Any mechanics among us ?

[Gill]

So, bearing in mind that coughs and splatters is not a particularly technical term lol (as in does that mean fires, fails to fire, turns over quickly or slowly, fires on some but not all cylinders, spits back etc etc etc).

So, if we start again, and trying to be EXACT. Are you saying that nothing at all happens if you try to start it purely from turning the key (which may still not mean its a battery problem), but that when you use jump leads, the van's starter motor at least turns over (which will rule out three possible faults at least, such as jammed starter, faulty solenoid, and unearthed starter motor/engine, but does still leave faulty ignition circuit as a possibility)

most of the time it was starting in the morning , but it is definately worse when there is a cold snap.when i turned the key this morning it turned over a couple of times and then it sounded like the battery was getting weaker and then just click.

 

[Whittler Kev]

Mates just had the same on a Golf but worse. He kept cutting out as well. The batteries were charging intermittently but the alternator light never came on (he just had very low battery charge all the time - checked by putting a known good battery on the car). When it was put on the diagnostic machine at the local garage it was found to be worn brushes in the alternator.
If you can get a known good one from your local scrappy, it's not too hard to change on an old tranny and may cure it. If not, take it back.
Remember the cold weather always shows up dodgy batteries as the heater plugs use loads more power as they stay on longer

 

[ged]

i connect them to the battery terminals on one of the two batteries and to a honda diesel engine battery .

Well unless I'm missing something that must pretty much rule out cable and earthing faults. Can I take it that all of these batteries are twelve volt batteries?

It sounds very much like a flat battery to me. Either the battery isn't charging because the charging circuit isn't working, or it's a dead battery and the charging circuit can't do anything about it. If you can get a fast charger to charge them up (preferably over a weekend) and then try starting with them that will tell us a lot.

How did the man test your batteries? Did he get a thing that looks like a bit of wriggly steel strip with two big fat spikes on it and press the spikes hard onto the battery terminals? Or did he just get a voltmeter and measure the battery voltage? Sometimes a twelve volt battery can give you something over twelve volts when it isn't supplying a lot of amps, but when it's giving out a lot of amps (current) it will start to fold. To test it properly you need to make it work. That's what the wiggly metal strip does, it's a 'load'. A good fully charged vehicle battery should be able to supply hundreds of amps for a minute or two at least. It should light up the headlights (typically about ten amps total for two headlight bulbs) for a few hours.

How long will the headlights stay on if you switch them on with the van engine not running?

 

[ex-member Raikey]

sorry repeated above post,...

didnt read all the posts,....

 

[Gill]

i got the batteries checked again the main battery was 75% and the other was 105% so i changed the main one , drove it home started later no problems ,left it overnight in the freezing cold , and it would not start again the van was turning but would not start and then died ,it went first turn with a jump .

 

[Ronnie]

You have a duff alternator

 

[No Idea]

Hi Gill

There are a few things here that I dont understand...

1. Transit with two batteries...Is it a camper/doormobile?
2. Are the batteries both the same size?
3. Do you know if the batteries are 12 volt and what their amp rating is?
4. Is it a petrol or Diesel engine?
5. Assuming its a Diesel, do you have to turn the key so far and wait for a while for a light to go out before starting it?
6. When you turn the ignition on, do you always get the ignition lights on?
7. When you turn the key first thing in the morning, what number can you count to roughly in seconds before it stops trying to start it and just clicks?
8. When you turn the key and it just clicks, do the ignition lights get dim or go out?
9. When you get it running, try turning on the headlights on main, and then make the engine run a little faster - like you would when you are about to find the bite position on a hill start... Can you tell us if the lights get brighter and if they go a bit dimmer if you let it tick over with no foot on the accellerator again?
10. When you have it running, can you turn the lights on main and turn the engine off and see if the lights dim as it cuts out?
11. When the ignition is turned off and the keys out, does the red light glow slightly? Might need to check it at night to see it.

I know thats a lot of questions, but we could really do with answers to them to work out whats going on with the batteries. A coughing spluttering engine is something else again, and would need some more questions.

 

[ged]

There are a few things here that I dont understand...

[big snip/]

You know you really should change your forum id.

 

[Trunks]

You know you really should change your forum id.

Nice one LMAO

 

[No Idea]

Really?

Which forum do you think I should be on?

 

[Trunks]

Really?

Which forum do you think I should be on?

I think he was referring to your forum ID of "no Idea" & that you were stating you didn't understand the original posting.

 

[Sniper]

Gill it sounds like a charging fault to me, the battery is either not receiving enough of a charge or the charging voltage is too low perhaps indicating brushes in the alternator. If you put a voltmeter across the battery with the engine switched off and read the voltage (should be 11-12 volts) then start the engine (meter should now read 14 - 14.5 volts at 1500revs) the readings will give you an idea of where to try next. Give me a call Tam has my number, and I might be able to have a look for you.

 

[Robbi]

I think he was referring to your forum ID of "no Idea" & that you were stating you didn't understand the original posting.


not at all...i think he was trying to say that by the content of your questions, you have a "lot of Idea" and know what your talking about rather than "No Idea " LOL ! it's all good mate

 

[demographic]

I'm not a mechanic but I do own a direct injection diesel Transit, the batteries fitted to them are generally not too spectacular in winter anyway and if you are doing lots of short journeys it takes its toll on the battery.

If you have a charging fault you should be seeing the red light (with the battery symbol) still on after the van is started.
That's usually an alternator fault and if you replace the alternator be sure to also replace the vacuum pump to alternator shaft O ring oil seal otherwise oil gets through (the O ring takes a set and sort of flattens out enough to allow oil past) from the vacuum pump to the alternator and knackers the new one. Don't ask how I know this.

 

[Trunks]

I think he was referring to your forum ID of "no Idea" & that you were stating you didn't understand the original posting.


not at all...i think he was trying to say that by the content of your questions, you have a "lot of Idea" and know what your talking about rather than "No Idea " LOL ! it's all good mate

Oh yeah Maybe i should be changing my ID then, LOL

 

[No Idea]

lol

Thank you Ged, Friend Robbi and Trunks.

Sorry. Ive discovered admitting that I know anything can really irritate some people. I sort of stay thick out of habit.

"No Idea" accurately sums up my knowledge of Bushcraft, Specialised racing boats, women, and lots of other stuff, which I wish I knew more about, plus my kids often write on forums as Little Idea and Big Idea, so me being No Idea, sort of fits.

I honestly dont understand whats wrong with the transit and couldnt even hazard a guess without a lot more info..

Working on my assumption from the OP's wording that he isnt exactly a mechanic, if he checks out the answers to those questions and posts them, it would make pinpointing the fault possible, although if Sniper visits, he should be able to sort it.

Not admitting I know anything about transits, of course.

 

[No Idea]

Have you sorted your battery problem?

 

[Gill]

`no not yet.

 

[Gill]

ok the van wont start without a jump as soon as there is frost , the thaw came on and the weather was mild so i tried the van and it started no problem , this was without it being charged etc , so defo not the battery etc the cold weather is affecting something ?

 

[Ronnie]

Cold weather reduces the capacity of all batteries - so if you have one that is marginal, the cold weather will make it worse.