Ducato Starting probs

[John Riley]

Hi I'm a newbie thanks for letting me join.I have a Lunar Motorhome 2006 on a Fiat Ducato base the engine is 2.8 JTD.Just recently I am having problems starting it.The battery is only 1 year old and has a 5 year warranty when fully charged the battery has 12.5 volts when I try to start the volts drop to 5volts.The only thing I can think is the glow plugs are knackerd and are pulling all the power.But I've be told this engine does not use glow plugs.Can someone tell me if it has or not.thanks

 

[rayc]

Is that 5v at the battery terminals? Have you had a drop test carried out on the battery or tried another one?

 

[corcai]

First of all I would check the electrolyte level, a lot of the motorhome chargers are dreadful and will boil the electrolyte when left plugged in.

Secondly if you allowed the battery to go flat like so many motorhome owners over the winter for an extended period its bsically scrap due to sulfation.

 

[John Riley]

Thanks I will get it tested.