JoelP
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 07:15 PM |
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whats wrong with my car?!
hello all, just a small problem with my regular car, thought id pester you all for info. 
it wouldnt start the other lunchtime, after it had been parked up for just a few hours. Previously to this it has started well for the last 16k
miles.
Seemed like a flat battery, but after bumping it off, it wouldnt charge up at all - not a hint of life even after a good run.
So i assumed it was the battery. With the booster pack clipped on, it started well.
But when i put on another battery (admittedly another old one, but it worked well on the kit car), it still wouldnt charge it.
So might it be the altenator? it runs fine once you get it going though, aside from the fact you can stall it by flashing the headlights (it is only 1
litre though (and french  ))
Also, the radio is asking for a code, so i assume its been totally flat at some point, but the clock only lost about 2 minutes.
Im quite baffled, any ideas anyone?! Cheers...
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big_wasa
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 07:21 PM |
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I had that problem with my mondeo...You could be driving it ,stop for an hour go back to it and it was dead...Finally traced it to a bad conection
between the bat terminal and the conection....
Clean all contacts and check all earths .. Bet that sorts it ...
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JoelP
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 07:22 PM |
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i have heard a few crackling noises from the fuse box recently... 
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gazza285
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 07:37 PM |
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I'd buy a fire extinguisher.
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tks
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 08:09 PM |
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uhhh
i would do both
+ making sure that the voltage on the terminals with the engine running is appr 14volts (charging)..
if you can stall a car with 120watts of applied power you have a very poor alternator.. it consumes the spark power away...
TKs
The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.
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gazza285
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 09:29 PM |
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Reminds me of my old Transit. The alternator went one night at around 3.30 on the way home from a gig. Did the last 40 miles with no lights on so the
fuel solenoid didn't close. Still gave up ten miles from home.
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tks
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 09:54 PM |
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yeah...
the problem is
that when you realize that the alternator isn't charging the battery is already on half..
offcourse we could ask..
if it wasn't better to drive with the lights on but at 80Mph..
assuming 3.30 is in the middle of the bloody night..
Tks
The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.
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gazza285
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 10:00 PM |
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It was at night and I was going as fast as the van would go, no lights, no radio, no fan, no nothing. We'd loaded it with the tail lift though,
engine running, when I jumped back in the cab the charge light was on, no way of knowing how much was left in the old lead cell.
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gazza285
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| posted on 28/5/05 at 10:04 PM |
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I'd check the connectors Joel, including the fuse box feed. It doesn't take much to cripple a car.
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wilkingj
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| posted on 29/5/05 at 08:55 AM |
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First, disconnect the battery...
(EARTH - OFF FIRST, and back ON LAST)
Then take off connectors one at a time and clean them up, qnd put back.
Furry crap round the battery terminals - remove with a cup of hot (not boiling) water. Grease up Battery terminals with Petroleum Jelly / Vasseline
(Vas - is Expensive PJ).
check and clean terminals on the alternator, also on the starter solenoid (another common point) and fuse box, as you heard arcing (crackling) from
there.
If badly burnt connectors are found, cut them off and replace with new.
Use Proper Ratchet Crimp Pliers (cost about £15 upwards). those £3 are cheap and make poor connections.
Ensure than battery is charged (charge overnight)
Then refit and try / test check the car.
Check the battery voltage with the engine NOT running, you should have at least 12V, fully charged battery could (should) be as much as 13.8V ie 2.2V
per cell.
The with engine running check the voltage (fast tick over - 2000 rpm at least)
and the voltage should rise to above 14V or more. If its doesnt rise, then you could have an alternator problem, ie the regulator id duff.
You could slip an ammeter inline with the Alternator to check the output (temporarily).
Just my 2d worth..
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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JoelP
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| posted on 29/5/05 at 10:09 AM |
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thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. I'll have a fiddle later when i get a minute - till then i guess im pushing, or trying to bump it in
6 feet of drive!
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tks
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| posted on 29/5/05 at 02:42 PM |
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uhhh
the ams meter i would put it in line with the alternator because i think you will fry your equipment..
TKS
The above comments are always meant to be from the above persons perspective.
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