Wont start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

chunkytrucker · 1st October 2008, 19:10

The other night our 75 decided not to start, the central locking sounded a bit sluggish and then the car wouldnt start,ignition lights on but wouldnt turn over.i thought that maybe the kids had left a light on or something , anyway i jump started the car and put the battery on charge for 5 hrs even though the battery had a greenlight displayed to indicate that it was okay.next morning it started fine for my wife to go to work and at teatime when she wanted to come home the same thing happened again,car wouldnt start and needed jump starting. any ideas what could be the problem? i wait for morning to see if she will start!!

GreyGhost · 1st October 2008, 19:13

New battery required I should think. Our cars need a battery in tip top condition.

billnick · 1st October 2008, 19:15

have you got hi-line sat nav, if you have, check that its shutting down correctly (red light goes out on unit)

regards bill.

capese21 · 1st October 2008, 19:15

I would say you need a new battery but have the output of the alternator checked to. If you have a volt meter with the engine running it shouild read around 13.5 volts.

Good Luck.

E.

stocktake · 1st October 2008, 19:16

Sounds like the battery is ready to give up or you have a drain on it.

Do you have sat nav in the boot? these have been known to stay on and drain the battery?

chunkytrucker · 1st October 2008, 20:26

thanks for the advice. i've just gone in the boot and checked the sat nav unit(on the right behind trim panel) it wasnt on but as soon as the car is unlocked the light comes on. then the light goes out when the car is locked. does this all sound normal? am i also to believe that the green light on the battery to indicate that all is well doesnt in fact mean that?

stocktake · 1st October 2008, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunkytrucker

thanks for the advice. i've just gone in the boot and checked the sat nav unit(on the right behind trim panel) it wasnt on but as soon as the car is unlocked the light comes on. then the light goes out when the car is locked. does this all sound normal? am i also to believe that the green light on the battery to indicate that all is well doesnt in fact mean that?

Sounds normal, sat nav usually shuts down a short while after car is locked etc. If the light stayed on then that would probably be your problem. Looks like the battery but as said by others check across battery terminals with a multimeter when engine running.

I once had a battery totaly flat but it still showed a green light !!

Departed · 2nd October 2008, 12:07

The 'green light' (actually a green ball that floats) tells you that the acid concentration in that cell is OK, and is a good indicator of charge on a normal battery. However if one cell is duff the other cells might read alright, but the battery is still stuffed and the green ball is only sat in one cell.

Batteries can fail in a number of ways, including loss of electrolyte in one cell, sulphation of the plates, warping of the plates (rare) shorting of the plates. All of these have different symptoms, but need a new battery.

Only real way to tell is check the voltage. Check it with the engine running. Should be at least 13v. If the battery is well charged it will be over 12v. Close to 12v is low, less than 12v is flat to all intents and purposes.

Jules · 2nd October 2008, 12:40

If it's the original Battery
ie Black with Rover part numbers on! It will almost certainly be time expired on a 2005 model.

I was changing Batts on 04 plates the year before last, and last year on 54 plates.
This year 05 plate regs are dying ............and so on.

Average life is 3 years as a very rough rule, but some fail sooner, some go on a lot longer, depending on usage.

BTW Chunky, your Avatar doesn't tell us if your car is Petrol or Diesel

Vulcan69 · 2nd October 2008, 12:42

I'm suffering from battery woes as well. Been abroad for a while and it looks like my tourers battery gave up the ghost whilst i was away. My good lady wife was starting it regularly up until about 2 months ago and then suddenly nothing! I've tried recharging but it just doesn't seem willing to hold a charge anymore. Any recomendations (whether by cost or performance) for a suitable battery for a 2.5?? I don't mean to hijack your thread Chunky!!!

