The old warhorse (MK1 N-reg) has recently started to struggle a little when she's first turned over. Currently, she's not failed to start, although it seems to be taking two or three attempts. If she starts on the first attempt, sometimes power will cut out a second or so after. However, once she's up and running, everything is fine. I think it's the battery - sparks were only changed last month, and the problem is worse if you try to start her with the radio or lights on.
I've never undertaken any battery maintenance - is there anything which might help...I've seen some 'Bat-Aid' tablets...anybody any experience or advice?

If the old battery is more than 3 -5 years old I'd fit a new one TBH, esp with Winter approaching. Get the best deal you can on the highest capacity known make battery you can find that will physically fit....

That, and, in the meantime, take off the engine bay earth leads, scrape them clean, cover with vaseline or silicon grease and re-attach.

I'd prefer to avoid buying a new battery at the minute, just in case its something else. At her age, I only top up with a tenners petrol at a time!
Fingers - will try what you suggested, cheers.

When she does fire up - Give it a few extra rev's

As for the battery - Give it a overnight charge - it MAY give it a lil longer life
But if the battery is totally dead, it'll charge quick and be no better

Ziggy

fivegoldstars said:

I'd prefer to avoid buying a new battery at the minute, just in case its something else. At her age, I only top up with a tenners petrol at a time!
Fingers - will try what you suggested, cheers.

Click to expand...

how much will it cost you to get someone out if it wont start when your away from home?

a Decent motorfactors is your best bet got a battery for my GP which had a lifetime warranty for £35..

other things to consider
A - Is there a drain, towing accerories and aftermarket headunits are the common of all causes
B - Poor Ground Earthing System, a way to test is to stick a Jump lead on the Bonnet release catch or on te manifold or anywhere thats metal and then the other side onto the Neg of the battery

If it starts better, then its posibly a Corroded Gearbox/Chassis Earthing points are causing too much resistance and causing the car to struggle to start

C - Dont switch on anything when trying to start car
So make sure the fans and lights and interior and stereo are all off, save power


D - Stick a Solar Charger on the battery, Not ideal as you'd need to disconnect everytime you want to use the car, its something you use when you leave the car for a couple of weeks with a weak battery when flying abroad or somewhere

Rambles and grumbles of info over

Ziggy

I'd buy a battery and do the earth leads. Winter kills batteries....................

Re: Punto mk1 problem with electronics

Check the poz (+) wire is secure on the battery, is it a sealed for life battery?

Re: Punto mk1 problem with electronics

I would get the battery and the charging system tested at a repair shop. Chances are the battery cells have deteriorated and therefore it no longer can hold a charge. Checking both the charging system and battery will identify the culprit(s) and you may avoid having to replace the battery if the charging system is at fault. Extreme Cold and Extreme Heat will kill a battery.

Re: Punto mk1 problem with electronics

Thanks for the advice guys. After double checking, the battery is maintenance free (doh!), so top ups and magic tablets are out of the window. Fairly sure there's no drains etc. Will probably bite the bullet and buy a new battery, but will just try the clean up tips etc first.

Re: Punto mk1 problem with electronics

If you are keeping the car get an HGT/Diesel spec battery. You get much more capacity for not much more money. But you may have to scrap the battery box.

If you are not intending to keep the car for very long, get a basic battery, but the HGT?Diesel shape may be cheaper than the Punto/Sei/Cinq cube shape.

Factor in the insurance value of a good battery. A wasted day off work or a garage call-out likely to cost loads more than the extra £30 for a really good battery.

A solar panel charger can be plugged into the ciggy lighter or attached directly to the battery with wires run into the passenger cabin. But it wont help when a battery cell is failing. The symptoms do sound like one cell has pretty much failed so the system voltage falls too much when you start the car.

Does the punto allow charging via the cig lighter?
I thought it only worked with ignition on?

Eitherway tho - you could always get a Cable through the Bulkhead

Ziggy

I wasnt sure about the ciggy lighter being constantly live so suggested wires direct to the battery. But even that wont do much for a dodgy old battery.

I've just replaced the battery on my bike as it was starting badly and going flat after only a few seconds. It now starts on first touch and ticks over (idles) better even from cold. I suspect the old battery voltage wasn't allowing the electronics to operate properly so the sparks were weak or even non-existent. Most likely a dead cell.

Sounding like an echo....new battery time, pure&simple. A wee tip is to multi earth the old girl, this will make good use of the electrical system. You can easily make up your own cheaply.

I did this to an old punto I used to own...It ticked over like a clock.