Help Please!!!!

Hi I'm new to the LZ forum and in need of a bit of advise...

I'm not awful with a spanner and decided to perform a minor service(oil filter, fuel filter etc) on my 300tdi auto at the weekend all went fine, or so it seemed until I went to jump in and take it down the shop later that even, and it wouldn't even turn over. Lights on the dash were really dim and I thought ok it is probably the battery as it's been on the way out for a while. So I bought a new battery today came home put it in, engine starts and runs and I think job done. Went out two mins ago to shoot down the gym and she won't turn over again just a single click from the engine and then nothing.... Is this a starter motor problem or something else??

Dean

Welcome to landy zone and hope you can take it when its dished, return it by all means its not personal

That is a deffo short

if it was OK before you got spanners out I would go over everything you touched while doing oil and filters and see whats out of place, disconnect battery when its stood that will save your new battery from dying by depth of discharge

check everything, and if you can use an ammeter check the current draw and trace the short

silly things like have you keft lights on?
addded somat that wasnt there before?

just a process of elimination, but check what you done first

I'll certainly check over everything I've touched. Cheers for the advice.

No the lights weren't left on and literally all I did was replace the oil filter, the Fuel filter and the air filter. Oh and put a new sump plug washer on.

D

Daft as it might sound and following on from what elmer_d said about a short, have you made sure all the tools you used are accounted for. I found a very nice snap-on screwdriver and spanner within the confines of my bonnet following a service once. (i didn't do the service myself)didn't short anything on my car but could so easily of done.

I'll defo be checking but I'm pretty sure everything is in it's place.

You need to find where you are using current. when you attached the battery cables did the cable arc as you connected it up? i.e was there a significant current draw? needs more investigation defo to flatten a battery that quick is either a serious short, dodgy alternator not charging or very bad earth

Check the voltage of the battery,
follow the battery cables down to the starter motor and make sure they are not loose or touching any bodywork as that is a live point nor anything sinister (spanner/socket wedged in there), also check your earth cables that run to your engine bay/chassis/battery make sure they are tight and have a good clean contact. IF YOU HAVE A SERIOUS SHORT YOU RISK YOU VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE! will need to be sorted asap if your not confident ask If i was closer I would come have a look to try and help mabe somone could do a good deed for a cup of tea or mabe s a few beer tokens.

I'm in Luton so quite away, away.

my money is on an earth strap knackered/disconnected, alternator diode/regulator pack fooked allowing the battery to drain or an interior light left on. Check the battery voltage first. If it comes up as 12.5v + then great. If it comes out less than that check for any lights or other electrical items left on. If you are sure that nothing is left on then diode pack would be my first port of call.

Thanks all for the advice, I checked the earth's and looked for any out of place wire's or anything else that might have caused a short.

I checked the voltage off the battery all ok.... so I gave up and used my staff membership to a certain breakdown organisation. The guy came round took a look, checked the battery again and gave the starter motor a smack with a pry bar as I turned the ignition and it fired straight away.
He's 100% its the starter so I'll be replacing that now.

Anybody know how difficult that job is?