10 replies to this topic

[mattbeddow]

This one is a bit of a two part question.

I went to start my mini last weekend and it was totally dead, so I charged up the battery and it starts and runs fine.
I disconnected the battery so it would drain and went out to it this morning, reconnected it, turned the key, "click" then nothing.
Everything was dead again, even the lights wouldnt come on.
I went and got the multimeter to check the battery voltage, it read 12.5v so i tried again and the car started without problem.
Went for a drive, turned off the ignition, tried to start it, click, nothing.
5-10 mins later, it started.

Does this sound like my battery is faulty and I need a new one?
If so, which one do I need?

The car is a 1989 racing green, 1000cc, all standard with a new alternator

[jonny95]

sounds like a dodgy connection somewhere

[Badboytunes]

It could be an iffy battery, perhaps with one of the cells failing. Or it could be a sticky solenoid/starter.

[Cooperman]

Possibly a bad earth at the battery or from engine to body, or a poor connection at the solenoid.

[mattbeddow]

Thanks guys.
Ive just been out to put it away and it did the same thing, so i went straight to the battery with a multimeter, 12.5 on the terminals but only 6v at the battery lead, so i cleaned up the terminal and clamps and the problem appears to be sorted.

Hopefully its still ok tomorrow :)

[minirage]

worth cleaning all earth points, put a tiny dab of multi perpose grease inbetween, stops rust

[tiger99]

It is the classic symptom of failing pot type battery terminals. If you still have those, you should replace them with the split clamp type, otherwise they will continue to give trouble. The female pot spreads and does not make tight contact with the male battery post, so the self tapper in the middle ends up carrying all the current. It is invariably rusty, which does not help. Here is one source of the right bits, although you can probably find them in Halfords etc.

http://www.autoelect...product_list/26

If you do fit these, I very strongly advise also fitting insulated covers, as otherwise there is only the cardboard battery cover between the terminals and anything metallic that you may be carrying in the boot, and we really don't want a fire.

[mattbeddow]

Thaks,
it was a loose -ve lead. Ive got the clamp type connectors already but theey were gunked up. a quick clean and a rub with some wet and dry paper and its all good again :)

[Moggyton]

Where the negative cable connects to the battery, follow it back to where it connects to the car, is it connected to bare metal or is it a painted surface?

[mattbeddow]

bare mettal, but like Ive said, the issue is fixed now

[Moggyton]

bare mettal, but like Ive said, the issue is fixed now

good to hear :)