Suzuki Swift dead - advice please!

[Speed Badger]

Hi all, my partner's sons 2006 Suzuki Swift has suddenly died. It has had a new battery about 6 months ago and has been used regularly. This morning it was completely dead, no lights on the dash, had to open it with the hidden key (it's keyless). The previous journey was reported to be fine with no issues, no interior or exterior lights were left on and the battery connections are all secure with no loose wires.

Are we looking at alternator failure? Just seems weird all was fine, then completely dead. Any advice welcome please.

[underwhelmist]

I'm no expert, but I'd be checking all the fuses first.

edit: And the battery connections of course!

[drewklonky]

Negative lose/corroded connection to body work

[Speed Badger]

Ah I didn't think to check fuses, cheers. Connections all look good, not corroded or lose.

[RSTurboPaul]

Are all the earth straps between the engine and the bodywork connected?

Have you tried swapping another battery into it?

[Pupbelly]

Boot not shut properly so the light has been on all night?

[Sir Bagalot]

It's a 13 year old car. Surely it has AA/RAC cover, they're usually quite good at telling you the issue

[Speed Badger]

I'll check fuses and battery when I get back - yes RAC cover but not home start, might be an option to try and jump it then drive it a couple of miles away!

[Speed Badger]

Well all the main fuses are fine, the earths from the battery to the body are fine, no corrosion and tight. No doors, boot, lights or interior lights were left on. It has literally been driven fine, parked up then died. The price of a new alternator including labour is going to be around £300 and the car is worth £500 tops.

Might just Ebay it and advise him to get something else, had no end of trouble with this bloody car!

[Vaud]

Does he do lots of short journeys? Could be that the battery is never getting fully charged?

[Speed Badger]

No, not really. He does about 40 mins each way on the motorway to work and back every day except Monday and weekends. Doesn't really use it to potter locally, all his mates live a good half hour away as well. You can see my puzzlement!

[Clivey]

I know it's had a new battery already but I have seen similar when a battery cell has died. - Try the battery from another car to check.

If not, disconnect the battery, then unplug the ECU and leave it for a while before plugging everything back in and retrying. None of that will cost you anything to try.

[MB140]

Speed Badger said:

Well all the main fuses are fine, the earths from the battery to the body are fine, no corrosion and tight. No doors, boot, lights or interior lights were left on. It has literally been driven fine, parked up then died. The price of a new alternator including labour is going to be around £300 and the car is worth £500 tops.

Might just Ebay it and advise him to get something else, had no end of trouble with this bloody car!

Have you checked that the engine block is connected to earth. The battery negative terminal might be connected at the battery but if the engine block earth is broken it won’t start. Take a multimeter if you have one and test for resistance between the engine block and the negative terminal on the battery. The starter motor will use the engine block for its earth. Which needs to be connected to the negative of the battery either directly from the engine or most likely via the chassis.


Edited to add.


Sorry really quick diagram to explain it’s not exactly how it works but enough to give you an idea.

Edited by MB140 on Tuesday 6th August 15:32

Sorry just noted it’s totally dead not just not starting. Ignore above then. Sorry op.

Edited by MB140 on Tuesday 6th August 15:48

[Olivergt]

Clivey said:

I know it's had a new battery already but I have seen similar when a battery cell has died. - Try the battery from another car to check.

If not, disconnect the battery, then unplug the ECU and leave it for a while before plugging everything back in and retrying. None of that will cost you anything to try.

+1

Try another battery, this will give you more to go on, if it starts the car, then you can also check the alternator as this should be charging the battery, so turn on lights/aircon etc and check the voltage at the battery, if it starts going down, then the alternator may not be doing it's job.

P.S. someone else might have a better way of checking the alternator.

[budgie smuggler]

Weird to go totally flat to the point of nothing lighting up though. Whenever I've had a dead battery the dash lights all came on, but the starter wouldn't turn.

I'd check the battery with a multimeter as a first step. Can pick them up for a tenner from ScrewFix.

[konark]

Stick another battery in ( or use jump leads) and if it starts check the battery light on the dash, if it stays on the battery isn't charging = duff alternator.

Bit of a coincidence the battery had enough juice to get them home but now hasn't even the power to light a few 5w bulbs.

[DrDeAtH]

Just burn it...

[MrGTI6]

Bit of a stupid question, but as well as using the hidden key to open the car, did you also put the hidden key in the ignition?

If the key battery is dead, it won't allow you to start the car unless you insert the hidden key into the ignition and turn it. It only allows you to twist it by hand if the key fob is detected.

Accessing the slot for the hidden key would involve removing the the small piece of plastic on the end of the bit you have to twist to start the car.

Edited by MrGTI6 on Tuesday 6th August 18:11

[Speed Badger]

Sorry for slow update - couldn't find where this topic went. Yes I used the hidden key in the ignition. I'm going to try jump starting tomorrow and see what's what.

Burning it is also a good option! Potentially having a look at a couple of 2010 year Mazda 2's soon if this piece of st doesn't want to play dice any more.

[thebraketester]

Strange. It’s usually the owners of Honda jazz’s that die before the cars do.