starting problems - help!!

[Guest]

I'm having starting problems, which seem to be battery related:

All dash warning lights work, and battery charges well from an external trickle charger. When running though, the battery is not re-charging, which means that any use of lights/heater/radio etc very quickly drains the battery. The alternator was recently rebuilt.

The battery was also replaced, but my garage 'had one knocking around', so whilst it looks new, I'm uncertain of its history.

Is this just a knackered battery? From fully charged to too little to turn the motor takes very little (wind the windows up and down a few times and leave the door open to 20 mins!).

I can't see that there are any drains on the battery from stereo, alarm etc.

I'm sure this is a really stupid question, but having just dished for alternator, I don't really want to buy another battery unnecessarily.

Thank you!

 

[bones]

Adam remove the battery and take it somewhere that will test it and give you an honest result it shouldn't flatten from the door being left open or the windows cranked up and down a few times. Mine could do those things all day long.

 

[Beaky]

I had a battery die on be suddenly, I recharged it over night, It started the car in the morning , after a short run to the shops, was dead as a door nail, so I agree with Pete, wip it out and get it checked, my guess is it knackered, new one is around £50 -75 depending on where you shop

 

[Jacob]

I had my car die on me about 2 years ago. It turned out to be the alternator which was subsequently rebuild. A few 100 miles later it had to go back to have it rebuilt again (at no charge).

Get the battery checked first, if it holds its charge then get the alternator tested again.

Small but very annoying problem!

 

[75pno]

Get a new battery! I had a similar problem last year, got stuck in sainburys after filling with petrol and had to push car out of the garage on my own ! ( well does anybody help a porsche ? ) it could be a dead cell that will drain the battery.
Paul
75 pno

 

[Guest]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

I reckon I'll go for a new battery and keep everything crossed.

Adam.

 

[ClubSport 911]

I have a perfect working order, 2.5yr old battery from my CS. Happy to let you have it . Please e-mail me off line if you are interested.

Rgds

STEVE

 

[Guest]

Steve,

What can I say - very kind offer. I popped over to Halfords Sunday, where there is also an AA outlet. I thought their multi-meters were bound to be pretty good and asked for a favour before lashing out £70. Decent bloke tested the battery (which was fine), but charge under load at terminals was only about 11.6 volts. He was hoping for 13/14 volts. Interestingly though, testing the engine bay fuse board showed around 13.6 volts.

He therefore thought that any problem would be likely to lie in the wiring between alternantor and battery, possibly caused when the alternator blew.

I'm on holiday next week, and have arranged for an auto electrician to try and sort it.

Once again, huge thank you for your offer.

Adam.