14 replies to this topic

[overboost]

Went to look at a mini last night which has been parked up for a few months (maximum 8 months).

Fresh fuel was put in the engine before it was started, the battery was flat and wouldnt start the car so it was jump started from a booster pack and fired up. Idled fine for about 10 minutes then took it on a test drive, it drove about 100 yards and then slowly lost all power, the engine struggled to keep going and the car died. Only sidelights were on this time no heaters or radio etc were turned on.

Pushed the car back to the house and jump started it from a diesel landrover, fired up straight away and again idled okay. Headlights worked, hazards etc. Drove the car down the road again, same thing happened just lost all power and died. Both times when you went to restart the car it just clicked.

What could be the cause? I know the misfire is probably because its cold and hasnt been driven for a long time so just needs a good run. What about the power problem? Alternator maybe or just the battery?

If a battery is dead, and the cars charging and alternator working as it should, will the car carry on driving or would it loose all power and die? It has definatly not been parked for longer then 8 months, and it did have fresh oil then and was running fine.

Thanks for any help you may have...

[Big_Adam]

sounds like fual stavation. check for C**p in the float bowl. give it a clean then try again. also check the pumps working ok. pull a fual pipe off then turn the engine over. should come spurting out.

[overboost]

Fuel was going through the carb fine as each time it would start up and rev as much as you want, but when moving looses power.

[Retro_10s]

check the alternator, also, yeah fuel might come thorugh fine on idle but under load it's different, also, are you sure you're running all cyclinders?

[Jammy]

That doesn't sound like fuel starvation to me, sounds like the battery hasn't got enough juice to keep the car going. Either the battery isn't accepting charge, or an earth hasn't rusted though, causing a problem with the charging circuit, or the alternator is up the duff!

[overboost]

The car was rebuilt less then 2 years ago, and all new panels fitted, the battery earth looked good but will check again today. Im pretty sure its the battery not accepted charge because it is so gradual, the engine wants to keep running but it cant... and then wont restart either. I was thinking more along the lines of battery/alternator but wanted some second oppinions.

[The Matt]

Sounds like battery or alternator. Could even be a loose connection somewhere that is worse when the car is being driven?

[overboost]

I will stick a new battery on and give it a run, see what its like then... Thanks for all the advice.

[Teapot]

Don't forget to check the fanbelt tension while you're at it

[Clubby1275GT]

sounds like alternator to me, doesnt sounds like its doing much when the car is on the move, hence no power to run it.
easy enough to swap over

[fikus01]

it sounds more alternator if u ask me, if u jump start a car with a flat battery it should run fine as long as the alternator is doing its job, just as long as u have something in there to complete the battery circuit!!

make sure when its running you're getting atleast 13 volts, pref 13.5v if its only reading 12volts then it suggests alternator is at fault!!

also check you're rear body earth terminal hasnt got any corrosion as this could hurt the alternators chances of charging up the battery if it is working!!!!

check that charge level tho!! 13v or above

[Awlred Drives a Quant]

Have you cheked the fluid in your battery?

Or yeah the battery could be completly knackered and just won't accept charge, umm try a multimeter/altometer/voltmeter on your battery when you jump it, should raise as soon as its running...

Let us know how it goes

[Big_Adam]

isn't there a cheap dirty way to get the battire going again. somthing to do with those fizzy pills you can get.

i'm sure i rember it.

[Jammy]

You can top them up with distilled water, but I'd just get a new battery. Get a Halfords one from Halfords with a 5 year guarantee, then in 3 or 4 years when it goes pop get a free new one! Remember to keep the receipt though!

[overboost]

...I bought the car, turned out to be a faulty rotor arm. Replaced it and no problems since (touch wood).