Battery trouble - not firing

Post by **Cruz** » 11 Dec 2007, 17:35

I know battery trouble is a common problem especially this time of year.

My problem has just began in the last week. My battery is a Numax and I've had it for 21 months from manbat

Starting the van has been getting gradually worse for about 10 days until today the van would not start. First thought was the starter motor but could hear motor trying to turn so I jump started it using the leisure (old starter) battery and it fired.

Thing is the leisure battery is proper goosed, it won't even run the interior lights for more than a few hours these days, and I've been meaning to replace it with a nice new 75amp/hr starter battery since summer.

Could the fact that the leisure battery is crap affect my starter battery....ie drain it?

Or is my starter battery just goosed and it's time to pay a vist to the manbat man with my warranty receipt (will probably do that anyway)

cheers

Post by **R0B** » 11 Dec 2007, 17:44

shaun.the way to check if its holding a charge is.charge it for 24hrs check voltage.leave it stood for another 24hrs.check voltage again.if it has dropped your battery is knacked....

is my starter battery just goosed

Post by **Cruz** » 11 Dec 2007, 17:54

I don't have a charger. I'll just take it to the shop tomorrow, surely they can test it?

Post by **Cruz** » 11 Dec 2007, 18:48

Will my knackered leisure battery (that no longer charges fully) drain the starter?

Plus I fitted a 'lights left on buzzer' recently that's wired to the drivers door plunger switch and the +ve on the heater illumination bulb wiring so the buzzer comes on when I open the door with the headlights still on. Could this be a source of a drain?

Post by **tonytech** » 11 Dec 2007, 18:56

If you have a split charge relay and you are trying to charge both batteries then your non leisure battery will not get the full benefit of the alternator.

Even though the old battery is goosed ( technical terminology ) it might provide enough current to assist the starter battery.

You need to get a voltmeter on your battery to give us some better information.

Lights on buzzer wont drain the battery (unless you leave the doors open )

T

Post by **Cruz** » 11 Dec 2007, 19:02

I jump started the van using the leisure battery but then after about 1 hrs driving the van would not start again on just the starter battery alone.

So the fact that the leisure battery is not fully charging has no bearing on the starter battery fully charging in a split charge system?

Looks like the starter battery is just on it's last legs then

I've no voltmeter so i cannot give any more info.

I'll take the battery back to the shop tomorrow, best plan to me

cheers

Post by **Cruz** » 12 Dec 2007, 09:02

checked the battery using a voltmeter

Battery reads 12.2v

as soon as I turn the key to ignition it drops to 10 then when I turn the key to start it drops to 4 and won't start.

once jump started it reads 13.8v when revving.

Is 13.8v through the alternator OK or shouold it be higher and the alternator isn't working as god as it should?

Post by **Mocki** » 12 Dec 2007, 09:49

sounds like a fooked battery, however, if you use the van daily this time of year, lights on wipers on, heater on, ect, the alternator will struggle to top the batter fully up on lots of short trips, ie travelling locally, so i'd advise a switch to disable the split charger for winter use, making sure the main battery gets the best chance of being topped up........

Post by **Cruz** » 12 Dec 2007, 09:54

Moki my van is a leisuredrive which is like yours, I think?? How would I go about fitting the switch? Or is there a fuse I can remove in the winter to disable the split charge?

when starting on LPG I've always had to crank it that bit harder could that have had a cumulative affect on the battery?

Post by **Mocki** » 12 Dec 2007, 09:59

just insert a simple on off switch in the signal wire from the alternator. no signal, no split charge.

when you start on gas, i always find waiting till the tank relay has clicked makes cold starting easier, if its really cold, foot to the floor, turn key on and off a couple of times before cranking, starts as fast as petrol, if not better.....

its a fact, that the longer you crank, the more it takes outa ya battery

Post by **Cruz** » 12 Dec 2007, 10:04

Being lazy I've probably killed my own battery then over time. That's what warranties are for

Cheers Moki and everyone else. Off to the battery shop on Saturday

Post by **Cruz** » 12 Dec 2007, 13:10

Just tested the negative lead for a possible battery drain using a voltmeter.

It seems that 3.5v is being drawn when parked. I have no alarm or immobilizer just the radio.

I haven't a clue about electrics.

Is a 3.5v drain a lot and could potentially knacker the battery over time?

Post by **tonytech** » 12 Dec 2007, 13:39

3.5V drain? is meaningless.
Volts are measured across a battery
Is your meter switched to Amps?
3.5 Amps is a lot of Current to be drawn parked up.

Tony

Post by **Cruz** » 12 Dec 2007, 14:54

Set it to amps, no reading

Looks like it's just a dead battery.

Thanks all, managed to use the old auxilliary (starter battery used as a leisure battery) battery as a makedo starter until Saturday

thanks all

Post by **kathyshack** » 12 Dec 2007, 21:33

cruz, if you're struggling, I have a charger here if you wanna borrow it.
kathy