P38A Sick as a chip.

Getting car ready for advertising yesterday, full valet, half a tank of petrol, took it out for a drive, perfect. Went to start it up this afternoon to pick wife up......nothing! Flat as the proverbial witches tit. Battery totally drained and "engine immobilised message". This is the almost brand new platinum battery. I've got rid of immobilised message through using the key and got the battery on charge. The only thing I noticed when taking the battery off was that the positive terminal clamp was slightly loose. Also, and I can't see how it could make a difference, I put the battery cover back on after leaving it off since I fitted the new battery.
Demented driver needs all the help he get....

I had a similar issue. The positive terminal is just a tiny bit loose. I usually use a 1cm piece of copper wire wedged between the battery terminal and the connector to make it snug. I forgot to use it and had the same issue as you. Rr-charged the battery and fitted it with the copper wire and it’s been fine again since.

Salisbury Nick said:

I had a similar issue. The positive terminal is just a tiny bit loose. I usually use a 1cm piece of copper wire wedged between the battery terminal and the connector to make it snug. I forgot to use it and had the same issue as you. Rr-charged the battery and fitted it with the copper wire and it’s been fine again since.

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Thanks Nick, I'll do that asap. Fingers crossed that's problem sorted.

I find with the battery connections, they get done up tight and bend slightly.
Undo the bolt, stick a screwdriver in to the gap and twist to make the orifice bigger.
Put it back on the terminal and tap it down, you should see it goes down further than before, all being well, then you can tighten it properly

When you reconnect the battery ,,if theirs a big spark uv got something pulling power ..

dubbleRR said:

When you reconnect the battery ,,if theirs a big spark uv got something pulling power ..

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9 times out of 10 I'd get a big spark on the p38 Thor.. there was no abnormal drain, i put it down to things powering back up

kermit_rr said:

I find with the battery connections, they get done up tight and bend slightly.
Undo the bolt, stick a screwdriver in to the gap and twist to make the orifice bigger.
Put it back on the terminal and tap it down, you should see it goes down further than before, all being well, then you can tighten it properly

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Cheers Kermit. I did just that when I fitted the battery and it seemed to do up really tight. I don't know if it's managed to ride back up the post or what, but there was definitely movement when I disconnected it. Going down the wrap with copper wire route.

I just give loose un a slight squeeze with some grips and pound the bastards on to the terminals

While you're messing around, it's worth cleaning the inside of the clamp, it's likely black and not as conductive as it should be

kermit_rr said:

9 times out of 10 I'd get a big spark on the p38 Thor.. there was no abnormal drain, i put it down to things powering back up

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+1^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Battery charged overnight, started straight away. Took all the advice from this post, copper wire inserted in both clamps, clamps cleaned and fuse 12 removed. Thanks to all.

Sonnycbr said:

Thanks Nick, I'll do that asap. Fingers crossed that's problem sorted.

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I used an offcut of copper pipe on MrGorsky's. Cannot recall if I cut a slit down one side but it is lovely and tight now.

Henry_b said:

I just give loose un a slight squeeze with some grips and pound the bastards on to the terminals

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Amazing what you can fix with a brummie spanner and a Swedish nut lathe.

Grrrrrr said:

Swedish nut lathe.

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sounds painful

kermit_rr said:

sounds painful

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What mole-grips do to a nut is!

Grrrrrr said:

What mole-grips do to a nut is!

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You're thinking of pliers, when they spin off and bite you

kermit_rr said:

You're thinking of pliers, when they spin off and bite you

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Did that just before Christmas. Amazing how fast the blood-blister forms and how far it squirts when you prick it.

I

kermit_rr said:

I find with the battery connections, they get done up tight and bend slightly.
Undo the bolt, stick a screwdriver in to the gap and twist to make the orifice bigger.
Put it back on the terminal and tap it down, you should see it goes down further than before, all being well, then you can tighten it properly

Click to expand...

I've done that, worked a treat

Does anyone remember the terminals that were held on with a single self tapper?, useless, I always changed 'em to clamp
type, the Ford bolt on ones were pretty good though.

Grrrrrr said:

Amazing what you can fix with a brummie spanner and a Swedish nut lathe.

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Don't forget the Vaseline.
No, on the f.....g terminals