Am I punishing myself unecessarily?

Lately I have noticed when starting up early doors (we're talking 05.30) it almost seems to struggle slightly to actually start( 3- 4 rotations of the starter) I assumed that it was the cold start blues, glow plugs drawing power from the battery etc.

So I have taken to using as few creature comforts as possible ( heater etc ) only when absolutely necessary to de-mist the windscreen and side windows type of thing. In order to topup up the charge on the battery.

It starts ok later on in the day. Am I wasting my time doing this sort of thing or is it justified, or should I just go and get a new battery to be on the safe side?

rather b safe than sorry....go get yer battery tested

although mine, on a fine summers day, swings for abt 10 secs b4 she takes from cold.

yer battery is maybe a bit old - they dunt like cold when they get old and can't crank as well as when they've had time for their cuppa and watched a bit of The Wright Stuff.

mine was the same last winter till I got a new one and threw the old grumbling bugger into the old battery home at the dump. Teached him.

So is what I'm doing helping to prolong it's life at all or can I spend its last few ounces of energy with a flourish and spoil mesen to a tiny bit of warmth in the mornings. Might not be too bad next week as I'm on lates at work.

If yer alternator is working properly an its drive belt is OK then its output should match whatever power you are taking out of it and still charge the battery, so you should be able to run whatever you like as soon as you've started the engine. If you switch everything on that takes a big load like demisters an heater fans an what have you then in wet weather the alternator drive belt may struggle to run the alternator an it'll start to squeal.

GRUNT said:

If yer alternator is working properly an its drive belt is OK then its output should match whatever power you are taking out of it and still charge the battery, so you should be able to run whatever you like as soon as you've started the engine. If you switch everything on that takes a big load like demisters an heater fans an what have you then in wet weather the alternator drive belt may struggle to run the alternator an it'll start to squeal.

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S'funny you should say that t'other day whilst driving in particularly wet weather, I was maneuvering in a carpark and I heard a momentary screech a couple of times, but put this down to the fact that maybe the power steering may be slipping slightly ( I drove through a rather deep puddle and coming out the other side I struggled steering it for about 50 or so yards after which it was fine.)

Ah well there you go then have a glook at the tension of both of em.

An when yoove finished havin a glook see how tight they are.

Nice one Grunt. Just one more quicky, after startup the battery light stays on until I blip the throttle, bin like it fer ages, is this normal?

badadj said:

Nice one Grunt. Just one more quicky, after startup the battery light stays on until I blip the throttle, bin like it fer ages, is this normal?

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same as mine, and ive got a brand new alternator on my TD.

Cheers chris mack

I wunt say it was normal and would guess at the belt being slack or summat, and the alternator not running fast enough until the engine is revved, speshly if it's a new alternator. There's people more alternator crafty than me on here though.

I did think that the belt might be a bit slack, but i cant be assed to tighten it as it works fine as long as i tap the accelerator after starting!

also it could be that after a cold start my engine hunts a bit and doesnt tickover on full revs for a few seconds..unless i tap the accelerator.

I did think that the belt might be a bit slack, but i cant be assed to tighten it as it works fine as long as i tap the accelerator after starting!

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Yerl end up shaggin the belt, alternator pulley an water pump pulley, price the pulleys up then go an tighten the belt. An while yer at it price the steering pump pulley up an tighten that belt as well.

Quick update, battery; dead
Belts ; taut

New battery in situ
cost ; 65 quid ( Morleys Derby )

It is always good practice to give your battery a good charge once a year, and check the electrolite level (if applicable)
If you have flattened your battery in the past for any reason, your alternator will not be able to charge past the 50-60% mark, so its good to give it a helping hand. Sometimes, lots of short journeys can add to this problem.

busaboy said:

It is always good practice to give your battery a good charge once a year, and check the electrolite level (if applicable)
If you have flattened your battery in the past for any reason, your alternator will not be able to charge past the 50-60% mark, so its good to give it a helping hand. Sometimes, lots of short journeys can add to this problem.

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Aye I think that could be the culprit. Went to the Space Museum over 12 months ago and accidentally flipped the spotlight switch on, spent the day round the museum came back to a flat battery.

It's taken long enough to give up the ghost though, poor wee bugger.

I'll definitely check the electrolite level in future.

Both of my Landys with a combination of 3 different alternators have all had that blipping the throttle thing, the light stays on until it is blipped. I spent a while trying to figure it out, still havn't. All works fine, I wouldn't worry about it.

My Light stays on until I blip thottle as well - All belts OK, Just a TD thing I think