Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,

Quick question, for the last week dome of the time I go to start the van it doesn't turn over the first time but does the second or third. However, today when we went to get off a ferry it wouldn't turn over at all. I can hear the click but then nothing. Man on the ferry jump started it and we drove away no hassle for an hour, stopped now to get diesel and same thing, turn the key, hear the click and nothing.Voltage I'd 12.85v which I believe should be enough. Waiting on AA now to see if they can jump it and possibly get a new battery. Never had this issue before and been travelling everyday for the last 3 weeks in the van and it only started now, battery is about 8 years old and we have been charging phones etc and leisure battery off it.
So my question is, is it just an old battery and the drain of charging phones etc has been to much? When I got it started off the ferry the voltage was 13.8 so it looks like it is charging but maybe not enough. Any help is appreciated while I await the AA.

Thanks 1990 1.9 straight diesel

When he jump started it did he put the jump leads on the battery terminals or did he put one on the live terminal and the earth on the engine

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On the battery terminals as far as I know, I was in the van. However, he set the pack up on the terminals before I tried to start the van and when I went to start nothing happened, then he said try again and it worked so unless he changed positions while I was sitting in the van, I don't know. He used a big chunky power-pack. Literally after I sent the first post I tried the van and she started straight up, so cancelled the AA. With the van running know there is 13.76v.

Would temperature be an issue? Its unreal hot here in Ireland at the moment, and both times this has happened the temp gauge needle has been slightly to the right of middle. And when it started, it has obviously cooled down a bit, not sure if this or why this would effect it though.

temperature shouldn't be a issue as far as I'm aware I was thinking bad earth if you have some jump leads try Connect it to the battery terminal earth lead and to Somewhere on the engine and then try to turn it over

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Sounds like a bad earth at either the battery terminals or possibly the starter motor itself, or even dirty contacts at the starter motor, if youve identified the battery as good, have a look at the starter motor connections and earth. Disconnect battery first before cleaning the starter motor contacts.  There have been a few recent posts regarding this and in most cases dirty contacts were the cause.

Thanks folks, I was half thinking a bad contact but was just hoping for a battery replacement for convenience sake. Parked at resting spot for the night so will have a look later and see if I can see anything unusual at the contacts. Will report back If I find it. Thanks again

Lets start with more info.
Engine type and year?
Symptoms of not turning over?
No or weak battery power? Must be 12.4v at terminals
Clicking noise?

Whoops! My phone has just updated!
Clean and tighten battery terminals.

I had the same problem when i purchased a van, would start fine sometimes then just a click and i was about to get on a ferry ! Still had the problem after fitting a new starter then put a new battery in and happy days. Turned out the battery was old and breaking down, your battery is very old as well. Average life span of a starter battery is about 6 years.

Hi Maxstu, cheers for your response as well. Waiting for other people to leave where we are camped up so I can have a look in peace .

• 1y engine 1.9, not sure what year but the van itself is 1990. Just checked my past posts and I replaced the starter motor in 2017, no issues since.
• 12.85v at the terminals when off and 13.8 when van is running.
• turn the key in the ignition and hear the single click of the solenoid but nothing else.

Just tried to start it randomly there and started up no hassle. Hopefully it is just loose/dirty terminals.

I had a similar issue recently checked all the earths and bought a new battery, still did the same thing….sometimes it would turn over sometimes not. Ended up changing the ignition switch assembly……problem solved. 

Hi Multisi,

Cheers for your response to. Had a quick look there and all the terminals seem ok. Still, gonna try and get to a Halford or something tomorrow and get a new battery just to rule it out.

Cheers Jeffroo,

You are just giving me another rabbit hole to go down there thanks

Really good YouTube vid available shows exactly what to do. You will need a good sized socket (24mm if I remember correctly) to take off the steering wheel.  

It is no good just looking at the terminals that will not tell you anything - remove them and clean them up.