Technical Electrical/starting problems

[PuntoEnthusiast]

My 1.2 8v 2000 Punto really struggled to start after standing still for a few days. Cranking sounded very laboured and the dashboard went dark while cranking, resetting the clock in the process. After starting it was running just fine except for the dipped beams taking 10 seconds to turn on.
I switched the engine off and the second time it started immediately without any problems.
Did something freeze/seize? Where should I start looking, alternator? Starter motor?

 

[Ziggy122]

My 1.2 8v 2000 Punto really struggled to start after standing still for a few days. Cranking sounded very laboured and the dashboard went dark while cranking, resetting the clock in the process. After starting it was running just fine except for the dipped beams taking 10 seconds to turn on.
I switched the engine off and the second time it started immediately without any problems.
Did something freeze/seize? Where should I start looking, alternator? Starter motor?

Hmmmmm.....
Sounds like battery is getting weak.. (low / flat) the sudden cold snap kills batteries....

Get a free test done at halfords


Ziggy

 

[s and b]

Hmmmmm.....
Sounds like battery is getting weak.. (low / flat) the sudden cold snap kills batteries....

Get a free test done at halfords


Ziggy

long way to halfords from da netherlands mind

 

[Ziggy122]

long way to halfords from da netherlands mind

Cant see it on ff app tho....

Ziggy

 

[PuntoEnthusiast]

Could very well be the battery, all I know about it is that it is at least 2 years old.
But if it is the battery, wouldn't you expect that the second attempt to start would be sluggish as well? Instead it started without hesitation.

Hmmmmm.....
Sounds like battery is getting weak.. (low / flat) the sudden cold snap kills batteries....

Get a free test done at halfords


Ziggy

 

[s and b]

no
once you excited the battery then the second crank will be easier
the third crank probably went rrrrr rrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrr r

 

[PuntoEnthusiast]

So it seems like it is the battery after all. I measured 12.0V across the terminals, and 14.1V with the engine running.
My battery charger has a repair function, that claims to remove sulfate crystals by pulsing, has anyone tried this? Might give it a shot.

no
once you excited the battery then the second crank will be easier
the third crank probably went rrrrr rrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrr r