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Frustrating non-starter!

noneil

New member
Hi all,

I was trying to set off this evening to visit friends and family and the car simply wouldn't fire up.

The starter only turns once and as I hold the key in the starter position the lights on the dash fade out; when I release the key the lights go back to neutral. Trying to start it in succession sees less effort from the starter until nothing at all or just a click from the starter; after a few minutes break the process can be started again.

The battery is only a year or two old and shows 12 volts even after many attempts. One thing I have noticed that when starting the voltage drops to about 5 - does suggest an abnormally large load on the starter and if so what could cause this?

The car never seems to like cold and damp weather and has does this once before but starting working without much interference other than poking the HT leads (which I've tried already!)

Help!

Cheers,

Neil
 
I would put money on it being the battery mate. Even a flat battery can show 12V with no load on it. However as soon as you start drawing amps from it and starting can draw around 100A at the instant you turn the key the voltage will drop right down. Your dashboard voltmeter is showing you this. If you have another car try the battery from that. Doesn't matter if it fits you are just confirming or denying the battery.
 
Have to agree sounds like classic battery failure , i would add that a set of jump leads saves fitting the other battery as putting another battery in parallel will also let you know.

Also a battery that reads 12v under no or minimal load is a duff one.

Regards mas
 
Yes of course a set of jump leads would do exactly the same as what I originally said. Can I take that back now and actually suggest doing that instead? What a f***ing plonker I am!!!! [&:]
 
Thanks for the swift replies gents!

Unfortunately I don't have jump leads or another car, so don't worry Rob! But what I do have is a trickle charger so I'll pull it out and try again in the morning (if only there was an easy way to open the hatch with the battery out . . . )

Cheers,

Neil
 
There is. The blue post in the drivers side scuttle was designed for exactly that purpose when they introduced the electric boot release in the oval dash. A word of warning though never ever try to jump start the car from here. The wiring will not take the current. It is purely to open the boot when you have a flat battery.
 
Thanks Rob, that'll save me from rolling around in the boot trying to release the catches with some pliers [:)]
 

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