A_redstone Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 help !What an embarrassment when you stall and cannot start at a roundabout of a major junction and hack everyone off for the next hour until the AA arrive !.....that was my night - again.....i have been having starter issues all year , and cannot get to the bottom of it.the AA chap tonight thinks that I have a dodgy electrical connection, I had no volts on idle when I stopped but after 30 mins drive home and he checked it again there were over 13 volts charging at idle ?whenever this happens it's only a short distance from home , never on long journeys .....I have had it checked by the local garage and 3 AA men and cannot get this sorted.Is it not charging the battery when in garage ?is it the alternator not charging on idle ?is the battery failing ?i am at my wits end !thanks for any advice......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 5, 2016 Member Share Posted August 5, 2016 Any hint of clicking when you try to crank? Any funny behaviour from the ignition warning light? What's the battery voltage at rest, during cranking and at 3,000 rpm? Disconnect, inspect, wiggle, clean and refit all the relevant cables, including the big ones at the battery, all at the alternator, all at the starter and the earths. Repeat 3.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Thanks I will check all connections tomorrow !when I came home tonight it started 12 times on the bounce at first time of asking !how infuriating .i am buying a voltmeter and emergency battery booster tomorrow ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 5, 2016 Member Share Posted August 5, 2016 Have you chosen the multimeter?And what a great chance to acquire one of those amazing lithium jump-starters!Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 I thought of adding an in dash voltmeter !and yes I have bought a lithium jump starter - the size of an iPhone it says ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 5, 2016 Member Share Posted August 5, 2016 Recommended multimeter:and I'd treat myself to an additional set of leads with croc clips.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 What chargers do owners use when car is being stored in the garage ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 5, 2016 Member Share Posted August 5, 2016 You need a conditioning charger, not a traditional trickle charger.I think that most 7 owners seem to be using CTEK products but I've also been happy with other makes.Models vary with how big a battery they will manage. Do you want to be able to use it on bigger batteries than the 7's?I think that not requiring the bonnet to be removed is a good idea. Do you have a power socket already?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share Posted August 5, 2016 Thanks - got a CTEK charger with permanent adaptor cable attached to the battery .but not convinced it's getting my Battery to full chargeunless that battery is knackered ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 5, 2016 Member Share Posted August 5, 2016 What sort of battery? Does it need topping up?Best domestic test of oomph is that minimum voltage during cranking.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Hiits just a "banner" battery standard one Trouble is it will charge and start no problem , it's when you go for a short drive and stop it won't start againAndy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revilla Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 What engine do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 It's a r400d with TB's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 It looks like there is corrosion on the battery terminals and on inspection it looks like the battery is leaking.Does it have to be a Banner ? Will any brand do the job ?andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 6, 2016 Member Share Posted August 6, 2016 It doesn't have to be a Banner.My recommendation for most general purpose 7s is a Powervamp, but they recently changed the models. I'll check and post.This might need changing or fettling the cage/ strap and changing some leads.JonathanPS: It's a really good idea to check the charging bits are working correctly before installing the new battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 6, 2016 Member Share Posted August 6, 2016 Powervamp are now recommending the ClubSport NP. That's a slightly different model but I'd expect it to be fine.NB: You might need the appropriate posts to match your leads. They can supply those. They sell an appropriate cage.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Ok - so summary update of what I know so far- car starts fine at home - multiple starts tested no issues - 12 in a row last night- on charge all night via the CTEK conditioner- car starts today multiple times no problems - I have stripped the cables to battery - cleaned up and apply Vaseline So what does that take out of the equation ? - battery holds charge- starter motor ok ***the issue comes after a short drive of say up to 15 miles , after that it will struggle to start if at allso what do we think leads to that issue ? Cheers ! andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 6, 2016 Member Share Posted August 6, 2016 You need to do those voltage readings to tell us about the condition of the battery and the charging system, especially with the previous erratic readings and the external appearance of the battery.But what happens during those problematic attempts to start: does it turn over at all, and if it does does it seem as fast as usual?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Thanks Jonathanmultimeter is on order ! The AA man got no volts on idle last night when it would not start, when I got home we were getting 13v on idle.the car just struggled to turn over, it did not have the power to turn the crank until it got boosted by the AA van...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNC Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 If my memory serves me right the alternator only charges over a certain rpm , no charge on tick over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 Wow ! Is that right ? Fascinating.That explains a lot .....it only registered over 2000rpm by the AA man.hmmmm maybe the battery was not charged to the full then ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 the lithium battery has arrived !pen added for comparison purposes.incredible small really !is this beast really going to be able to start my car !!!!amazing technology!a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stridey Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Yup, great little things. Started my Crossflow when I had starting issues.(Mine was a faulty alternator, I did wire in a voltmeter dial and put it on the passenger side knee panel. You can see it from drivers side and is nicely tucked away).My other intermittent starting issue traced back to a tired immobiliser, since replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted August 6, 2016 Member Share Posted August 6, 2016 They sound amazing... must persuade my current garage powerpack that it's finally time to meet its maker.But that reminds me of my blind spot concerning lithium batteries for 7s. I should have included that option in the advice above in post #16. There's a recent thread about them: let me know if you can't find it.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_redstone Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share Posted August 6, 2016 I can see threads on lithium but this is just a pocket sized emergency toola bit like tyre weld ! Emergency spare charger !apprarently it can drain a charged iPhone to power itself if it's not fully charged and of course you can use it to charge all types of electronic devices in emergency or whilst camping etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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