gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) Yeah bit of a strange thread title.... I drove my car into my drive and then installed my stubby aerial supplied by Supra Steveo yesterday, turned on the ignition but didn't start the engine after the instal to check radio reception, I was getting a crackly Radio 1. Did a search and it then found no stations, not even the crackly Radio 1 it previously had. I then tried my sat nav on the double din unit and it too wouldn't function. I then turned off the ignition as I normally would have done and went on to fit my Front Strut brace and leave the stubby aerial for another day. I followed all the instructions on the thread in this forum to the word (it doesn't seem a difficult instal anyways). Today I went out to start the car.... Turn the key, lights come on the dash, but car won't turn over, just makes a 'click, click, dumm' kind of noise (if that makes sense). Now unless my front strut has sapped the power from my car I'm guessing it's something to do with either the aerial instal (but I can't see how) or my stereo has drained the battery as it hasn't shut down as it would have normally due to having no reception (again I'm not too sure this is the scenario either). I'm going to investigate further today (Sunday) and try and see what charge is in my battery and whether I can trickle charge it using a digital battery health unit thingy I have. Anyone else got any ideas or had a similar experience? Car has been running fine up until this. Cheers in advance Edited July 27, 2014 by gordy.r (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Battery flat. Connected something to a permanent live rather than ign switched live probably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee P Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Flat battery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Battery flat. Connected something to a permanent live rather than ign switched live probably. This! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 Battery flat. Connected something to a permanent live rather than ign switched live probably. That's the thing, I haven't connected anything to anything!?!? I just removed the old motor for the aerial, left the power connector for the motor hanging as per the guide, and didn't run a wire to the back of the stereo yet. I really can't understand why the battery has died? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 maybe the live wire is shorting out somewhere inside the wing. Did you tape up the ends of the wires not used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 What did you power the booster with then? Or perhaps just coincidence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 maybe the live wire is shorting out somewhere inside the wing. Did you tape up the ends of the wires not used? No didn't do that, I'll have a look today. What did you power the booster with then? Or perhaps just coincidence That's the thing, I didn't power up the booster as I didn't have time to run a wire from the back of the stereo and I hear it doesn't always need it. Also heard you can use the live wire from the old motor power connection to run this, not tried it though. Really is a strange one. My guess is it may be something to do with the stereo not powering off, but it looked off? Hmmmmm lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Roger NE Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 The "booster" you describe will be some kind of RF pre-amplifier If it's still in circuit (ie between the aerial and the radio) but you didn't feed any power to it, then you won't get any signals (so that's why your radio didn't work). One of the wires to the electric aerial is 12V all the time the ignition is on, so you can pick that up to power the booster. It may be a flat battery causing your problem - but there are other tell-tell signs. Like if you put the sidelights on, do the dash lights go very dim when you try to crank the engine? If they DON'T, then it's not a flat battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 The "booster" you describe will be some kind of RF pre-amplifier If it's still in circuit (ie between the aerial and the radio) but you didn't feed any power to it, then you won't get any signals (so that's why your radio didn't work). One of the wires to the electric aerial is 12V all the time the ignition is on, so you can pick that up to power the booster. It may be a flat battery causing your problem - but there are other tell-tell signs. Like if you put the sidelights on, do the dash lights go very dim when you try to crank the engine? If they DON'T, then it's not a flat battery. Right I am going to go out and try this now, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 Ok, turned the key to the second position, dash lights came on, tried to start car, click click click noise from the starter motor I believe and dash lights dimmed. Connected up my battery thingy-ma-jig and it read 7.1V Leaving it on trickle charge at present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee P Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Its more likely that while working on the car you flattened the battery, if the battery isn't in the best of shape it will discharge quick If you have doors open, radio on, ignition on ect it will run the battery down Just charge it up and see how it is, maybe worth getting the battery tested after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 Ok, managed to get 10.5V into the battery and it wouldn't really go much above. Disconnected the charger, turned it over and it wouldn't start. Reattached the charger, checked voltage and back down to 7.1V. Think I'll call out the AA with my Halifax Current Account rewards and get it jumped then off for a new battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bailey Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I'd get the battery tested, or buy a new one. Sounds like it isnt holding enough charge to start the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sz aero supra Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 the two wires you removed off the electric aerial,did you tape over the ends so they dont touch.when i installed my stubby they meet n made a hell off a crack frightened life outta me.just a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 the two wires you removed off the electric aerial,did you tape over the ends so they dont touch.when i installed my stubby they meet n made a hell off a crack frightened life outta me.just a thought No I just cable tied the connector block containing the two wires up along with the other wiring in the boot space. I wouldn't have thought they would have touched as they are inside a connector. Ive just put my boot back together but I may go have a look again just in case, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 So Mr AA agrees it was a flat battery. After jumping the car, checking the alternator (which is new anyways) and running a battery test he says all seems ok. He reckons it could have discharged from having the boot open for such a long time (approx 1-2 hours when fitting the stubby aerial). I'm still a little unsure as when I go to start the car now it sounds as though it's about to die before taking a spark. Hmmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Roger NE Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Just because you've jump started the car doesn't mean the battery is now re-charged ! If it was as flat as you say, you would need to leave it on charge for about 15 hours to fully re-charge it. Do you use your Supra daily? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 Yeah they guy said that, he said running it that the alternator will only give it a surface charge, I would need a charging pack to fully bring it up to its original state. Yeah its a daily driver, why do you ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Roger NE Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Well if you haven't got a battery charger, does a neighbour not have one you can borrow? You need to put it on charge as I say for at least 15 hours. If you only used your car once a week, it wouldn't have much charge, so that would explain the battery going flat from leaving the tailgate or door open while working on it. But if you drive it every day, I would expect the battery to be reasonably charged to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 Ah, I did actually leave the car standing for over week before I did the aerial as I was down south... This may explain some things! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherjohn Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I leave my car for a month a time and just plug a C - Tek battery conditioner in cost about 60 quid and battery always good when I return Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy.r Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share Posted July 27, 2014 I leave my car for a month a time and just plug a C - Tek battery conditioner in cost about 60 quid and battery always good when I return Cheers for that, I'll have a look at maybe getting one of those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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