - they're not cheap, but they work wonders!AA man sorted it. Well we did. Bit of fault diagnosis with me cranking while he prodded.....and he spotted the starter motor was shaking as it cranked. Turned out the casing bolts had loosened so it was all rattling apart, so it just wasn't performing.
Took it off, bolted it all back together again, refitted it, along with a new battery lead, and all is good in Crossflow world once more.
Took it off, bolted it all back together again, refitted it, along with a new battery lead, and all is good in Crossflow world once more.
Good to hear it's sorted but is it worth considering a charger and leaving the car plugged in permanently?
I have mine plugged into one of these whilst not in use
http://www.ctek.com/int/en/chargers/MXS%203.6
Seems to work very well.
I have mine plugged into one of these whilst not in use
http://www.ctek.com/int/en/chargers/MXS%203.6
Seems to work very well.
In my 16 years experience of Banner powered Caterhams, the battery will deplete power over winter if the car is unused even if fully isolated.
Either start and recharge your car every 2 weeks, or use a conditioner. A CTEK XS 0.8 conditioner is a good piece of kit for under £35 on eBay.
Either start and recharge your car every 2 weeks, or use a conditioner. A CTEK XS 0.8 conditioner is a good piece of kit for under £35 on eBay.
EFA said:
In my 16 years experience of Banner powered Caterhams, the battery will deplete power over winter if the car is unused even if fully isolated.
Either start and recharge your car every 2 weeks, or use a conditioner. A CTEK XS 0.8 conditioner is a good piece of kit for under £35 on eBay.
I didn't realise your old car it was an electrically powered, thought it was a VX ........then again I could be wrong fancy that a Battery powered Caterham 7 Either start and recharge your car every 2 weeks, or use a conditioner. A CTEK XS 0.8 conditioner is a good piece of kit for under £35 on eBay.
I don't trust just flicking the cut of switch any more, as the Caterham fitted item simply does not chop the power to everything (whether the later ones do I don't know)......as I found out last year and reported on BC.
The Optimate/Accumate/Ctek certainly seem to keep banners in good nick if left on all the time..........and my cars stand still for most of the year in the garage.
The Optimate/Accumate/Ctek certainly seem to keep banners in good nick if left on all the time..........and my cars stand still for most of the year in the garage.
kenny.R400 said:
I don't trust just flicking the cut of switch any more, as the Caterham fitted item simply does not chop the power to everything (whether the later ones do I don't know)......as I found out last year and reported on BC.
The Optimate/Accumate/Ctek certainly seem to keep banners in good nick if left on all the time..........and my cars stand still for most of the year in the garage.
I've experienced no problems so far but my 7 is only five years old. I do have an Airflow conditioner but that spends more time on my WRX as that drains its battery in ten days in really cold weather if not used. The Optimate/Accumate/Ctek certainly seem to keep banners in good nick if left on all the time..........and my cars stand still for most of the year in the garage.
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