Anyone fitted a higher ah starter battery for petrol van?

[RobH]

Cheers, I'll try all the measures when I get a chance.

I think I may have a spare wire that used to power some lights in the back that I left in so fingers crossed I could use that.

[RobH]

It's 0.03a with the stereo plugged in and 0.02 without, this shouldn't take enough power to prevent the van from starting in 5 days should it?

Batteries hold charge our of the van so any ideas what else I should be looking at to see why it struggles to start?

[ghost123uk]

It's 0.03a with the stereo plugged in and 0.02 without, this shouldn't take enough power to prevent the van from starting in 5 days should it?

No those values should not be an issue.

Batteries hold charge off the van so any ideas what else I should be looking at to see why it struggles to start?

You could start HERE in our wki Lots of info on this in there Oh, and don't miss the link at the bottom of that page, which takes you to a whole load more info

[RobH]

Read most of that before, the starter is good oilite bushing replaced when starter replaced 18 months ago.

Few loose strands in the negative battery lead so may be worth replacing? If so where do I get a replacement, is it a universal job?

Haven't checked the gearbox to body earth is there a picture anywhere of what it should look like?

Cheers,
Rob.

[ghost123uk]

Few loose strands in the negative battery lead so may be worth replacing? If so where do I get a replacement, is it a universal job?

Yes I would think a "generic" one from a factors would be suitable. If any part of that braided cable gets warm whilst cranking, that is suspect. Feel where it connects to the body for warmth too.

Haven't checked the gearbox to body earth is there a picture anywhere of what it should look like?

Self evident really, it should look in good nick, especially the connections at each end, which are best undone, seriously cleaned up and re-done whilst you are under there. You can check if that one is the cause by temporarily using a jump lead from a bit of the engine (alternator bracket perhaps, but watch for the fan belt) to a good clean bit of chassis earth. If it turns over better with that on, suspect that g/box to chassis earth.

[RobH]

Really struggling now, went to go out in the van on Friday, wouldn't start, turned over very breifly and weakly but then absolutely nothing.
I've replaced gear box earth and battery to body earth in the battery box.

When I drove it last Sunday it was fine started well and drove OK, but then when I re-started it to come home it started, but once I put lights on to drive was hessitant and juddery, wondering now if the alternator isn't putting out enough to start and drive when the lights are on, and it's not fully charging the battery when running so the tiny discharge I have is enough to prevent starting over time.

This Sunday after charging the starter battery again started fine ran OK on the way out but on the way home although it was running better than last week it was still a little juddery with the lights on.

I've moved the stereo to the leisure so the drain is just the cloke so shouldn't be causing any issues.

Anyone any thoughts or experience on this?

I've bought an additional earth for starter to chassis off the net so I'll try that when it arrives but just a thought on the alternator.

[ghost123uk]

We are in 3 pages now and I ain't looking back through them, have you checked the voltage at the battery after the engine has been running for a good few minutes ? It should be a bare minimum of 13.6 volts and preferably near to 14 volts. You can also measure the voltage output from the alternator (the big connection on the back, take care not to "short" your probe onto the casing) that too should be between 13.8 to 14.2 volts.

[RobH]

Checking the alternator is that one wire to where the red comes out and one to body for earth? Sure I did it at the battery previously but will double check, think user error may have killed my cheap chinese meter though.

[ghost123uk]

Checking the alternator, is that one wire to where the red comes out and one to body for earth?

Yes