Bad battery or something else?

E

eric

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #1

About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94 Disco and it was
working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump start it. After the jump it
was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't start again. Same thing happened
this afternoon when I tried to start it. All the connections on the battery
seem to be ok and the lights in the car will come on but when I try to start
it there's a clicking noise. Did I get a bad battery or is something else
going on?

 

S

SimonJ

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #2

> About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94 Disco and it was
> working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump start it. After the jump
it
> was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't start again. Same thing happened
> this afternoon when I tried to start it. All the connections on the
battery
> seem to be ok and the lights in the car will come on but when I try to
start
> it there's a clicking noise. Did I get a bad battery or is something else
> going on?
>
>
From that information its impossible to tell!

Measure the voltage across the battery with engine running, and report back!

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #3

so eric was, like...
> About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94 Disco and it
> was working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump start it. After
> the jump it was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't start again. Same
> thing happened this afternoon when I tried to start it. All the
> connections on the battery seem to be ok and the lights in the car
> will come on but when I try to start it there's a clicking noise. Did I
> get a bad battery or is something else going on?

If the battery is marginal, you will get lights but not enough juice to
energise the starter, hence the clicking. My guess is a dead battery. Easy
fix, but I'd want to know what had killed it in such a short time. A check
at an auto-electrician wouldn't cost much.

--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)

 

T

TonyB

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #4

"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> so eric was, like...
> > About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94 Disco and it
> > was working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump start it. After
> > the jump it was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't start again. Same
> > thing happened this afternoon when I tried to start it. All the
> > connections on the battery seem to be ok and the lights in the car
> > will come on but when I try to start it there's a clicking noise. Did I
> > get a bad battery or is something else going on?
>
> If the battery is marginal, you will get lights but not enough juice to
> energise the starter, hence the clicking. My guess is a dead battery.
Easy
> fix, but I'd want to know what had killed it in such a short time. A
check
> at an auto-electrician wouldn't cost much.


Could also be a duff earth, allowing enough current to fire up the lights
but won't take the massive 400 odd amps required for an engine start.

TonyB

 

R

Richard

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #5

"TonyB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> so eric was, like...
>> > About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94
>> > Disco and it
>> > was working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump
>> > start it. After
>> > the jump it was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't
>> > start again. Same
>> > thing happened this afternoon when I tried to start it.
>> > All the
>> > connections on the battery seem to be ok and the lights
>> > in the car
>> > will come on but when I try to start it there's a
>> > clicking noise. Did I
>> > get a bad battery or is something else going on?
>>
>> If the battery is marginal, you will get lights but not
>> enough juice to
>> energise the starter, hence the clicking. My guess is a
>> dead battery.
> Easy
>> fix, but I'd want to know what had killed it in such a
>> short time. A
> check
>> at an auto-electrician wouldn't cost much.
>
>
> Could also be a duff earth, allowing enough current to
> fire up the lights
> but won't take the massive 400 odd amps required for an
> engine start.
>
> TonyB
>


Yep, that was a problem with my sluggish 90. Sorted out the
earth leads by cleaning etc. and starting / charging was
back to normal service.

Regards

Richard

 

O

Oily

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #6

"Richard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "TonyB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> so eric was, like...
> >> > About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94
> >> > Disco and it
> >> > was working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump
> >> > start it. After
> >> > the jump it was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't
> >> > start again. Same
> >> > thing happened this afternoon when I tried to start it.
> >> > All the
> >> > connections on the battery seem to be ok and the lights
> >> > in the car
> >> > will come on but when I try to start it there's a
> >> > clicking noise. Did I
> >> > get a bad battery or is something else going on?
> >>
> >> If the battery is marginal, you will get lights but not
> >> enough juice to
> >> energise the starter, hence the clicking. My guess is a
> >> dead battery.
> > Easy
> >> fix, but I'd want to know what had killed it in such a
> >> short time. A
> > check
> >> at an auto-electrician wouldn't cost much.
> >
> >
> > Could also be a duff earth, allowing enough current to
> > fire up the lights
> > but won't take the massive 400 odd amps required for an
> > engine start.
> >
> > TonyB
> >
>
>
> Yep, that was a problem with my sluggish 90. Sorted out the
> earth leads by cleaning etc. and starting / charging was
> back to normal service.
>
> Regards
>
> Richard
>
>

Yes but try leaving the headlights on as you try to start it, if they don't
dim off appreciably as you try then the starter is not drawing any current,
possibly due to supply or earth connections or just a duff starter. If they
do dim then it could be any number of things, battery, battery connections
or starter still duff and taking too much current.

HTH Martin.

 

P

PDannyD

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #7

On Thursday 08 September 2005 02:16, eric([email protected]) wrote in message
<UhMTe.18928$sw6.2552@fed1read05>

> About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94 Disco and it was
> working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump start it. After the jump
> it
> was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't start again. Same thing happened
> this afternoon when I tried to start it. All the connections on the
> battery seem to be ok and the lights in the car will come on but when I
> try to start
> it there's a clicking noise. Did I get a bad battery or is something else
> going on?

Are the lights bright all the time, even when the solenoid is clicking? If
so then the starter is drawing very little, if any, current.

Could just be a dirty or loose connection or maybe a duff solenoid. If the
starter whizzes the engine round normally and just occasionally you only
get a click then my money's on it being a dead solenoid.

