Got a S1. Battery went flat due to alternator problem which is now sorted. Battery shows 11.8v now but when i try to start the car it turns a couple of times then the battery dies and the starter motor starts to click. I put the jump leads on to my van and she fires up on the button as she always does. I presume it is the battery but why when it has nearly 12v will it not start the car ? cheeRS in advance

 

needs more than that to start up! get the battery fully charged and check what the alternator charges it then

 

you want around 12.2 to 12.5 v for starting, then when the engines running about 14.4 v i had upto 14.8 v

 

Its the cranking amps thats killing it not the volts

 

Dry, bad luck mate

Automotive batteries weren't designed to be flattened, your car being as original as it is, i expect its got a fairly aged battery on there, quite often flattening an older battery is enough to kill it

If you have to buy a new one spend a good few quid on a good branded one, ive had nothing but bad experiences with cheap unbranded batteries and refuse to buy them now, calcium batteries seem to last very well

And did you fix the alternator or buy a new one?

 

Alternator fixed mate. Loose connection and a tad loose that's all. Battery only been on about 9 months although it rarely gets a good run out and is sat in the garage with the alarms and immobiliser on so it was probably on it's way out. Was only a small one so putting a large 4 year one on now, my mate gets them at cost
cheeRS for your help

 

Try and get a calcium one if you can they are much better