4 replies to this topic

[chrisjenson1978]

ok here we go!
car is a cooper 1996 mpi

over the last couple of months i am getting a non start in the morning or driving about its like the battery is not getting charged! i changed the following alternator/boot earth lead/new battery suddenly it seemed to work untill i reconed the engine this is what happened put new recon engine back in no problem gasket blow in a hour due to a crappy cheap gasket took head off new gasket etc rebuilt top head now suddenly it will not chrarge the battery the engine will bump and run with non cut it will jump to charge but on the volt meater in the car it says 12.5 just under the 13 volt mark! before it was 14 etc the only thing after all this money and time is there must be a wiring problem can it be

the long poss wire from the battery to the starter " can this cause problems if it is tattay as onece i damaged it when jacking up the car" " sparks"

2 engine earth looks ok no fraying etc

3 main altinater wire to the 30 amp fuse or what goes from altinator to starter if i put a wire from starter to altinator is this a good way to check charge? my macanic is suspect of the poss wire i am not convinced?

please help i have a headake sorry for spelling never been my strong point X@<

[evansisgreat]

I had a similar problem with my mpi, it took ages to track, but eventually I found it needed 2 engine earths. The one on the top steady bar AND another attached the the slam panel. It wouldn't charge properly without both.
Your issue sounds like it could be more serious but you never know.

[chrisjenson1978]

yes i was thinking that? it canot harm i will start with that as i said it will run but seems to just charge to keep the battery topped up but as i said i turn the car off and it will not start "flat battery"

[100ev8]

have you got a multimeter with amps on it ?

[chrisjenson1978]

no i am affrad not i put a jump lead from poss battery to the starter to see if it was the poss lead made no diffrance my next step today if it stops raining is to try the cable from the altinator to the starter! to see if it is that then if still no joy its got to be a earth i will add a second earth on the engine does that make sense?