Won't start after 8 weeks stood still

[Smiffo]

Evening all.

I'm after some advice.

After a recent shoulder operation, the love bus has been stood still for 8 weeks.
Before this, the same slow turning over while starting persisted, but it never bothered me enough to address it.

Now the van has been stood still for 8 weeks - I assume the petrol has drained from the fuel lines - there isn't enough juice to get it running.
Basically the turn over grinds to an almost stop before the van starts.

I charged the battery thinking it might be quite flat after no use, but it charged in less than an hour, and the issue is still the same now I have tried to start the van again.

While doing this though, I noticed an odd burning smell, and realised that the braided earth strap from the battery to the terminal gets very warm.
Is this an indication that the earth strap is faulty, and therefore causing high resistance and heat, or could it be that all earth terminals will be getting warm on the starter circuit due to constant excess load?

( I have made sure batt connections are nice and tight. )

Thanks in advance. I am desperate to drive her again - when I look out the window, it's almost like Jim Bowen from Bullseye telling me to `come have a look at what I could have won..!`

[mrhutch]

if your battery is charging in an hour it's probably dropped a cell.. replace

and yes, replace the braided earth straps - poor connectivity - high resistance and that heat you feel is robbing the starter of much needed electrons.

[itchyfeet]

I'd clean up battery strap first.
After charging batt wait over night and check voltage in morning, thats a good indication of condition, should be around 12.5V
Take the air trunking off the carb and chuck two table spoons of petrol down the carb.
Then try starting.

[Smiffo]

Thanks MrHutch and Itchyfeet.

I have just tried taking voltage on battery - It's just over 12.3volts, so assume it can't be a bad cell ( I suppose with 6 cells voltage would be ~10v if one was flty? )
it does still turn over very slow though, despite this relatively good charge.

Correct me if I am wrong on the above about the faulty cell aspect, I'm a bit crap at working on vehicles..!!

With respect to cleaning the earth strap - is there any thing specific I should clean it in, or do you just mean clean the contact points where it meets chassis and battery?

If that fails I will change it for a new one, it looks a bit FUBAR'd anyway - any suggestions on good people you would like to see get the business if I buy one?

[itchyfeet]

12.3V (75% charge perhaps see link) after standing for several hours should be ok but with any battery if it's old and past it when you try and draw power the voltage just collapses.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_battery" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You had slow starting before but that could be something else.
If your battery is 5+ years old then it's on borrowed time so worth getting a new one to rule it out if funds allow.

Earth straps are cheap so replace if you can but until you do just remove the bolts and clean the contact surfaces with anything that will make them shiny.

even with slow cranking it should start with a little petrol down carb.

[Smiffo]

Hmmmm - I'm hoping the battery is a little under charged because I've been cranking it over, and not because it's duff as it's quite new...

Anyway, I will give the `petrol in carb` trick a go tomorrow when it's light, recharge the battery and clean that cable up.
Thanks for your advice both - lets hope the battery isn't an issue.

I will let you both know once I give your tips a try.

[itchyfeet]

Anyway, I will , recharge the battery and clean that cable up. Then try the `petrol in carb` trick

Corrected that order for you

[a1winchester]

Alternative to spoonfulls of petrol in the carb (and easier) is a snort or two of Easystart up the air intake. That works for me if the van has been stood for a while.

[orangebooboobearcrew]

Try what others have suggested here first but if that doesn't work it could be starter motor problem as pretty common on these vans.

If so, do search on here - loads of good advice, no need to replace starter necessarily - it might just need a clean up...

Chris

[Smiffo]

Well - update time - the previous input so far has been appreciated.

I didn't get round to doing it yesterday, so had a go today.
Cleaning the earths didn't work - even after charging the battery overnight - and neither did putting 2tbl spoons of fuel in the carb.

It almost started with the fuel, but battery died ofter 20 seconds of cranking.
( Cranking ground to a gradual halt, whereby the earth strap got hot again and the battery voltage has then dropped from 12.7v to about 12.3v after only a short period of attempted starting. )

So - plan B:

I was thinking of buying a new battery as suggested before ( although I admit I was reluctant due to cost LOL ), then charging and installing it before running some jump leads straight from the battery neg terminal, and run it through the van direct to the starter to eliminate any poor earth connections. ( Especially the battery earth strap that gets hot under load. )

It's all I can think of at the moment - anyone know if the above would be OK, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[CovKid]

Fresh, good battery, repeat coaxing then pump will hopefully catch up. It can't until engine fires - simple as that.

[what2do]

Have you another car and some jump leads?

[itchyfeet]

It almost started with the fuel, but battery died ofter 20 seconds of cranking.
Cranking ground to a gradual halt, whereby the earth strap got hot again?

this can't be right, imagine buying a new batrery to find it's a £5 earth strap.

[Smiffo]

Right, had another go today and put a good battery on the starter motor directly.
Exactly the same result...

Slow cranking etc.

I thought I would try to remove the old one, but it's a bugger to get to the bolts / nuts.

The top one seems to be an allan key, but no matter how hard to turn, it won't budge more than a few millimenters.

I'm concerned to pull harder - not least for my knuckles - but incase it's reverse thread or something.

To date:

New battery, new earth straps on gearbox and battery earth under seat. Cleaned all terminals etc.
Wired battery direct to starter motor.

Anyone have any good tips to remove this stubborn allan key style bolt?
( Is it conventional thread? )

Thanks in advance.

[Smiffo]

Ah ha..!!

A Nut on the other side was turning...
Now I have it off - I am thinking of taking the starter apart to try and recover it.

So, what should I be looking for?

I have noticed there is a bit of `play` in the shaft that comes out of the starter - is this normal, or an indication of worn bearings?