Plenty of volts... but no power.

Post by **paulheywood** » 26 Nov 2006, 16:15

This is the follow up post to a few months ago... I've had chance to try a few things since then.

I've had starting problems for a while, so I whipped the starter battery off, gave it a good charge (now sits at 14+ v). Put it back in the van, still not a hint of starting.. I know we're all thinking knackered starter but even the hazard lights struggle to work...

I've got a multimeter... there's no indication of any drain etc. and it's worth mentioning that I've disconnected the Leisure Battery to take that out of the equation..

Puzzled... Any ideas ?

Paul.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 26 Nov 2006, 17:23

battery earth strap? engine earth strap? gearbox earth strap?

Post by **Dan Wood** » 26 Nov 2006, 17:26

Check the state of the bodywork around the earth strap?

Take the big black wire off where it is bolted to the body and give it a good clean up... It could just be muck, or it could be that you've got a big rusty patch!

E D I T: Westy's post wasn't there when I said this!

Post by **paulheywood** » 26 Nov 2006, 17:39

Thanks.. I'd already tried the battery earth strap, took it off... seemed in pretty good nick (plenty of coppereze around it)... cleaned it anyway, still no difference.

This is the second battery I've tried (replaced around 4 months ago... Could my dead leisure battery have killed the 'new' main battery.

The leisure battery reads about 4+ volts.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 26 Nov 2006, 18:29

Now that`s a whole new can of worms

Yes, if the split charge relay sticks/welds shut then you can have that problem. I would get it sorted before trying to start it again, you don`t want to be trying to draw starting amps down the split-charge wiring

Post by **irish.david** » 26 Nov 2006, 19:09

Measure the voltage across the battery when you have a load on it (eg the headlights on). If the voltage drops way off then the battery is probably knackered. If the voltage hardly drops then the problem is elsewhere.

Dave

Post by **paulheywood** » 26 Nov 2006, 20:34

Thanks for the response Dave... I'm inching closer -

The 'new' battery drops to about 3.5v when I switch the side lights on... that's not good I suspect.

The older battery drops to around 10v when I switch the side lights on, and drops to 3.5v ish if I turn the key to the coil position. I'm guessing that's not good either.

The leisure battery is disconnected - but that's dead as well (measures 3.5v with no load).

So I've got two ideas either

1. The leisure battery died, killed off the 1st battery and then took the second one within a matter of months ? or..

2. There's a problem with the split charger. I've found the relay... I'm tempted to change it before I put the new battery in.

I'll probably leave purchasing a new Leisure until the spring, but it would be nice to get in the van once a week in the winter and go for a ride...

What do you think ?

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 26 Nov 2006, 20:45

I would disconnect the feed wire at the engine end to the split charge / leisure side of things first, then buy 2 new batteries (you don`t need a leisure-specific battery for that side of things, look in Wiki for what fits, I just paid £40 for a 70amp HD starter battery for the leisure side of things. height is the critical thing if you have them in the battery boxes under the seats)

Get the new starter battery hooked up and get the `van started. Check out the charging system, meter for drain etc. Then look at the leisure side of things. Not sure where your split-charge relay will be, but you should be able to test it to see if it`s duff. New ones are not dear anyway. Reconnect the split-charge wiring and check for charging at the leisure battery, test for drain etc.

See the Wiki for a lot of good info on this, in the electrical section, from Irish Dave

knows his stuff

Post by **Mocki** » 27 Nov 2006, 08:45

check the condition of and the contacts on the positive side of the battery, sounds like a duff connection.

if your battery voltage is dropping at 3.5v at the battery, its fooked, but are you measuring it accross the battery, or off the terminals connected to the battery?

Post by **paulheywood** » 27 Nov 2006, 09:47

Cheers Moki... I was measuring on the battery itself... new battery needed I think.