kwakman

Help!

I was sorting out the speedo cable, removed the dash and tried to start the car when all went dead. Put all connections back again and dashborad lights all ok but when key goes to start get the start solenoid clicking and everyhting oges dead and stays dead!

Heres hoping I havent caused any major mischief!

Any clues?

Thanks all

Andy S

spikester

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like you have dislodged something to me, or just unlucky that the starter motor has failed. Have you tried bump starting it, if it starts and runs, your starter motor is U.S.

albob

when mine did this it was just a bad connection on the battery!?

alan

submannz

Yes I would agree with bad connection somewhere, say an earthing strap fallen off or lost contact.

kwakman

Ive just had a friend look at it and hes diagnosed dead battery. Im used to batteries dying slowly as it was fine until yesterday but the evidence is there!

Its ok initially, will drive the lights, stereo etc, but ask it to deliver the 300 odd amps to drive the starter and the voltage across the posts dies off to 8v and stays there for a while even after the keys are out and two of the cells start to smoke. Im just going to head off put a booster battery across the terminals to confirm and order up a new battery.

Fingers crossed its that simple. I guess if the battery was discharging like that and was still man enough for the job something would have melted or caught fire, neither of which happened.

Anyone know the battery spec?

Cheers

kwakman

Just put in the new battery and its fine again. Never seen that failure mode for a battery before.

The battery code I used is 065 as opposed to the book which said 005. Cost me 30 quid!

Hoorah!