1st October 2008, 19:10	#1
chunkytrucker Regular poster 2005 tourer contemporary se 1.8t Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: oswsetry,shropshire Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wont start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The other night our 75 decided not to start, the central locking sounded a bit sluggish and then the car wouldnt start,ignition lights on but wouldnt turn over.i thought that maybe the kids had left a light on or something , anyway i jump started the car and put the battery on charge for 5 hrs even though the battery had a greenlight displayed to indicate that it was okay.next morning it started fine for my wife to go to work and at teatime when she wanted to come home the same thing happened again,car wouldnt start and needed jump starting. any ideas what could be the problem? i wait for morning to see if she will start!!

1st October 2008, 19:16	#5
stocktake Vis Whiz Rover 75 2.5 auto Saloon Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: LEEDS Posts: 20,594 Thanks: 2,057 Thanked 3,056 Times in 1,621 Posts	Sounds like the battery is ready to give up or you have a drain on it. Do you have sat nav in the boot? these have been known to stay on and drain the battery? __________________ Dave... Lost a few stones and a Gall Bladder and part of a bile duct and all of my dignity in the suppository incident

2nd October 2008, 12:40	#9
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	If it's the original Battery ie Black with Rover part numbers on! It will almost certainly be time expired on a 2005 model. I was changing Batts on 04 plates the year before last, and last year on 54 plates. This year 05 plate regs are dying ............and so on. Average life is 3 years as a very rough rule, but some fail sooner, some go on a lot longer, depending on usage. BTW Chunky, your Avatar doesn't tell us if your car is Petrol or Diesel __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block Last edited by Jules; 2nd October 2008 at 12:42..

1st October 2008, 19:13	#2
GreyGhost Banned 180+ Sport Auto Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bedford Middle Level Posts: 17,787 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 5 Posts	New battery required I should think. Our cars need a battery in tip top condition.

1st October 2008, 19:15	#3
billnick Loves to post ex 75 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Abergele Posts: 445 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	have you got hi-line sat nav, if you have, check that its shutting down correctly (red light goes out on unit) regards bill.

1st October 2008, 19:15	#4
capese21 This is my second home MG ZTT 180 Sports Auto. Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: London Posts: 3,930 Thanks: 18 Thanked 180 Times in 143 Posts	I would say you need a new battery but have the output of the alternator checked to. If you have a volt meter with the engine running it shouild read around 13.5 volts. Good Luck. E.

1st October 2008, 20:26	#6
chunkytrucker Regular poster 2005 tourer contemporary se 1.8t Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: oswsetry,shropshire Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	thanks for the advice. i've just gone in the boot and checked the sat nav unit(on the right behind trim panel) it wasnt on but as soon as the car is unlocked the light comes on. then the light goes out when the car is locked. does this all sound normal? am i also to believe that the green light on the battery to indicate that all is well doesnt in fact mean that?

2nd October 2008, 12:07	#8
Departed Retired -- Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: -- Posts: 3,785 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	The 'green light' (actually a green ball that floats) tells you that the acid concentration in that cell is OK, and is a good indicator of charge on a normal battery. However if one cell is duff the other cells might read alright, but the battery is still stuffed and the green ball is only sat in one cell. Batteries can fail in a number of ways, including loss of electrolyte in one cell, sulphation of the plates, warping of the plates (rare) shorting of the plates. All of these have different symptoms, but need a new battery. Only real way to tell is check the voltage. Check it with the engine running. Should be at least 13v. If the battery is well charged it will be over 12v. Close to 12v is low, less than 12v is flat to all intents and purposes.

2nd October 2008, 12:42	#10
Vulcan69 Regular poster Rover 75 Tourer 2.5 SE Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The frozen North Posts: 77 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm suffering from battery woes as well. Been abroad for a while and it looks like my tourers battery gave up the ghost whilst i was away. My good lady wife was starting it regularly up until about 2 months ago and then suddenly nothing! I've tried recharging but it just doesn't seem willing to hold a charge anymore. Any recomendations (whether by cost or performance) for a suitable battery for a 2.5?? I don't mean to hijack your thread Chunky!!!