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Sudden loss of charge

Posted: 07 May 2013, 10:38
by tally9040
I have an intermittent fault on my van. Often, when I have started the van with no problems I will drive along and then pull into a petrol station and switch off. Then when I go to start again in 2 or 3 minutes the 2 dash lights come on and the engine fails to turn with the lights flickering . It's as if the battery has lost all charge. This only happens when I switch off and switch back on within a short space of time. Occasionally, if I leave it for a few minutes it recovers and fires up, but most recently this involved me getting a push off the forecourt and jump starting across from my leisure battery !
Does anyone recognise this fault, your help, as ever, is most appreciated.

Re: Sudden loss of charge

Posted: 07 May 2013, 11:42
by weldore
Sounds like starter motor or starter motor wiring.
carry a multimeter with you and check battery voltage to be sure

Re: Sudden loss of charge

Posted: 07 May 2013, 11:56
by ermie571
Potential bad wiring when hot?

Mine is also victim to this horrendous disease. Fine when cold....sometimes really doesn't want to know when hot!

Look up "hot starting" in the search facility...

or disappear underneathyour van, check the gearbox earth is tight and good quality, that the battery earth is tight and good quality (ie not corroded) and that all the connections on the starter motor are fine, complete and not breaking up.

Em
xx

Re: Sudden loss of charge

Posted: 07 May 2013, 16:13
by tally9040
Thank you for the suggestions, I will go and have a look armed with my very blurry reprinted Haynes manual !