Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 I am having problems with starting the car, I'm not too sure if we have 2 separate issues or just 1 big one!! I've already used the search facility, but that has not come up with any answers. So far, I have the battery tested(which was ok), yet it still looks like we have a power drain. I have now found problems starting the car with the battery reading about 11.4 volts. Surely it should start at this level? However, after about 4 or 5 attempts the car finally turned over very slowly and then started. I had the RAC out yeasterday as it wouldn't start at all with the volts reading 11.2 (the starter motor was just clicking and not catching at all). They checked the battery, alternator and also for power drains, but they all passed their tests!! The car started straight away from his booster pack with no problems, he said there was no mechanical problem with the car and said that 11.2 volts wasn't enough to turn the car over. We then drove it to Japfest at Donington, which took over 2 hours with the battery charging well all thrugh the journey, then after about 3 hours it was back down to 11.2 volts with not enough to start it again. Sorry for the long post, but I don't know which way to go next, there is obviously a problem that hasn't showed itself yet. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 if it started with a booster pack then my first thought would be the battery is knackerd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 I tend to agree with you, but then can 2 different people (1 was an Exide dealer and the other was the RAC) both be wrong? Is it worth getting it tested again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Battery shot...or alternator not charging... however if it was the alternator then you would notice lights dipping that sort of thing. Another possibility is some device putting a large drain on the battery causing it to run flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Sounds very much like your alternator is buggered, you're not running a big ICE install are you thats draining all the power? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 The lights were not dipping and that was with the rear window heater on, A/C on fans on, everything on. I have been told my alarm could not drain that amout of current, I disconnected a couple of things that I thought it could be, but that hasn't solved it. I ahve also took my install out as I initially thought I had a dodgy powercap, but it's not that. The battery is an Exide 900, so i can't check the water level. You're doing well guys, keep the suggestions coming!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 low water level in the battery ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Have you got a spare battery to put in place and see how it goes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Phoenix-One, my next step is to diconnect the battery to see if I get a drain that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Are the termiinal connectors to the battery tight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Max, tried them too. They are tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 whats the cold crank rating on the battery? If the car has been running and you turn it off and then try starting it again does it start fine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 starts fine, left last night for 1 hour and started ok. Cant see cold crank reading, its an Exide maxima DC900 if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 sounds very much like it could be the battery... when under load ie cranking the plates could be bent.. This wouldn't always show up with a normal test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Phoenix-One, what you are saying there could make a little sense. When the RAC tested the battrey yesterday, he put some sort of gauge on it, which he said put the battery to it's full load. He said that if the reading went below 10 volts then it looks like it coulod be a dead battery. It went down to 8.5volts, BUT his machine said that the battery was still ok. Hope that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Yeah my assumption would be battery... Remember there are 6 cells in most lead acid batteries. each generating around 2.x volts... when checking with a multimeter you are only checking voltage and not drain as such and it can be VERY missleading. 8.5v is NOT a good voltage, almost sounds like 2 cells are out... Remember that your ECU is tolerant of voltage drop during crank, but not below around 10v I wouldn't have thought. Just pull a battery out of another car just as a test. Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 I had the toyota alarm on the MR2 drain the battery due to it being full of moisture and trying to short itself out. First symtom was the siren didn't work. If you reckon something is draining the battery then connect an Ammeter in series with the positive and check current draw. 0.05Amp is normal. If not then work through each fuse pulling them till the figure changes. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 I had the toyota alarm on the MR2 drain the battery due to it being full of moisture and trying to short itself out. First symtom was the siren didn't work. If you reckon something is draining the battery then connect an Ammeter in series with the positive and check current draw. 0.05Amp is normal. If not then work through each fuse pulling them till the figure changes. Mike Very sound advice there.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Im not sure which battery you have but check the fluid in the battery is high enough in all cells. I once had 2 cells tat got really low, i wasnt lucky on that occasion as the lead had cracked so had to buy a new one. Id say 90% sounds like battery as once the car is warm, it takes less of a load to fire the car up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Looks like it may be the battery. After taking it off the car, the voltage has dropped from about 12.1v down to 11.7 in the last couple of hours. Thanks for all your help guys, I'll let you know if anything else happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mas Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Jason , I have a very similer problem with mine, It starts up sometimes when likes to and If Im lucky, but doesnt some other times, Just got the car out from my garage and washed it , but when wanted to reverse the car back in, it didnt start, had to push it back in th garage the thing is that I can see every thing in the dash even my Radio is working excellent, but as soon as I turn the key in to start it turns every thing off and doesnt start. Im thinking it might be 1- starter motor 2- immobiliser that doesnt let petrol get in:Pling: Im puzzled too mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 I know what you mean Mas, it's so frustrating not knowing what the problem is, but it certainly looks like my battery is dying. It's slowly been losing charge whilst off the car all day. Looks like it's going to be another arguement with the dealer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mas Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Im actually going to jump start the car, and if it started with the jum leads connected then I shall be looking for a new battery. I really hope its the battery and not more serious stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted October 1, 2006 Author Share Posted October 1, 2006 Good luck mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheefa Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Mine kept ticking over. A good new hi volt battery sorted it out in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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