MBB Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 With the recent weather I haven't used the seven this year. The trouble is I forgot to plug in the optimate, so plugged it in this morning, but it won't charge ☹️ 🙆🏻 I've tried another charger, cheepo halfords job, no luck their either. So have I killed the battery, presumably with the immobiliser, or am I just being a numpty with the chargers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Sounds like it's knackered, I have a reasonable charger you can borrow to see if it kick starts it into life? I disconnected my gel battery when I laid my car up a while ago - reconnected it this morning and it started first turn of the key Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 So have I killed the batteryWell, maybe. But there are some checks you can do first: Is the electrolyte level OK in all cells? What's the voltage across the battery (I'm assuming you have a meter) Can you operate anything at all (eg sidelights or even a single 12v bulb)? The Optimate will have its work cut out getting a charge into a totally flat battery. JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classic1952 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Start it with jump leads then drive it for 10 miles or so. On your return put it on trickle charge. I don't know the technicalities but batteries that are dead often respond to a "kick-start" and will then charge normally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBB Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 Battery voltage is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Most "intelligent" chargers need at least 3v to detect a battery is present. You need an unintelligent charger which just applies 14v across the terminals. Your alternator will do that, hence classic1952's suggestion. Or an older/cheaper charger might do it, or even another battery. But there's a pretty good chance it's beyond saving. You might want to try anti-suphate tablets - they really do work, and aren't a snake-oil con as you might think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 My optimate revived swmbo's mx5 battery from 1.2v! Showed nothing to start with but I left it connected for 48 hours or more and it did the job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanAm Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Push start it! Norman who used to post here once suggested using a charger via a good battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCol Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Quoting classic1952: Start it with jump leads... put it on trickle charge....Worked for me earlier this year... battery dead, plugged in Optimate and nothing... but post jump-start and a bit of a run, it was fine (and has been plugged since!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBB Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 I'll leave the Optimate connected overnight and see if that does anything, otherwise it will be find the jump leads tomorrow, or a trip to get some more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBB Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 I'll leave the Optimate connected overnight and see if that does anything, otherwise it will be find the jump leads tomorrow, or a trip to get some more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 have you got another good battery, if so and you find the jump leads, wack it in parallel with flat battery and then put charger on as well, that also can kick a dead battery back to life , sorry Roger just noticed you suggested similar Tim Edited by - tbird on 22 Feb 2014 21:25:25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 Mark, Fit a battery Isolator as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piers Rendell Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Mike - if the battery is registering less that 2 V after charging on the terminals when you should have 13.2V, it must have an internal short. I would bin it and put in a new one. Regards Piers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBB Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 There may be hope yet - charging lights have now come on the Optimate. If dry I may take it up to the solent sevens meet on Friday, wit jump leads just in case it dosent hold the charge PS Jump leads have been found - in my parents garage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Check the fluid levels and keep your fingers crossed. My alternator packed up and drained the battery to about 1.5V. I put it on my dad's 40 year old charger for a while then on to the optimate and it was fine. My first banner lasted 6 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 *thumbup*Told you it was worth a try 😬 😬 Give it a few days on the Optimate until it shows as fully charged and hopefully no need for a new battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBB Posted June 27, 2015 Author Share Posted June 27, 2015 Resurecting my old thread - I might have actually killed it beyond hope this time A couple of weeks ago it failed to re-start after a journey, having started fine earlier in the day, managed to jump start it & went home.Its been on the optimate since, of to solent sevens last night, would not start, minutes after disconnecting the optimate, so had to take the tin top. 12v showing on the multimeter this morning, would not start on battery alone, would start when optimate connected, so its definatly the battery not suppliying enough power.Any recomendations for a replacement battery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 27, 2015 Member Share Posted June 27, 2015 I'm very happy with a Powervamp PVR 25, but I think a PVR 22 is cheaper.Recent discussion on fitting.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 i can't believe having the Optimate connected would make the difference as it only delivers minimal charging current and nothing near enough to crank the engine. How long did you have the Optimate connected before it started again, would it have been long enough to recharge the battery? What's the voltage when cranking? Have you checked for cracked or dodgy connections which cure themselves when you attach the charger? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 28, 2015 Member Share Posted June 28, 2015 Same comments as Paul, but was it cranking when it wouldn't start this time? (I'm thinking about ECUs that are fussy about low voltages.)Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Cheapo "golf cart" batteries similar size to PVR25 are fine and last several years.BUT you need to stop whatever is causing the drain in the first place.As I suggested above, fit a battery Isolator (a simple non-fia one will do, and will probably be more reliable, if you don't use it to kill the engine when running), and remember to use it every time (that's the hard part for me!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBB Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 I have a hard wired plug for the optimate, so not a dodgy connection.The engine will turn with just the battery, but not fire. Plugging in the optimate and it fired first time after about 15 mins of charging.The drain is AFAIK the isolator - battery normally maintains enough charge to start the 7 for about 3 weeks. The trouble with fitting a battery isolator is that I will just forget to remove it, much like plugging in the conditioner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 28, 2015 Member Share Posted June 28, 2015 What's the voltage when cranking?That's what we need next.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBB Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 I'll need to enlist a helper for that, or a better multimeter Anyone on the solent area want to go for a blat this weekend so I can see if it will charge when running?- must have a set of jump leads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now