Hi, i've recently been having problems with the car starting in the morning. yesterday it barely managed to start, it made some clicking noises and the dash lights dimmed. Then this morning it didn't start at all, needed a jump from my other car. it had a new battery 3 months ago. Anyone got any ideas? Once the car has been started i drive to work, lock it then drive it home with no problems, (until the next morning!)

Dodgy alternator?

Liam

that's what most ppl have said and what i thought, but how come once it's running in the morning i can take it to work, leave it for 8 hrs and then start it fine? if the altenator was at fault wouldn't i have the same problem when leaving work? (i don't know much about cars, hence the silly questions!)

Erm, if you need to jump it in the morning then you travel to work then the distance if greater than ten miles should giver your battery sufficient charge to get you started when travelling home.

Another thing could be radios, amps and some electrical items that are draining the battery.

Liam

Thanks chap, yeah work is about 10 miles. Car has an alarm, could that be draining it sufficiently? i've disconnected the boot light (usual culprit) and i could disconnect the radio (I fitted it myself and every so often 1 speaker cuts out so that could be related, never though of that!) other than that not sure what else could cause it

If the equipment is wired incorrectly then there is every chance but a garage should be able to test your battery and alternator output for you no problem.

Best get these problems looked at before you get stranded somewhere.

Liam

Any autospark can test whether there is a draw from the battery with what you think is everything off. The memory for your ice will draw a small current as will the alarm and the clock, but the battery should be able to cope with that over a two week period before going flat.

If the alternator is a bit duff, then your drive during the day to work will charge the battery enough for the start for the drive home. If you then drive home with lights or heater blower on, the battery is going to get less charge.

Cheers

D

Here we go your all most probably wrong. Sound very much like your solenoid on your starter motor has gone or the brushes in the starter itself are sticking. The clicking noise is the starter kicking the drive out. The lights are dimming because the motor is trying to draw lots more current than it usually would. When the car is cold try tapping the motor part with the back end of a hammer while someone holds the key to start. This might just get you going. Other than that take the starter off and take it to and auto electricians. Hope this helps

Just another thought it may also be a corroded connection on the main live wire that is connected to the back of the solenoid

***UPDATE****

So, i checked the earth strap from the battery to the main body of the car and that's OK. Got a multimeter and tested the battery and it reads 12.9V and when i start the car it reads 14.03V so am i right in thinking this proves the altenator is working as the V goes up when the car is running? If so, then it's either the starter motor or something draining my battery overnight, does that sound feasible?

Sounds as though you are right about the alternator.

Check the draw from the battery ext.

Cheers

D

I got the car back from the garage today, they reckon that i've got the wrong battery in the car and it's not powerful enough! i'm sure it's the right one that the harford's book recommended.

Sounds like a whole heap of bull**** from the garage. Either the battery is not holding a charge cos its failed or it hasn't.

Get a spark to check the draw, or, take the car to a well ventilated area and disconnect the battery negative terminal. Make sure everything is switched off, then gently attach the negative lead again. If there is a spark as you put the lead to the battery, something is switched on and causing the draw. The bigger the spark, the bigger the draw.

Cheers

D

I agree with D, 2 AA batteries could start the Cinq!

Is it a sealed battery? if it isn't you could check the electrolyte levels and also look to see if the plates are fcuked. But most modern ones are sealed so maybe there is a little green or red light on it?

Liam

Hi chaps, so another update, and a BIG thanks for all your help so far! I checked in halfords and it IS the right battery. I tried the following to see if anything was drawing power which an america friend suggested. I removed the (-) terminal and connected a test bulb between the (-) cable and the (-) post, and the light didn't light, I locked the car and it glowed dimly for a second while the central locking did it's job. So therefore i can conclude that nothing is drawing power from the battery when the car is turned off and sitting there. Sound about right? I cleaned all the battery terminals and checked the V in the batt. This morning the car started fine. So i'm thinking that it may have just been that the batt was totally flat those few days and since i took it on an 80mile run wednesday it's charged up again. I think this makes sense.

Don't use a bulb. You may have a low drain which wouldn't light the bulb. You need to use a multimeter to check the current drain. Shouldn't be any more than 0.05 amp. Did you even check the starter motor as this is almost certainly your problem from your explanation

Hi i haven't checked the starter motor as the car starts fine when i jump it from my other car. if it was the starter motor then wouldn't it do the same regardless of which car was trying to start it?