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#1 Wesser

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Posted 06 October 2005 - 12:30 PM

Hi, more help needed... Put a new battery and alternator on the 96 Cooper SPi recently, been OK but the last few days (colder) it struggles to turn the engine over, Will check the voltage etc in the battery at the week-end also the charge rate on the alternator. Is there any things that suddenly go wrong and drain the battery at night? How do I check the current drawn when she's not running? And what else can I look at ie. could it be the starter motor.
PS. If I stop for a paper 5 minutes down the road it starts as lively as anthing.
Thanks in antisipation. :lol:

#2 Guess-Works.com

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Posted 06 October 2005 - 01:00 PM

Get the battery checked, there is the possibility you have a dud...

but normally is something which is just causing a power drain, check the integrity of the power cable front to back, and failing that maybe worth installing a volt meter, that will show if the alternator is keeping the charge up.

#3 bg158a

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Posted 06 October 2005 - 03:30 PM

Check earth leads from both battery to car body and from engine to front subframe/inner wing, also check the main power lead to the starter motor.

I would remove each in turn and give them a clean with some wire wool check bolts and washers are also clean.

Have had many starting problems as a result of poor earth's.

#4 Steve@RetroDash

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Posted 06 October 2005 - 05:52 PM

Check earth leads from both battery to car body and from engine to front subframe/inner wing, also check the main power lead to the starter motor.

I would remove each in turn and give them a clean with some wire wool check bolts and washers are also clean.

Have had many starting problems as a result of poor earth's.

i experienced this with my spi, it turned out to be the engine earth. my battery drained so much i couldn't switch off the immobiliser, what a pain that was. a friend of mine connected up a nice new earth and all was well

#5 Wesser

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Posted 07 October 2005 - 09:23 AM

Cheers lads, I know what I will be doing this week-end.

#6 Gibbo

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Posted 08 October 2005 - 01:12 PM

Where are the earths to the body on a 97 mpi? having problems similar to above, trouble turning the engine over even with a fully charged battery, have checked the charge across the battery with everything running and its around 12.7V, is this a bit low? also with the radio on when you turn the lights on, or flash the headlights the radio cuts out, and seeing as the dash battery charge light stays out I was thinking dodgy earth?

#7 lersxt

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Posted 08 October 2005 - 01:39 PM

Hi I had similar problem with my 95 SPi had a new Alternator but battery kept going dead after a few days, all it turned out to be was the fan belt. Even though the belt was tight and didn't look worn or shiney it must have been slipping, changed belt, charged battery and it has been going for 3 months so far and no probs starts 1st time!

Jeff




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