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Jun 13, 2006 13:17:28 GMT
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This morning, when I tried to start my car, the starter turned very slowly, as though the battery was flat. However, the starter then began to pick up speed slowly until it was turning the engine over at enough speed to start it. It was also like this when I drove it at lunchtime. Yesterday, it had been absolutely fine, and I've never had this sort of problem before! Any idea what could cause this? All I can think of is a slightly iffy connection, but would that give the same symptoms each time? I don't think it's a duff battery (it's only about 4 years old) as the lights are all bright (even main beam) when the engien isn't running. Could this just be caused by damp in the electrics (there was very heavy rain here last night)? Help!!!!  |
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,882
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Technical Query....bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Jun 13, 2006 13:57:14 GMT
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Starters are mahoosive current drains
I'd put me money on the battery if it's four years old
Lights on and all the rest is not indication of the peak amps that the battery is cappable of kicking out
If it was a Polo I'd have said starter motor cos they have a bronze bearing which wears and the starter shorts out on itself, gets very hot and turns the engine over very slowly
Take it to your local motorspares place and get them to put a cattle prod tester on it - they never charge for this and it'll soon reveal if it has a cell going dead
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Jun 13, 2006 14:33:33 GMT
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Cheers BC! I never knew that a dodgy battery could produce those sort of symptoms  |
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Jun 13, 2006 20:44:52 GMT
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Youd probably find that whats happening is as it fires on each cylider it helps it turn over enough until a point at which its very nearly running, hence turning over faster
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Jun 13, 2006 23:30:55 GMT
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Youd probably find that whats happening is as it fires on each cylider it helps it turn over enough until a point at which its very nearly running, hence turning over faster That sounds about right. To start with, when turning the key, there's nothing at all. Then the starter slowly turns... & after a few seconds of very slow turning*, the engine catches, almost miraculously if that makes sense! I can only assume that the ignition system is very good but then until now it's always started without easily. *As if the battery is flat Once running, all the electrics are fine & the charge / amp light is off as it should be. Tried jump starting it (off Seth's camper at the Ace this evening) to see if that would make any difference - which it didn't I'm going to clean the battery terminals to see if that makes any difference (a long shot though). Next check is the starter earth strap...... BTW, if it's not the battery / wiring, could the solenoid be at fault, or is the starter itself a more likely culprit?  |
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Last Edit: Jun 13, 2006 23:31:37 GMT by Paul H
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,882
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Technical Query....bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Tried jump starting it (off Seth's camper at the Ace this evening) to see if that would make any difference - which it didn't I am assuming you did the classic and put +ve and -ve jump leads to the battery of your car Edited to correct the dreadfull spelling induced by gin!! |
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I am assuming you did the classic and put +ve and -ve jump leads to the battery of your car Not sure I understand..... the leads were connected up correctly though! |
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if you've tried jump starting it and it did the same, then you can rule out the battery itself... unless their battery is also knackered! Solenoid is unlikely as it's just a switch that turns the starter motor on, it's either on or it's not - it can't control or affect the speed of the starter.
i'd say check all your connections, and then measure the voltage across the starter when you're trying to start it
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Never trust a man
Who names himself Trevor.
Or one day you might find
He's not a real drug dealer.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,882
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Technical Query....bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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I am assuming you did the classic and put +ve and -ve jump leads to the battery of your car Not sure I understand..... the leads were connected up correctly though! OK so I assume you did put the leads from battery terminal to battery terminal..... This is missleading cos if the battery is duff it absorbs a lot of the avaliable amps from the donor battery..... Much better to put one on the engine block and the other on the battery (dependant on if your car is negative or positive earth) That way you aren't going thro the battery on your car If it spins over fast then you know it's the battery thats duff If it doesn't then I reckon the starter has a problem |
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Jun 14, 2006 13:37:28 GMT
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Thanks guys Ah - didn't know that! The leads were connected up terminal to terminal. I've checked the earthing straps (seemed ok) and even earthed the engine to the body with a jump lead but that made no difference. The starter is wired straight to the battery (all other wiring comes from the starter terminal) but I might try a jump lead there as well. Not sure if I'll have another oppurtunity to try jumping it again, & the only motorfactors near me is Halfords, so I might have to wander along there after work..... |
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Jun 15, 2006 13:14:07 GMT
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Starters are mahoosive current drains I'd put me money on the battery if it's four years old Quite right too - a new battery later, and all is well! Thanks to all for the advice etc. I've learned quite bit from this - what threw me initially was that I'm used to the symptoms of batteries not holding charge and therefore going flat, rather than when there's a bad cell (confirmed by the digital battery tester) causing a drop in the battery power. Give that Halfords often get bad press here, I thought I'd say how good they were. As they no longer stock the right battery (ie same as the one I got 4 years ago), I had to order it specially. This was at 7pm last night, but it arrived mid morning and I collected & fitted it at lunchtime (5 mins from where I work). It turned out not to be the same as the Halfords brand one I had before, but instead was a Bosch unit, complete with built-in charge / good / bad indicators ;D Slightly longer than the original too, but turning round the 'U' section clamp solved that. Also, when I was fitting it, a couple of the staff were taking quite a positive interest in the Amazon  |
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Last Edit: Jun 15, 2006 13:26:21 GMT by Paul H
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,882
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Technical Query....bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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Jun 15, 2006 13:19:53 GMT
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Starters are mahoosive current drains I'd put me money on the battery if it's four years old Quite right too - a new (Bosch) battery later, and all is well! Thanks to all for the advice etc. I've learned quite bit from this - what threw me initially was that I'm used to the symptoms of batteries not holding charge and therefore going flat, rather than when there's a bad cell (confirmed by the digital battery tester) causing a drop in the battery power. Job done then  |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,513
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Jun 15, 2006 13:38:50 GMT
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Glad to hear you're sorted and happy Paul. :-) Now just the small matter of the proposed modifications  |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Jun 17, 2006 22:28:03 GMT
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Glad to hear you're sorted and happy Paul. :-) Thanks! Now just the small matter of the proposed modifications I'm working on that & will keep you updated ;D |
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Last Edit: Jun 17, 2006 22:30:31 GMT by Paul H
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