wouldn't start this morning!!

[lightningad]

I tried starting the car this morning, and it tried, but wouldn't - engine sounded like it was trying to turn but struggling, and there was a really weird clicking sound that i have never heard before. I tried a couple more times but the battery sounded like it was fading pretty quick so i have taken that off and put it on charge.

It has been very cold round here for the last few nights (below zero) so that might have something to do with the problem?

Its a 96 3l td, with a single battery - any ideas what might be causing this problem?

thanks

[Andy W]

I tried starting the car this morning, and it tried, but wouldn't - engine sounded like it was trying to turn but struggling, and there was a really weird clicking sound that i have never heard before. I tried a couple more times but the battery sounded like it was fading pretty quick so i have taken that off and put it on charge.

It has been very cold round here for the last few nights (below zero) so that might have something to do with the problem?

Its a 96 3l td, with a single battery - any ideas what might be causing this problem?

thanks

Get a big BOSCH battery, the biggest motherf***er ampere one that will go in the hole.
You can then forget your worries about starting !!!

Andy

[lightningad]

Get a big BOSCH battery, the biggest motherf***er ampere one that will go in the hole.
You can then forget your worries about starting !!!

Andy

solved it a whole lot cheaper than that!

all it needed was a little time on the charger, and the terminals needed a bit of grease, as they were dry as a witches ....ahem err sorry!!

started quicker than ever when i tried it after that.

[TheWolfCub]

I'd agree with Andy W it defo sounds like a flat battery. If you're battery is on it's way out then this whether will finish it off nicely!

[BUSHWHACKER]

A little trick I used to do on my transit was to cover the bottom and sides of the battery in polystyrene, off cuts of those insulating sheets, taped together into a box shape for the battery to sit in. Stopped the battery from getting too cold. Never had a problem with lack of power in the mornings.

[sparkyaj]

That sounds like a good fire trick to me. poly around acid??

[BUSHWHACKER]

Sealed battery!

[da SLUG man]

yep!

um... forgot what i was going to say!

[TheWolfCub]

yep!

um... forgot what i was going to say!

Class post Matt!

[NeilT]

solved it a whole lot cheaper than that!

all it needed was a little time on the charger, and the terminals needed a bit of grease, as they were dry as a witches ....ahem err sorry!!

started quicker than ever when i tried it after that.

I was going to say is it just the terminals, it's surprising how much difference it makes. I tried turning mine over with the terminal clamps untightened once and it was exactly as if the battery was flat, tightened them up and hey presto. I now carefully rub and grease my terminals before applying the clamps.... can i say that?

[Rob]

hmm, that reminds me, the +ve cable clamp thingy on my 1st gen doesn't really fit around the terminal properly - from above I can see light between the clamp and the terminal for about 1/2 the way round, doh. Need new clamp thingy, the one on there is a bodge by a previous owner.

[NeilT]

hmm, that reminds me, the +ve cable clamp thingy on my 1st gen doesn't really fit around the terminal properly - from above I can see light between the clamp and the terminal for about 1/2 the way round, doh. Need new clamp thingy, the one on there is a bodge by a previous owner.

cut up a bit of copper pipe and you could add it in there? Should be just as good if you do it carefully. 2nd attempt bodges are usually better