cabrio zo

Towed by the Escort must've been the second time its seen daylight this year

Not sure if

1) dodgy starter motor
2) dodgy wiring
3) dead cell in battery

Would the battery still show 12v if had a dead cell?
Jumped started it off the Rover, so whether the starter is dodgy and pulling too much power, or a wiring problem so using the jump leads for earth? Or just knackered another battery where its never used (someone said alternators can drain the battery?)

I took it round the block after J, it actually felt good to be back behind the wheel of it, still runs sweet as a nut, hard to think its 16 years old, boosts better than my old classic WRX, be nice to get it 'reliable' again and actually use it

Z

Rab

RWD_cossie_wil

iTrader: (9)

Leaving a car standing kills battries, give it a good run and it should charge it up. Does the battery warning light come on with the engine off but the ignition on? same as the oil light, should be on with the ignition on but go off as soon as you start the engine. Remember that a flat battery will NOT charge off the alternator as the alternator needs a +12V signal across it to create the field for generation, so a flat battery will not give enough to make it work.

Other thing to try is to get a multimeter, stick it in DC volts mode, then put it across the battery . Should see 10-12volts with the engine off. Start it up, then give it a rev to 3500-4000rpm, should see between 13-15 volts at the battery to prove the alternator is charging it .

cabrio zo

Ok 'reliable' was a slip of the tongue

Tell us about, sure buy a new one every year, have to invest in a trickle charger. Just put a new battery on it couple of weeks ago, the old battery was showing 10-12v and alternator definitely charging when the things running sure there must be more to it than a simple drain, I mean just how quick could it drain a battery?

Just got to source the cause of the boosting problem now, stick a post in the cosworth section me thinks

Z

DazC

iTrader: (1)

A battery with a dead cell can still show 12 volts. You need to check the specific gravity with a hydrometer (each cell should read around 12.5 or 1250 or in the green if it's colour coded) and load test it and see if you get a cell gassing.