Thinking the cold has finally killed off the Surf's batteries??

[Adarsha & The Beast]

Man from garage came, two new batteries, started straight away.. Yey!

And... Bushwacker, would love to say hi sometime. And likewise if you're ever down this way.

Just been up the mountain in the 4x4 and boy it's slippy up there, did a nice little twirl on the snow and ice ! lol Made me twitch.. not going to do it again in the dark anytime soon! EEeek!

[BUSHWHACKER]

No worries.
If you're ever over this way and you've got truck problems, just give me a shout.

[Adarsha & The Beast]

Hi Bushwacker, just been to my local guys and they are going to put two new batteries on for me. These just don't hold a charge at all when charged up.

The glo plugs are ok. I don't use veggie oil and the filters have all been changed in Sept. She runs like a dream when up and going... lol..

I need it back on the road for a photo shoot I'm doing in the Black Mountains, slightly off road.. and my deadline to get the work in is looming. So thought it best to just get it organised.

Thanks for the offer of a battery, very kind of you, as usual you're always happy to help others. My garage guy will come and fit these for me at home now, so apart from the err hum.. cash... it should all be fine. Fingers crossed.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Only need to crank for a while in the very cold weather, usually it's fine. But.. I'm now considering parting company again. Being a woman, can't do stuff to it myself, maybe it's time to be practical and realistic.. Damn!

Glo plugs are fine, that I do know had them checked. ho hum.. here we go..

If the glow plugs are fine, and the engine turns over fast enough then it should fire up.
When was the last time the fuel filter was changed?
Are you using veg oil?


I have a battery here you can have, it's the driver's side one.

[Adarsha & The Beast]

Only need to crank for a while in the very cold weather, usually it's fine. But.. I'm now considering parting company again. Being a woman, can't do stuff to it myself, maybe it's time to be practical and realistic.. Damn!

Glo plugs are fine, that I do know had them checked. ho hum.. here we go..

[Apache]

Yes if you charged the batteries properly and they lose charge that quickly, they are likely fubared, but if you need to crank that long without the engine firing you have other issues.

[Adarsha & The Beast]

B*ll*cks!!!!

Well twice, I charged the batteries, it turns for like 30 seconds to a minute and then.......... rur rur ruuur ruuuuur ruuuuuuuur ruuuuuuuuuuuuuur ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuur ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeer DEAD!

So the batteries are dead right?

Can I swear, can I ? can a lady swear on here and get away with it!

ok b*ll*cks Sh*t Fk*c in any combination you like. Just when I need the damn thing most, i.e. to go and play in the snow it sh*ts itself on batteries !

[Adarsha & The Beast]

You assume correctly.


Did the metal bits (plates) look reasonably clean, or were they furry like the inside of an old kettle? Also, if they are warped it indicates the battery is toast.

Bit black and furry in parts.. not white?

[Apache]

Checked the levels inside the battery, on one I can see the workings, metal things.. I'm assuming they should be covered ?

You assume correctly.

There's usually a 'step' inside the fill hole which is where it should be filled to. Boiled water still has calcerous minerals in it. Pure water goes off as steam. Thats the stuff to use if you can get the steam into your battery... . Better using distilled water if you are keeping the batteries any length of time.

Did the metal bits (plates) look reasonably clean, or were they furry like the inside of an old kettle? Also, if they are warped it indicates the battery is toast.

[Adarsha & The Beast]

Checked the levels inside the battery, on one I can see the workings, metal things.. I'm assuming they should be covered ?

I need to put in distilled water right? I seem to remember my old dad just adding cooled boiled water, is that the same thing?

Charging both batteries now, so we shall see how if she starts in a bit..

Yes, both batteries I've just noticed are different, and to be honest they do look fairly new, I think the dealer I bought it from must have put them on. God only knows what make they are though?

[VidaMusic]

yes as predictable bob says, the batteries are different. you have a left one and a right one.
Weird, one cost me £76 and the other was £69!
The AA advised me against Halfords, said they really are rubbish cheap sh1t, and they didnt try to sell me them either.
I'm happy i got them from Toyota, and no silly dealer prices bunged on top.

[michael1703]

i've got an mgb thats being a pain to start at the moment, the battery is in very good condition, ive borrowed it to start my van/jag/rover and a few other things, its got good cranking amps but... it gets cold very easily and then its useless at 6.45 am but fine the rest of the day.

you could fully charge the batteries and wrap them in some type of insulation and try and see how they get on, patrols and a few other similar veicles have well wrapped batteries.

also at this time of year your earth straps need to be in good order, a way of checking is when you cant get the thing to crank fast enough, run a jump lead from negative to the block and see if cranking speed increases, also clean and vaseline your terminals, some people copper slip but its dirty stuff once you lean in and get it on your clothes

[Predictable Bob]

If you've got a two battery installation then it's highly likely that one's a 69 and the other a 68 - if you look at them the positive terminals will be on opposite sides.

Before you replace them check the electrolyte level, top up if necessary and give them a full charge. It would also be sensible to measure the charging voltage at the batteries

[BigBobE]

i had the same problem yesterday after surf sat parked up for a week,

went to start it yesterday morning, and it was dead, combination of cold, not starting it in ages and rear interior light left on!!!!


had nothing to just start off so nipped down to the lads in local motor factor and they gave me a 12v tractor battery to get me started, 1000CCA battery...

job done wipped new battery out and threw old one back in and now been starting on the button all day...

[Adarsha & The Beast]

With this cold dark weather, lights, heater blower, rear demister, lots of cranking (if the glowplugs are tired) will drain the batteries down and unless you drive for at least 20 mins to put the charge back in them, the state of charge will stay low.
Always switch everything off and allow the engine to idle for 30 secs or so if you can so the batteries are topped up before the next start.

Thanks for the info. Had the glow plugs checked - they were fine. The batteries don't have much of a kick in them, so I'm assuming it's them. .

My drive into uni is a good 35 to 40 mins, so that should get the charge back up. Once she's started first thing, she'll start again later in the day, it's just that first start in these cold cold mornings that gives me the problem!

12 volt number 069 type is that the right battery? Just found this link..
http://www.tayna.co.uk/batterygroups...ies-page1.html

AA will check the batteries and get it started though, I have homestart etc.