V12 Vantage Not Starting
V12 Vantage Not Starting
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Discussion

phumy

Original Poster:

5,828 posts

267 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
Hi all

Bit of knowledge/info required, my 2014 V12 Vantage S has been locked up in the gargage since January this year, ive had it on trickle charge on the AM battery conditioner for that time, just been out to start it/turn it over and nothing. When pushing the key and holding in for a normal start up it lights up the dash, the car make a kind of whirring noise, (not solenoid/starter motor noise) then stops. On the dash it leaves the Engine Management Lamp (Warning Lamp) and the OIl Pressure Warning.

Could this be a low/bad battery, the current battery has been on it since 2014, even though its been on the battery conditioner im wondering if its had enough and shat itself. There is no battery warning or low battery warning on the dash. If the battery has gone do you get Low Battery warning?

Just to add, my windows drop on opening the door and raise again on closing as ive heard thats a classic sign that the battery is on its way out.

Any info on what might or could be the problem would be greatly appreciated.

Edited by phumy on Wednesday 1st April 11:33

Graze01

1,192 posts

122 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
I suspect battery

I'd try to jump start it - will either rule out the battery if nothing happens or confirm it's the cause

If nothing happens could be the Key dock - mine was faulty about 1 out of 4 times and they replaced under warranty, or the brake switch

Good luck

Graze

phumy

Original Poster:

5,828 posts

267 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
Graze01 said:
I suspect battery

I'd try to jump start it - will either rule out the battery if nothing happens or confirm it's the cause

If nothing happens could be the Key dock - mine was faulty about 1 out of 4 times and they replaced under warranty, or the brake switch

Good luck

Graze
Thanks i will give that a go.

Manners79

274 posts

89 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
Do you have a voltmeter? Or does your tracker monitor voltage? If so measure it a few minutes after taking the battery off of the charger / conditioner and then measure it again every few hours...see what it settles to. Less than 12.2V after 24-48 hours and chances are it is a goosed battery.

Assuming your AM charger is the rebranded CTEK one it may be worth running the recondition programme then leaving it stage 7 (float) which can take up to 48 hours to complete (whereupon it should settle into the float cycle)

RiknRoll

178 posts

209 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
Mine did something similar a month back, I had the battery conditioner plugged in via the cabin - which didn't work. Ended up managing to charge it from the boot socket instead and then all fine after that.

CSK1

1,821 posts

154 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
I've had the same issue with my V12VSR. Happens occasionally after a prolonged storage. There's kind of a buzzing sound but the engine doesn't start.
I've raised the issue with my dealer but he could never reproduce the same fault as it starts without a problem if the car is used fairly regularly.
Weird.
I found that when it happens, a lock and unlock sequence generally cures it.
I also noticed that when the car doesn't start, it doesn't prime the clutch when opening the door, are these two issues related somehow?

macdeb

8,759 posts

285 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
Battery. Definitely battery, couple cells going I reckon. (from similar experience) £94 and 20 minutes to fit.

cayman-black

13,268 posts

246 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
Is the trickle charger working?

phumy

Original Poster:

5,828 posts

267 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
macdeb said:
Battery. Definitely battery, couple cells going I reckon. (from similar experience) £94 and 20 minutes to fit.
OK thanks, which battery did you go for as theres loads around online, I see the OEM fitted (as in Owner manual) from factory is a Varta 90Ah?

phumy

Original Poster:

5,828 posts

267 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
cayman-black said:
Is the trickle charger working?
It appears to be, the orange light is on the half full battery so i assume thats on "float".

David W.

1,951 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
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Isn’t the whirring noise with the ignition the exhaust flaps opening?

CSK1

1,821 posts

154 months

Wednesday 1st April 2020
quotequote all
macdeb said:
Battery. Definitely battery, couple cells going I reckon. (from similar experience) £94 and 20 minutes to fit.
My battery was checked during service so my problem isn't due to a weak battery but the OP's case might be different.

JonnyCJ

1,309 posts

84 months

Thursday 2nd April 2020
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When we’re the key fob batteries last changed ? Not sure if it affects things but worth considering every angle, especially for a £1 outlay.

triple5

757 posts

175 months

Thursday 2nd April 2020
quotequote all
phumy said:
It appears to be, the orange light is on the half full battery so i assume thats on "float".
You really need a volt meter to check the charger properly, take a reading from the battery with the charger switched off. Then with the meter still attached to the battery switch the charger back on, you should see the voltage increase.

My own recent experience with chargers is don't believe anything the status lights are telling you.