battery light on, oil light flashing, won't turn

[Gavla80]

Hi all - Just went out to start the engine as I've been really busy and haven't run it for a few weeks and was planning on taking the van out for a run to work tomorrow... a nice 60 mile round trip to clear away any cobwebs before CamperJam next weekend. Anyway, to the point...

When I turned the key the battery light comes on and the oil light flashes. The coolant light does it's usual flash for a few seconds. When I turned the key further to start there's a clicking sound from the fuse box in the glove box but absolutely nothing else happens.

Any ideas what the problem might be:?:

Thanks in advance

[Jim San]

Sounds like you have a battery that is totally flat - or a bad earth connection

[CovKid]

or trigger wire at starter is loose/off

[ninja.turtle007]

Does the interior light go really dim when you try to crank it over?

[Gavla80]

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

Got the multi-meter out this morning to test the vehicle battery and it was reading 13.04V across the terminals with the ignition off so as far as I understand it there's nothing wrong with the battery I've hooked it up to a smart charger for the day anyway just to be sure...

Will check the earth connections and the starter trigger wire next - and see if the interior light dims (I don't think it does but can't be 100% without checking later). Is there a particular earth connection I should be looking at?

Recently had the dash out for blower replacement and cleaned up the earth crowns next to the fuse box and have been away in the van since, doing about 400 miles over 5 days, with no probs. Thinking back over the last few weeks since that holiday, this is the first time I've tried to start it although I have had the engine cover off to show my Uncle the engine - thinking now that maybe I "disturbed" something!

[what2do]

Costs nowt to do as Cov suggested, wiggle the trigger wire. Go on, you know you want to...

[Gavla80]

Costs nowt to do as Cov suggested, wiggle the trigger wire. Go on, you know you want to...

Will be the first thing I do after work - just didn't have time this morning!

[Oldiebut goodie]

That battery voltage sounds suspiciously high if it has been left for several weeks. Has it been on charge all that time?

[Gavla80]

It's not been on charge no, it is a new battery this year. The vehicle is immobilised via a key-type cut-off switch if I'm not going to be using the van for a while.

It could be my technical incompetence in testing it. Here's what I did - I just turned the cut-off switch on and then switched my multi-meter to DC 20 and touched the electrodes to the corresponding battery terminals...

What should it be reading fully charged?

[Oldiebut goodie]

A fully charged battery that has been left a while normally sits at 12.7 - 12.8 volts. I suppose a brand new battery that is usually isolated could possibly be reading that high - we all would be happy with such a good battery! Of course if it is a dodgy multimeter all that is not relevant.

[Gavla80]

Problem solved - the connector was badly corroded at the starter motor... trimmed it back to remove corroded wire, fitted a new connector and is all working well again now

Thanks for the pointers!

[what2do]

That's what's called a RESULT.

[CovKid]

[Gavla80]

Problem solved - the connector was badly corroded at the starter motor... trimmed it back to remove corroded wire, fitted a new connector and is all working well again now

Thanks for the pointers!

the offending article https://goo.gl/photos/7PAtUcdbCyEcBjGn9

[Oldiebut goodie]

That's why I advocate soldered terminals! Crimps are OK inside a vehicle but sit it in a salty situation and you can see the result.