#1: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:24 am ---- 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?
#2: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: CD-B3, Location: Salisbury / New ForestPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:28 am ---- Battery.
#3: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: leigh_boy, Location: EastbournePosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:42 am ---- yup battery
#4: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:43 am ---- 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?
#5: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: NathanG, Location: Ebbw Vagas (Wales)Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:23 am ---- 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.
#6: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:38 am ---- 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!
#7: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: iainlovatt, Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:56 am ---- when you put the keys into the ignition and turn do the needles jump a little?
#8: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:05 am ---- I don't think so but I've not noticed to be honest
#9: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:42 am ---- Iain - needles are jumping when I go to start. Little kick
#10: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: kandlbarrett, Location: SwindonPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:07 pm ---- 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.
#11: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:33 am ---- 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
#12: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: MrBSI, Location: What's it to you? ? ?Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:35 am ----
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 )
#13: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:17 am ---- 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).
#14: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:27 pm ---- 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...
#15: Re: Trouble starting on these cold mornings Author: Taff!, Location: Havant nr PortsmouthPosted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:30 pm ---- 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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