And, STILL in trouble

[Tomas]

So, heres a weird syptom:
I finally managed to get the Mav to start, BUT, in the morning it won't start!
I ran it for 10-15 miles yesterday, stop, off, start, stop, off, start, etc....
Dozens of times, with no problems, but this morning twas acting as if Battery's flat again, turned over 3-4 times and died!
Now yesterday, I put Battery on charge for half an hour, tried it again and it started fine.
I checked the charging rate at 14.6 volts, Battery was tested at Halfords and is only a few weeks old anyway.
I've pulled the earth leads, terminals etc. off and cleaned and filed every connection point until they're immaculate.

SO WTF is wrong???????????????

 

[briggie]

id guess your alternator isnt supplying enough current ( amps ) to your battery ....... yes the voltage may be correct , but its amps it needs to start

 

[spiderpig37]

Might be starter motor
But ignore if ok not read all thread

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Put a meter across the battery, and then with the meter connected, try and start the car, the voltage on the battery will drop, but should still read about 12v or so, if it is dropping way below that, then it could still be the battery.

The problem is, you need to test the battery under full load, as even a dead battery, provided you have not run it silly flat, will read 12v.

Just because the battery is a few weeks old, do not discount it, they tend to have the highest failure rates in the first few weeks, and it really depends on "How" the Halfrauds Man tested it, as there is another post not that long ago on here, where the basic tests passed the battery, but a proper load test showed it was only providing half the current is should.

If the battery voltage stays up, put the meter on the starter motor terminal, and try again, that will prove if it is a lead or connection problem. If it reads low, then you need to start tracing the large feed and the earth wires, if it reads the same as on the battery, then you are looking at the starter motor, or the starting cct on the car..

 

[Banshee]

So, heres a weird syptom:
I finally managed to get the Mav to start, BUT, in the morning it won't start!
I ran it for 10-15 miles yesterday, stop, off, start, stop, off, start, etc....
Dozens of times, with no problems, but this morning twas acting as if Battery's flat again, turned over 3-4 times and died!
Now yesterday, I put Battery on charge for half an hour, tried it again and it started fine.
I checked the charging rate at 14.6 volts, Battery was tested at Halfords and is only a few weeks old anyway.
I've pulled the earth leads, terminals etc. off and cleaned and filed every connection point until they're immaculate.

SO WTF is wrong???????????????

Either you got enough charge into it to get it started and the alternator either;

a) Didn't run long enough to re-charge the amperage in the battery enough to give it the amount of CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) to turn the car over

or

b) It did and you've got a current draw from somewhere from an open live when the ignition is off, an interior light, stereo etc etc

Does the engine turn over slowly or does it do nothing at all?

 

[clivvy]

as above - the stop start/stop start have done it. coupled with the cold, your battery doesnt have enough juice. Dont forget, that upon starting a vehicle, the battery must supply a huge current to the starter-you dont have that current. Try charging the battery...

 

[Barrbeast]

Had similar happen when the alternator went on my old Shogun, charged fine while running but as soon as it was stopped the alternator would then start draining the battery.

To check I would disconnect one of the battery leads and connect up the multimeter set to read current, on the Shogun it would show up as a drain of around 3.5/4 amps and would drop down to less than 1 amp as soon as you pulled the alternator cables.

I believe its the diode pack that causes it. New alternator or recondition old one. If you still notice the draw with the alternator unplugged then you need to open the fuse box and start removing and then replacing fuses until you find the circuit that's shorting and causing the draw.

 

[richtheracer]

Maybe the starter is pulling all the juice from battery as mine was! I too bought a new battery for £100 and it wasnt the problem , it was my starter!! When it does start does it turn over really fast or sound sluggish?
Rich

 

[Banshee]

Maybe the starter is pulling all the juice from battery as mine was! I too bought a new battery for £100 and it wasnt the problem , it was my starter!! When it does start does it turn over really fast or sound sluggish?
Rich

Glad it wasn't the only one who did this lol!!!!
That was one expensive weekend!!!! However I now have one reliable truck lol

 

[Tomas]

Man at Halfords used a device which he said cost £500 and automatically put battery under load to test. He had to program in the CCA and AH.
Previously, we had put battery onto Darryl's Mav and it started it fine no probs.
When it is working there is a very short high pitched whine as Engine starts, it sounds as if it comes from the starter motor!

I think I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and get local garage to look at it!
Just worried about what it'll cost me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fez_uk]

I'd be swayed towards the starter motor, they are crap.

I used to have to replace mine every 6 months or so.

 

[clivvy]

erm...didnt i sell you my starter, Tomas?

I cant remember, if so, get it checked FIRST before fitting the new one. I suspect you have solenoid issues.

 

[Tomas]

erm...didnt i sell you my starter, Tomas?

I cant remember, if so, get it checked FIRST before fitting the new one. I suspect you have solenoid issues.

Yes mate, I've tried it and it spins up OK, but not through solenoid.
Have you got an alternator as well?????

Trouble is, I can't do a lot, I just had an operation to cut a piece out of my collar bone. Stitches and Clips out last week, but it's not looking good.
Hospital say recovery can be 6-8 weeks afer stitches out, sometimes 12!
Can't be without my car that long, I've got other problems as well, but living on Incapacity benefit ain't no joke, so big expensive garage bills would mean having to sell the Mav!

 

[jims-terrano]

I was thinking starter too, exactly like mine was. I was convinced battery was shot too but no turned out to be the starter.

 

[clivvy]

well, I'm not sure. I know for a fact my starter was working perfect and the solenoid is fine also - so I don't think its my starter if you have it fitted.:thumb2

im not sure what you mean by "not through the solenoid"??

 

[darryl]

hi all in my own opinion its not battery or the starter motor might be wrong im sure one of the blokes on here will tell me. the symptoms were when key was turned to starting position the engine would give half a turn then stop then sound like there was a clicking then engine would try to crank over again as tomas said we put battery on mine engine fired up no trouble. when we put the battery back on tomas car. i noticed when earth lead on the battery was done up u could still move the earth lead got a little plastic bit between the crimp:nenau so tightened a lot more engine turned over. but if u turn key to start position i.e trying to start the engine u have to turn key slowly then engine turned fine and fired up. if u went to full position with key started to do the as above again. my self I think earth problem :nenau

 

[clivvy]

ok, check the connection under the water bottle (coolant). Check the two earth straps from the engine block to drivers side inner wing, and also check the two earth points for the pedal on the engine block by the dip stick (two together-small wires lead off to loom)

 

[Tomas]

well, I'm not sure. I know for a fact my starter was working perfect and the solenoid is fine also - so I don't think its my starter if you have it fitted.:thumb2

im not sure what you mean by "not through the solenoid"??

Meaning I connected the motor direct, not through the solenoid!

 

[Tomas]

hi all in my own opinion its not battery or the starter motor might be wrong im sure one of the blokes on here will tell me. the symptoms were when key was turned to starting position the engine would give half a turn then stop then sound like there was a clicking then engine would try to crank over again as tomas said we put battery on mine engine fired up no trouble. when we put the battery back on tomas car. i noticed when earth lead on the battery was done up u could still move the earth lead got a little plastic bit between the crimp:nenau so tightened a lot more engine turned over. but if u turn key to start position i.e trying to start the engine u have to turn key slowly then engine turned fine and fired up. if u went to full position with key started to do the as above again. my self I think earth problem :nenau

Have been through all the connections cleaned, filed, sanded and made all connections 100%!

Weird innit?

 

[Banshee]

Meaning I connected the motor direct, not through the solenoid!

If you get the starter mate I don't mind coming to fit it for you