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Technical Poor Panda can't hold his juice!

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Technical Poor Panda can't hold his juice!

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joshhodgson

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2 weeks ago I had to get the RAC out to jump start my Active Eco '10, the battery was as flat as a pancake (we'd been having horrendous weather up here in Lancaster and it was parked outside not driven for about 4 weeks). It was driven (it had to be!) and was fine after that. It was left for a week, driven last weekend, everything fine. Again, left for a week, and now nothing. The battery is dead.
Now, after the last issue, I bought a Silverline 234578 900 Watt 12 Ah Jump Starter and Air Compressor: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike. Today when I tried it, I followed the instructions, and the engine started to slowly turn for about 5 seconds, then stopped. Unplugged it, checked the battery level on the unit, 100% charged. Waited 5 minutes, and then it only turned for a couple of seconds. Still 100% charged, compressor and everything fine.

Am I being stupid, or is there no reason that the jumpstarter wouldn't work? I even tried unplugging the car battery and running only from the starter, still nothing. Will it just be a case of charging the car battery fully, or is there something else going on?
What do you guys and gals think?

Thanks!
 
joshhodgson said:
2 weeks ago I had to get the RAC out to jump start my Active Eco '10, the battery was as flat as a pancake (we'd been having horrendous weather up here in Lancaster and it was parked outside not driven for about 4 weeks). It was driven (it had to be!) and was fine after that. It was left for a week, driven last weekend, everything fine. Again, left for a week, and now nothing. The battery is dead.
Now, after the last issue, I bought a Silverline 234578 900 Watt 12 Ah Jump Starter and Air Compressor: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike. Today when I tried it, I followed the instructions, and the engine started to slowly turn for about 5 seconds, then stopped. Unplugged it, checked the battery level on the unit, 100% charged. Waited 5 minutes, and then it only turned for a couple of seconds. Still 100% charged, compressor and everything fine.

Am I being stupid, or is there no reason that the jumpstarter wouldn't work? I even tried unplugging the car battery and running only from the starter, still nothing. Will it just be a case of charging the car battery fully, or is there something else going on?
What do you guys and gals think?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
these things are only any good for helping a partialy flat battery, if you battery is completely flat or faulty they just dont have enough power in them to start it.
sounds like you need a new battery or there is something discharging your battery
should still start after being stood 4 weeks
 
Those things are pretty crappy really, sorry.. but .. :eek:

Mine was flattening the battery, turned out to be the radio not switching off (a not uncommon fault..)
could just be a duff battery as said.
If you can use a multi meter, put meter on 10A range (fused!) and remove pos or neg lead from battery with ign off. put meter in between and measure any discharge current. Should only be a few mA.
I would send the 'starter' thing back to Amazon, they are not worth the space in the boot.
ALso check all connections and grounds for cleanliness and tightness.
 
In my multi jet i left it parked at an airport for 10 days it started perfectly drove it 30 miles stopped for coffee on returning to the car the battery would not even turn the engine over even with jump leads off a lorry .. The battery had failed one new battery fitted and no more problems. :)
 
notsmartcars said:
In my multi jet i left it parked at an airport for 10 days it started perfectly drove it 30 miles stopped for coffee on returning to the car the battery would not even turn the engine over even with jump leads off a lorry .. The battery had failed one new battery fitted and no more problems. :)
Click to expand...
Ours did more or less the same after 6 years :eek:
Fine one day, would barely light the ignition next morning. Heavy duty starter pack (son has a garage) could barely get it to turn. New battery cured it.
 
Reading between the lines on a lot of panda threads it seems that a healthy battery is the answer to quite a few issues, probably true of most cars though and not all that expensive either, replaced mine with a Yuasa silver just before Christmas for £75 with a five year warranty.
 
Hi Floydfan
One of those on it's way to Portugal as I speak, great price and link :)
Struggling to find a decent priced unit here, plenty around but CCA too low. that one is fine, the other on the car - which is fine but lower CCA than recommended, we will use on the Yacht.. win win.
I will be able to park up and listen to 'Relics' or 'Dance songs' at leisure now :)
Nice one - Varta are excellent.

edit, I would have to drive to Lisbon to get a Varta (possibly may get one in Porto) but would cost more than the battery... will make a fortune selling the larger units to yotties in the summer if their delivery is quick, only cost a tenner more to send it here... I wouldn't have thought a battery was post-able but not my worry.. the parcel wombles play football with most things me thinks..
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for your comments. The starter will be going back, but I might try properly charging the battery before I go all out on a new one! I'll see if I can find a garage with proper battery diagnostics kit
 
joshhodgson said:
Thanks everyone for your comments. The starter will be going back, but I might try properly charging the battery before I go all out on a new one! I'll see if I can find a garage with proper battery diagnostics kit
Click to expand...

When you bought the starter device, did you put it on charge for at least overnight, to ensure it was ready for work?
 
thebiglad said:
When you bought the starter device, did you put it on charge for at least overnight, to ensure it was ready for work?
Click to expand...

It was on charge for 24 hours! Called out a garage, and their starter worked first time. They charged the car overnight and, touch wood, everything seems fine. Now it's in the body shop having some other work done!
 
Floydfan said:
Varta Silver with 5 yr warranty. £54 all in. This is the type 076 which is for the 1.2 but it fits fine in the 1.1 tray ( just slightly lower in height than OEM - pack out the retaining strap with a bit of foam etc ) and is an excellent upgrade over standard.

http://www.tayna.co.uk/Type-076-Varta-Silver-Dynamic-Car-Battery-P3131.html

:cool:
Click to expand...

Found its way to sunny portugal, and fitted, but I had to cut the plastic drain tray (another is being sourced as we speak)... ;)
The 1.2 has a plastic tray with a raised section for the smaller battery, if the car has aircon, then they use the larger one and a different tray.. as you say, the height is slightly lower too, but not a worry..
Tayna were superb, 66 quid delivered, superbly packed and sealed in an acid proof bag !!! - (no leaks though) ..
It turns over like a 737 now lol (y)
Even the local Fiat dealer was impressed... he took Tayna's number to order a few as they are cheaper than his supplier. !!
 
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