General Starting problems

[julielew]

Yesterday I booked my car in for a MOT. When I came to take it down it wouldn't start. I asked the MOT place if they had a battery booster to get it started. They came, got it started and took it for the MOT. It passed and when I went to collect it, it wouldn't start again. It started of a booster again. I went and bought a battery and alternator tester today. It says the battery is dead. So I started it up with a battery booster and did the same test. It was saying the alternator was ok. I have had the battery on a slow charge all day. The battery charger is saying the battery is now fully charged. I connected it back to the car, and the car still won't start. Tried the battery tester again and its saying the battery is low. Do I defiantly need a new battery or is it going to be something else. Like starter motor or alternator. When you turn the key it does turn over very slowly then all the lights go off the dash. It will start first time from the booster. Left it on charge now even longer and then just been out and its started up easily. I will see if it holds its charge now overnight and then investigate more in the morning

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi,
you really need to measure the actual voltage.. ,
but sounds like the battery..!!,

Car parts 4 less are VERY good value - for BOSCH battery's (@£45)

Charlie

 

[julielew]

Ok thanks Charlie

 

[johnhififan]

As above it sounds like the battery, it can take a while for a fully discharged battery to accept a change, then depends on the rate of charge, a 45ah battery will take 45 hours to charge at a rate of 1a/hour. Hope it holds now.

 

[julielew]

Nope. It was flat as a fluke again. Got it boosted and took it to the local auto electrician. He checked the alternator and said that was ok and the battery was dead. Also it was the wrong battery on the car. I've had a new one fitted now. An exide ???. Starts ok now.

 

[sludgeguts]

The original battery in my doblo was badly underrated - although it did well to work as long as it did.
For a 1.9 diesel, the battery was identical to the original fitted to my son's little 1litre fiesta.
Got a new battery from Euro, almost double the cold crank ampage!

 

[demag]

Years ago before alternators when 99% of cars had dynamos, batteries used to die a slow and painful death. Over weeks or even months the cranking speed would get slower and slower till eventually the battery just gave up. These days with modern charging systems they keep cranking and then suddenly die. Just like yours.