Need some help!!

[KirkJames]

Right. For a while now, I have been saying I must get a 'new' lead and spade connector for the starter motor. Well, went out last night and........nothing. That's ok I thought, I will crimp the spade and have a play about, which I have done before........Nothing!!
So used the missus' car last night and today I was going to top up my gearbox oil. So I tried it again and all I got was a very rapid ticking and a smell of eggs (I have a decat). I did a search on here and read it could be battery related. So got the missus' car and jump started it. Hey presto, life at last.
Let it run for a while to charge up, turned it off and tried to restart........................... Nothing!!!

Now does this sound like my battery is completely knackered or starter motor related. I wouldn't of thought it was an earth point as it started when jumped.
The lights and everything still work and all the normal dash lights come on and the fuel pump starts up etc.

Can anyone enlighten me? If I do need another battery which ones can I get (ZS 180), I wanted to pick one up from a scrappy as cash is very tight till the end of the month when I will be able to get a new one.





Thanks all,

Kirk.

[Captain Peanut]

Had very similar with mine, lots of ticking but no life without a jump start. Turned out that the battery was fecked, despite the AA giving it a clean bill of health.

I got a new one for £40 from a local motor factors, might be worth a look around before heading to the scrappies so you've at least got a warranty.

[KirkJames]

Got a price for 59 from motor factors with 3 year warranty. Really wanted one from a scrappy only until i get paid at the end of the month. What battery does it need to be i.e. enough cranking power.

[talkingcars]

You can get an Exide for £52.50 if you use the discount code.

They quote "Capacity 680 cca" when I ask for a battery for my car.

However I'd check the earht first, just connect a jump lead between the battery and the earthpoint on your gearbox and see what it does.

[James Raby]

Kirk, did you notice any difference with the de-cat?
also did you install the MIL light kit?

The earthing wire from battery to slam panel is horrendous, I must get another and do mine as I don't like the look of it

[Fred68]

When you jump started it did you connect the negative jump lead to the battery or the engine block/body ? If the battery to body lead is goosed that could be the problem. If the starter is clicking it's telling you there is'nt enough current to run the starter ;)

[KirkJames]

You can get an Exide for £52.50 if you use the discount code.

They quote "Capacity 680 cca" when I ask for a battery for my car.

However I'd check the earht first, just connect a jump lead between the battery and the earthpoint on your gearbox and see what it does.
Thanks, which discount code and with which company bud?

Kirk, did you notice any difference with the de-cat?
also did you install the MIL light kit?

The earthing wire from battery to slam panel is horrendous, I must get another and do mine as I don't like the look of it
Didn't notice hardly any difference, but I have the standard air box set up, and standard exhaust from the cat back. I will notice more of a difference with these done. Haven't got the MIL it on yet, just I keep clearing the code with my code reader. It does sound nicer tho James.
When you jump started it did you connect the negative jump lead to the battery or the engine block/body ? If the battery to body lead is goosed that could be the problem. If the starter is clicking it's telling you there is'nt enough current to run the starter ;)
All the leads checked out ok, so connected jump leads to Neg and pos terminals. Think its new battery time.

[talkingcars]

http://www.themgzs.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=20262

[KirkJames]

Thanks for the info.
Little update on the situ. Jumped car this morning, drove to work with no issues. Brought my multimeter with me. The drive to work is 28 mile so enough to recharge the battery. Tested the battery an hour after getting to work and it's reading around 13 with the ignition off, and 14 when running. This is normal isn't it? If so, why did it go dead in the first place? Did I test it too soon after the journey or should I test again later to see if it is holding that charge.

[talkingcars]

I'd test it again later, it should be almost exactly the same.

[KirkJames]

Ok will do cheers bud!

[petet16]

As said elsewhere, also try the voltage with some load applied, headlights, blower motor.

The static voltage and charging voltage look fine to me.

If the problem occurs again it will be worth checking the battery voltage just to see if it has discharged, or if the problem lies elsewhere, you can use your jump leads to temporarily provide an alternative earth for the engine, and battery.

[KirkJames]

You can get an Exide for £52.50 if you use the discount code.

They quote "Capacity 680 cca" when I ask for a battery for my car.

However I'd check the earht first, just connect a jump lead between the battery and the earthpoint on your gearbox and see what it does.
Where's the earth point on the gearbox. Can't I just connect the jump lead from the neg terminal to the earth point on the slam panel?

As said elsewhere, also try the voltage with some load applied, headlights, blower motor.

The static voltage and charging voltage look fine to me.

If the problem occurs again it will be worth checking the battery voltage just to see if it has discharged, or if the problem lies elsewhere, you can use your jump leads to temporarily provide an alternative earth for the engine, and battery.

I will give that a try Pete, checked it again an hour ago and the figures are 12.9 (ish) and 14.3 (ish) with the car running. looks like it's holding the charge. I am a little worried as to what else could of caused this as the earth point from battery to slam panel looks good to me. Unless there's another earth I can't see. There is no earth coming off the starter motor, well that I can see anyway.
Any ideas??
I did move the charcoal filter when looking at the access I would need to do gearbox oil. Don't know if that would affect anything?

[talkingcars]

If you just connect between the slam panel and the battery you are not avoiding the possible poor connection between the gearbox and the slam panel!

[KirkJames]

Well it does all appear ok. Started this morning absolutely fine and battery still reading as it should. So Talkingcars where on the gearbox is the earth point. Sorry for denseness, but I have no idea having never seen it before.

[DaMoZ-MG]

even though the battery voltage is readin ok i would get the battery checked by a battery tester as the tester will test the state of the cells.the modern alternators wont recharge a flat bettery only top up the voltage. even if the connections on earths look good the internal part of the cable my be damaged/broken.

[KirkJames]

ok bud thanks, I will look into it.

[peterzs]

Could also be improving because of the warmer weather, if the car lives outdoors, the cold makes it a lot harder for the battery to spin over.

As said the battery check will show the condition of the battery, they whack a great big discharge across it and see how it reacts.

[tb steve]

i charged a battery up the other month to 100% but still would not start the car i thought it holds the voltage but just not enough amps ????

[KirkJames]

Could also be improving because of the warmer weather, if the car lives outdoors, the cold makes it a lot harder for the battery to spin over.

As said the battery check will show the condition of the battery, they whack a great big discharge across it and see how it reacts.

Where can i get that done, and how much would it cost?

[talkingcars]

I'm not sure where the gearbox end of the earth strap is but it won't be hard to find.

The drop test that Pete describes should be a few quid, or even free if you go to a battery specialist, especially if they think they may get a sale ;) , alternativly any local garage should be able to do it.