Hmm, that reminds me. I've got to buy a new solenoid for my SIII. Now then,
where's that web address for Beamends...

--
2001 FZS600 - Silver/Black
1974 SIII Land Rover - Hardtop 2.25 Petrol, Green
1954 Ford 100E Prefect - Black

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Sep 8, 2005

• #8

so PDannyD was, like...
>
> Hmm, that reminds me. I've got to buy a new solenoid for my SIII. Now
> then, where's that web address for Beamends...

http://www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk/

I know you knew it, but I thought I'd give the guy a plug. Had quite a few
odd bits from him recently, and service has been excellent.

No connection, ect ect.


--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)

 

H

hugh

Guest

• Sep 9, 2005

• #9

In message <[email protected]>, TonyB
<[email protected]> writes
>
>"Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> so eric was, like...
>> > About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94 Disco and it
>> > was working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump start it. After
>> > the jump it was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't start again. Same
>> > thing happened this afternoon when I tried to start it. All the
>> > connections on the battery seem to be ok and the lights in the car
>> > will come on but when I try to start it there's a clicking noise. Did I
>> > get a bad battery or is something else going on?
>>
>> If the battery is marginal, you will get lights but not enough juice to
>> energise the starter, hence the clicking. My guess is a dead battery.
>Easy
>> fix, but I'd want to know what had killed it in such a short time. A
>check
>> at an auto-electrician wouldn't cost much.
>
>
>Could also be a duff earth, allowing enough current to fire up the lights
>but won't take the massive 400 odd amps required for an engine start.
>
>TonyB
>
>
That would be my first guess too, especially as the OP had already
changed one battery.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

 

H

hugh

Guest

• Sep 9, 2005

• #10

In message <[email protected]>, Oily
<[email protected]> writes
>
>"Richard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "TonyB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> >
>> > "Richard Brookman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> > news:[email protected]...
>> >> so eric was, like...
>> >> > About three months ago I replaced the battery on my 94
>> >> > Disco and it
>> >> > was working fine until two weeks ago I had to jump
>> >> > start it. After
>> >> > the jump it was ok until yesterday when it wouldn't
>> >> > start again. Same
>> >> > thing happened this afternoon when I tried to start it.
>> >> > All the
>> >> > connections on the battery seem to be ok and the lights
>> >> > in the car
>> >> > will come on but when I try to start it there's a
>> >> > clicking noise. Did I
>> >> > get a bad battery or is something else going on?
>> >>
>> >> If the battery is marginal, you will get lights but not
>> >> enough juice to
>> >> energise the starter, hence the clicking. My guess is a
>> >> dead battery.
>> > Easy
>> >> fix, but I'd want to know what had killed it in such a
>> >> short time. A
>> > check
>> >> at an auto-electrician wouldn't cost much.
>> >
>> >
>> > Could also be a duff earth, allowing enough current to
>> > fire up the lights
>> > but won't take the massive 400 odd amps required for an
>> > engine start.
>> >
>> > TonyB
>> >
>>
>>
>> Yep, that was a problem with my sluggish 90. Sorted out the
>> earth leads by cleaning etc. and starting / charging was
>> back to normal service.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
>
>Yes but try leaving the headlights on as you try to start it, if they don't
>dim off appreciably as you try then the starter is not drawing any current,
>possibly due to supply or earth connections or just a duff starter. If they
>do dim then it could be any number of things, battery, battery connections
>or starter still duff and taking too much current.
>
>HTH Martin.
>
>
Problem I had with my 90 was the crimped connector on the earth lead.
Took a while to find, and only after having removed and checked the
starter. There was just the very slightest of movement when pulled hard.
Local auto electrician said it was quite a common problem and he always
soldered the terminals on.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

 

S

Samuel

Guest

• Sep 10, 2005

• #11

>
> Yes but try leaving the headlights on as you try to start it, if they
don't
> dim off appreciably as you try then the starter is not drawing any
current,
> possibly due to supply or earth connections or just a duff starter. If
they
> do dim then it could be any number of things, battery, battery connections
> or starter still duff and taking too much current.
>
>

my understanding is that the lights dim when you start because the ignition
barrel is wired up to do so, not because the voltae drops over the battery.
the barrel turns everything off except for ignition coil and started (and
efi stuff if present) to give the starter the best possible supply.

Sam.

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Sep 10, 2005

• #12

On or around Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:22:56 +1000, "Samuel"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>>
>> Yes but try leaving the headlights on as you try to start it, if they
>don't
>> dim off appreciably as you try then the starter is not drawing any
>current,
>> possibly due to supply or earth connections or just a duff starter. If
>they
>> do dim then it could be any number of things, battery, battery connections
>> or starter still duff and taking too much current.
>>
>>
>
>my understanding is that the lights dim when you start because the ignition
>barrel is wired up to do so, not because the voltae drops over the battery.
>the barrel turns everything off except for ignition coil and started (and
>efi stuff if present) to give the starter the best possible supply.

on some things, yes, the headlights are switched off. This is not the same
as the lights going dim. lights going dim applies to all the lights, as
well, so try the interior light, for example. If it almost goes out,
there's a shortage of volts in the electrical system, to quote the MZ user's
handbook.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"If you cannot mould yourself as you would wish, how can you expect
other people to be entirely to your liking?"
Thomas À Kempis (1380 - 1471) Imitation of Christ, I.xvi.