battery trouble

[Michael]

Hi guys,
Fiat Brava 1.2 16v year of manufacture 1999,have my second 063 battery in it but I know when the severe frost comes in it will not start.Think I have the wrong battery fitted.Should I not have an 012 instead which has a higher amp output(470 amp) as 440 amp for 063.Hope this is the problem as I will have to do something soon.In the mild weather it starts no problem.

 

[Anonymous]

That should not affect the starting, In what way is it failing to start? Engine not turning?.

 

[Michael]

Battery trouble

in really cold weather battery is just dead,previous new battery was same so I changed it for current one. When in trouble I put on the jumper leads and it is ok,if it is mild next morning it starts fine.Really annoying as it starts fine most of the year.

 

[Sven]

You should have a battery of 40 - 45Ah for a 1.2. All other ones are too big to charge right.

In the cold you need more Amp and if the battery is not charged right it may not turn. But in general it may be that your starter motor is stuck a bit, so it eats way too much current that it can get.

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[Anonymous]

I would guess at starter motor or poor connections. Earth connections mainly

 

[Michael]

Battery

Thanks guys,
will have a look at the the starter and connections around it.

 

[Anonymous]

having thought about it. if it starts ok with jump leads then the motor and connections will be fine. just try cleaning inside the battery connectors get rid of any green stuff

 

[Michael]

Battery Trouble

Hi guys,
thanks for your help so far but having checked the leads etc all seems fine.One thing I neglected to say was that my wife drives the car to work which is less than a mile away and drives home then in the afternoon (5 days a week)thus the car gets very little driving apart from a Sunday run,would this have any effect on it?

 

[Anonymous]

It would, Its estimated that you need to drive at least three miles to put back in the battery that the starter takes out.Good idea would be a trickle charge overnight because turning a cold engine takeas more than a warm one

 

[Michael]

Battery Trouble

Very cold conditions it is one turn of the key and it just does not have the power to turn over and lights in dash just fade away.,as I said putting the jumper leads or power booster on it and it turns over.

 

[Sven]

Did you measure the voltage when the car is running on the battery poles ?

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[Michael]

Battery Trouble

Sven,
no nothing done that way I am afraid,I will have this checked,thanks.