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14th March 2017, 19:11 | #1 |
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Flat battery
About a month ago my wife moved the driver's seat (electric memory) ready to go shopping, got in the car, but it wouldn't start - flat battery. She hasn't driven the car since, so the driver's seat hasn't been moved. This afternoon I moved seat in order to vacuum the footwell (doesn't happen very often), got in the car this evening to visit friends - flat battery...
The battery was in the car when I bought it nearly three years ago, but, apart from these two occasions, has never given any trouble. I am wondering which is more likely; that the battery is coming to the end of its life; that, somehow, moving the driver's seat is causing a rapid drain on the battery; or neither of the above? I've just though of another possibility; I've been having trouble lately with the windows not working properly - perhaps its something to do with them? Any suggestions gratefully received. Last edited by Mike24; 14th March 2017 at 19:14.. |
15th March 2017, 07:57 | #2 |
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Pop a multimeter across the battery terminals, and check the voltage a good battery will have around 12.6 volts, then with the engine running it should show around 14.2 volts.
That way you can eliminate the battery & alternator, obviously you need to get it started first, a set of jump leads or on a battery charge overnight with the battery off the car would be a decent starting point. I'm sure that the ECM won't allow starting below 11.9 volts
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15th March 2017, 09:19 | #3 |
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I've charged the battery over night and put it back on, so the car starts fine at the moment. I am on holiday at the moment (just happened to have a battery charger in the boot!) and will try to buy a multimeter today to test voltages.
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21st March 2017, 11:26 | #4 |
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Having bought a digital multimeter and waited for some fine weather, I've just been out to test the battery voltage; initially it was reading 12.45V with the engine off - 14.65V with the engine running. I turned the engine off after a couple of minutes and re-tested the voltage; it had gone up to 12.65V. The battery has one of those little round windows that are supposed to go green if the battery is OK. The window isn't green, more black - am I right in thinking that the battery is borderline?
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21st March 2017, 11:32 | #5 | |
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Quote:
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21st March 2017, 11:35 | #6 |
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Thanks for the quick reply; I've had my suspicions about the driver's seat - twice now I've been unable to start the car after moving the seat. Was the problem with yours that the fuse had blown, or was there a bad connection or something?
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21st March 2017, 13:00 | #7 | |
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That's a trifle high Mike.
Quote:
Watch your alternator output too. I'd feel happier if it was around the 14 volt mark. Simon
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