General Cold/damp weather starting problems

[posh pandas]

Beancounter, graham laughs at me but i'm convinced if you put a cover over the car it really will help in its starting....
once you start with that damp start stuff you end up having to use it all the time..

 

[Beancounter]

I have bought a brand new battery....

I'm wondering just how much benefit a new battery would bring.

As I needed to use the car this morning, I took the battery out last night and stuck it on charge. The car had been used yesterday, so there was no direct need to externally charge the battery, more that I didn't want to leave it outside in freezing temps. I also sprayed lots of Castrol damp start stuff, though not directly on anything leccy.

Now, to complicate things, I think my Argos charger is snafued because it never reads more than 50% charge, even after 6 hours fast charging on a motorcycle battery!

Connected the battery this morning, car started second turn of the key without problem. It started on the first turn, but didn't quite catch.

We have had a frequent high squealing noise on acceleration. Wifey says it's the fan belt (which drives the alternator?) and that this could be causing the battery to not 'receive' as much charge as normal. Hence, whenever the battery is externally charged, the car starts.

Does this make sense or am I talking out my cakehole?

 

[Beancounter]

Beancounter, graham laughs at me but i'm convinced if you put a cover over the car it really will help in its starting....
once you start with that damp start stuff you end up having to use it all the time..

We have considered covering the car, though I've no idea of which cover to use.

Ideally, I don't want anything too expensive as tha chavs around my way will have it. I assume any cover has to be waterproof yet breathable otherwise condensation will simply gather and act as a coolant?

 

[Tony M]

We have had a frequent high squealing noise on acceleration. Wifey says it's the fan belt (which drives the alternator?) and that this could be causing the battery to not 'receive' as much charge as normal. Hence, whenever the battery is externally charged, the car starts.

well the sqealing be the alternator belt or it may be a bearing in the alternator... or it could be the clutch release bearing... basically it sounds like you could probably replace the alternator as it isn't charging very well... however there are people who may have much more informed opinions than myself.