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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:24 am |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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Having some starting problems first thing on these cold mornings. Starts perfectly during the day or if it's in positive figures. Car just isn't catching but will do eventually - so I'm thinking spark plugs. Plugs changed 16000 miles ago but don't know what brand. Was going to just change the plugs as I'm presuming perhaps a faulty one although surely there would be constant starting issues regardless of temperature. Engine isn't turning over that slowly so don't think it's the battery. Funny thing this morning was that it really didn't want to start [-6] and just before it did the door locks all went! Don't think it's the fuel pump therwise it would happen all the time again.
Any thoughts?
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:28 am |
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Joined: Feb 08, 2010 Posts: 6055
Trade Rating: +53
Location: Salisbury / New Forest
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Battery.
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:42 am |
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Joined: Apr 15, 2010 Posts: 514
Trade Rating: +1
Location: Eastbourne
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yup battery
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| *DEAD*206 Gti 138
Toyota Celica T sport 205 BHP | |
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:43 am |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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Will go and get it tested later then. Out of interest what makes you say that? Is it the door locks/electrics going a bit screwy?
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:23 am |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010 Posts: 314
Trade Rating: +1
Location: Ebbw Vagas (Wales)
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My HDI was the same, took a while to crank, inbetween the cranking the doors lock and all sorts of weird electrical things. It was either the started cranking too slow or battery. Replaced the battery as it was cheaper and I had a sneaky feeling it was as i tried a jump start to see if it was a power issuse and vrooom, she roared into life.
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:38 am |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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Cheers lads, that'll do, will just go and get another. It's done 40k/3.5 years with me so might well be the culprit and worth doing. Just glad it's a lot cheaper than my old diesel battery!
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:56 am |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2010 Posts: 3935
Trade Rating: +84
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when you put the keys into the ignition and turn do the needles jump a little?
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:05 am |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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I don't think so but I've not noticed to be honest
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:42 am |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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Iain - needles are jumping when I go to start. Little kick
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Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:07 pm |
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Joined: Aug 04, 2011 Posts: 1343
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Swindon
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If you do mainly very short journeys with lights, rear heater on etc. then the battery isn't recharged adequately and gradually goes flat. Add the natural voltage drop caused by colder temperatures together with the engine being harder to crank due to thicker oil and it will struggle to start.
It is probably a sign that the battery is beginning to fail but you may be able to get another year or more just by recharging it.
My son's Corsa would slowly loose charge over a few weeks in winter but be fine in the summer.
If you have a trickle charger put it on charge overnight on the lowest setting as that may be enough to be a long term cure. If the charger does not have a "trickle" or low current setting then don't charge it for more than 4 or 5 hours as you can damage the battery making it worse rather than better.
If you have a mate with a motorbike you may find they have an "intelligent" low current charger that you could leave on for 24 hours or more without any worry at all.
There are lots of other tests you can do with your battery, including checking the electrolyte level and specific gravity but a lot of batteries are now sealed preventing this so if you can get your hands an "intelligent" charger then that is your best bet.
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| Morris 1000, Austin 1100, Escort Mk2, Fiat Mirafiori, Alfa 33, Alfa GT Junior, Alfasud, Alfetta GTV (2x), Alfa 164 3.0 V6, Alfa 164 2.0, Alfa 75 V6, Alfa 156 2.4 (diesel remapped 200bhp), Alfa 147 GTA (3.6 295bhp), Alfa 159 (diesel remapped 245bhp 300ft.lbs @ 2500rpm)
Why isn't my daughter an Alfaholic? | |
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:33 am |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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I do about 20miles a day on average but have had problems starting the day after I had done 90m. Got a new battery from euro for £35 notes with 3yr guarantee. Will see how it fares tomorrow morning but hopefully it's all sorted now
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:35 am |
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Joined: Nov 27, 2010 Posts: 11520
Trade Rating: +10
Location: What's it to you? ? ?
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Taff! wrote: |
Got a new battery from euro for £35 notes with 3yr guarantee. Will see how it fares tomorrow morning but hopefully it's all sorted now |
£35 for a battery, its going to be s**te
FYI: Varta everytime for batteries OR a Bosch ( just a rebadged Varta )
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| Toyota C-HR GR Sport 2.0 Hybrid with JBL & Alcantara packs. | |
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Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:17 am |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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Found cheap batteries to be just as reliable as the expensive Bosch ones. Never had problems with budgets. Hopefully this will be no different (touch wood).
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:27 pm |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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Still got issues. Battery levels are fine but got issues still in the morning or if it's been sat for a while. Neighbour whose an ex mechanic has said its likely the cold start sensor. Looking through the Haynes is this the intake air temp sensor? If so is it replaceable on a 1.6 16v? Haynes says sOme aren't replaceable. Can't find a how to yet...
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:30 pm |
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Joined: Feb 16, 2010 Posts: 360
Trade Rating: 0
Location: Havant nr Portsmouth
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Still got issues. Battery levels are fine but got issues still in the morning or if it's been sat for a while. Neighbour whose an ex mechanic has said its likely the cold start sensor. Looking through the Haynes is this the intake air temp sensor? If so is it replaceable on a 1.6 16v? Haynes says sOme aren't replaceable. Can't find a how to yet...
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