Technical No power, dash is flashing and clicking

[AlonsoX]

This morning I got upto what I believe a flat battery, no power whatsoever, thought maybe one of the children had left a courtesy light on again, happened about 2 months ago and got the jump leads on.

This time, I noticed when I turned the car over, a flashing of the instrument panel lights, clicking noise to the best of the flashing lights but no power at all to turn car over.

I left it so I could jump start it again tonight. Usually this works quite quickly, but after leaving the cars feed each other power for 15 minutes, the same thing happened as above, flashing, clicking and no power to turn over.

It's freezing at the moment here but surely it cannot be that.

If anyone has any experience of this and can point me in the right direction it would be very much appreciated.

I just don't want to buy a battery if it's not that.

I have a new nose job 05 plate multipla, 1.9 elements if it helps.

I'm probably going to have to get it towed to a garage in the morning... Ouch

 

[widemouthfrog]

Check your earth leads - the one from the battery to the chassis and from the gearbox to the chassis (it's under the battery shelf). They corrode internally, so look fine from the outside but the wire strands give up to corrosion one by one.

As a quick check, use your jump lead as a temporary earth lead from battery -ve to the cylinder head, then try starting it.

I had exactly this problem a couple of years ago. The car would start ok in warm weather, but when it's colder, the current required to turn the engine over is much higher and the few remaining copper strands can't cope with the load required. I replaced the battery thinking it was the problem, then had to call out breakdown recovery a couple of weeks later (I was in Durham at the time) and the man in the van sussed out the problem in less than a minute.

 

[AlonsoX]

I got a recovery vehicle of today, he checked over something to do with power at the alternator and something else, all of which are apparently fine. He blasted the battery with a super doopa rocket blaster big buttoned gizmo and the car fired up. He concluded that as the battery was at least 5 years old, that is what needs replacing.

So, I was hoping that you good folks could recommend a decent battery. I have a europarts store 10 mins away but there are so many to choose from.

 

[varesecrazy]

USE the reg / make model to see which SIZE / spec of battery is recommended

if you use Europarts ebay site it's cheaper, and can still be collected from store



BOSCH give good service generally,

unless the car is about to be changed - don't go for a cheap one..,

Charlie

 

[AlonsoX]

Thanks for the tip, will check Ebay out

 

[widemouthfrog]

Bosch S4005 or S5005

 

[AlonsoX]

I went with the exide battery premium 27, with a 4 year guarantee. Tried to fit it, but can't find a socket set with long arm to reach between the battery and air filter... Damn it! Lol