Grrrrrr

rockdemon

rockdemon

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Staff member
Well 2 days before PAE goes to Clive Annable's to have the autobox sorted, it's decided starting is going to be problematic again. I've cleaned up the current earth strap, and changed the battery clamps.

I was wondering if anybody has a picture of the correct position for the earth lead, as i'm pretty sure PAE's isnt in the right place?

Battery is showing about 14v whilst engine running. It jumpstarts immediately, but after stopping it doesnt start.

I'm jumpstarting to the battery terminals, so i have a feeling that despite this being a new battery, that the battery is at fault?

All ideas gratefully received. Currently i'm just thinking maybe rozelle will have to follow me to clive's on wednesday morning in the 800 in case PAE stalls?

Rich.
 
If it starts on jump leads put on the battery terminals , it sounds like your battery has had it
As long as one end of the earth lead is fixed to the body and the other end to the engine/gearbox I can't see it matters exactly where it's bolted to
 
Took the battery back and they agreed it's dead as a dodo, so we're on battery number 3 in the space of a year.

Now, i'm wondering if this time it's been hastened by reconnection of the radio.

I'm going to check what current draw there is when the car is switched off with and without the radio connected i think!
 
dont think so. last time i checked there was no current drain on the battery having disconnected the clock, but since then i reconnected the radio, so maybe that's the issue.

Seems unlikely that they'd fail so readily. I thought Exide was a reasonable brand of battery, and £70 isnt exactly cheap! 3rd time lucky lets hope!
 
For what its worth I bought a battery for my P4 in 2002 and it's still going strong. It sits all Winter and never fails to spin it over and start it in Spring.
It was from Halfords and they get a very good write up from an Auto-Express test done in 2008.
I think Exide may be a recognisable name but as your experience has shown the product no longer lives up to the name. :(
 
I wouldnt buy one again, but i cant help thinking there could be something about my car's electrical system which provoked it, however all 'appears' to be well. No current draw when car is switched off, and a constant 14ish volts when engine is running. I guess while it's still under 4 year warranty i'm ok. If it goes again though i'll be asking for a refund... it's so much hassle when it doesnt work! Maybe the halfords battery is worth the extra £60.... :shock:

Rich
 
Crikey, thats a hell of a difference. What battery are you looking at on Halfords? I can only find a 4 cyl one which comes out at £102 for 4 yr guarentee or £92 for 3 yr.

So how much was the Exide?

It's not all clear cut though, i seem to remember Auto-Express found the 3yr guarentee one out performed the 4yr and they reckoned it wasn't worth paying the extra for a 4yr!
 
The exides start at £63, and this one was £72 i think.(I got trade price with a bit of haggling ;) )


THe halfords one was more last time i looked - Was £120+. They've reduced it now looking at their website...
 
How much ! :shock:

Last new battery I bought was £25 for a Hella. Ok it was a few years ago now, but I don't think I'd pay more than £50 for one. Mind you, having scrapped a few cars I do have a nice collection of good used batteries that I keep charged up ready for action.

One quick question, you say it's showing 14v at the battery with the engine running, what is the voltage with the revs up at say 2-3k rpm ?
 
dont know - i'd need a brick and the car to find out i guess... it's at clives until next week now!

Rich
 
There's a rumour 3 and 4 yr guarantee batteries are the same - you just pay the extra for an extra years guarantee
 
that would make a lot of sense wouldnt it - the difference in price i guess tells you how good the manufacturers think their batteries are (i.e. what the failure rate is!)
 
rockdemon said:
that would make a lot of sense wouldnt it - the difference in price i guess tells you how good the manufacturers think their batteries are (i.e. what the failure rate is!)
Click to expand...

Hehe. Good point! With a bit of calculation you could probably work out the cost price and anticipated failure rate!

Whilst only a solution to the symptom rather than the cause, have you considered fitting an isolator switch? It doubles up as an immobiliser after all (and with that dual function, they should offer a 2 year guarantee...! :D ). Battery's in the boot on all V8's isn't it?

I suppose it's just a case of being methodical after that. Provided the ignition switch works as it should (and you turn it back to 0 after shut off), the issue will be in your permanently live circuit, so that narrows it a bit. It sounds to me like there's a small short somewhere (poss the starter solenoid or alternator?). The usual test is taking the pos lead of the battery and then touching it back against the terminal. If there's a big BIG spark, there's a small short somewhere.
Disconnect the starter from everything except the main positive cable. If the battery still dies on you, the short must be in the starter. If not, then most likely the alternator. If not that...... isolator switch and make do?? :?

Just my tuppence worth! Tell Clive my cylinder head is A1 when you see him next :wink: I hope the transmission conversion is everything you're hoping for and more! I love improvements, don't you!
 
that is mad lately i been having battery troubles with mth sat the battery was down turn it over but not enough to start her up so jump started her and was fine went out for a spin in her and then checked wot it was and was fine goes out today and yet again battery is down again but will not fire it up so will have to have a better look at her
 
Gareth, that sort of behaviour usually indicates a knackered battery, or possibly a drain, but usually the battery. It's ok once it's had a bit of charge from the alternator, but the voltage drops back down once left, probably one dead cell in the battery.
 
well i had the battery tested by 2 different place and battery is fine but there is a drain some where but not to sure where but will have to have a good look at her
 
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