at the end of my teather

[antz]

NOW IM MAD!!!!

 

the escort has been playing me up constantly for the last 2 months!

 

first it was petrol freezing in the carb but some car mats on my grill solved that.

 

then it stopped starting due to a constant flat battery so i got a new one from G.S.ESCORTS last week. fitted it and it ranf ine....FOR 2 DAYS!

 

now its back to been flat all the time but the problem is i have to go to coventry on wednesday (155mile each way) and if my car wont start then im fooked!

 

im so fed up of this car...i am seriously thinking of selling the stupid thing and buying some shit plastic car. least itll be more reliable

 

 

anyone got any suggestions to my problem?

 

the battery is been charged fine when its running as well

[Posse]

shite starter motor i had the same prob on my van .

 

or timing .

[antz]

well i just wondered because its draining the battery

 

new starter motor is on the list then....more money

[Retromotorsport]

Loosen the neg lead on the battery .... with the ignition turned off , take the lead off and touch it back on the terminal ...if theres a spark you have a short .. something is consuming power from the battery while the cars switched off

 

you say you know its charging when running ..How?

 

put a meter on the battery , you should have above 12.5v

start the car and whats the reading at idle ?

rev to 1000/1500 rpm and whats the reading ?

turn on all electrics that can cept the indicators , whats the reading?

 

Most common short is a light staying on..has someone fitted a light in the boot with a switch on the boot somewhere so it comes on when you open it ... also check out the interior light.. if you park up in the day you may not notice it staying one... next most common is an aftermarket alarm .. then you also have the possibility of the alternator back feeding when switched off, this will drain a fully charge battery in minutes

 

 

Starters ... a flat battery is indicated by a series of " clicks " when cranking .. the solinoids going in and out

 

A single click and its the starter

 

a slow turning starter and then a series of clicks ..its battery

 

a slow starter ... could be starter or earth lead, or main power leads, normally the earth though, take a jump lead from the engine to the neg terminal on the battery and then crank again, if the starter is faster turning then its an earth problem.

 

If its still slow ..then its probably the starter..

 

if the starter just " whizzes" but donst turn the engine the pinion has gone

[antz]

ive had the battery checked twice this week by two differnt garages for tis charge and both say its completely fine.

 

it has no boot light or anything. it has no aftermarket alarm except an immobiliser which was put on before i bought the car and it was fine throughout summer.

 

thanks retro ill try all that youve said!

[Retromotorsport]

when the cars running and put the meter on you should have between 13 and 14 volts ...13 idle and 14 when reving

 

And to check a battery the garage must use a "Drop Tester" ... its a box with 2 screwdriver type things that are pushed onto the battery terminals.

 

Thats the only true test as meter just measures the surface charge

[omj624p]

Check all the electrical connections to the starter motor are clean.

Make sure the engine earth is ok, clean all the connections.

 

What you describe is exactly how my RS was, the battery was checked and was 'fine' but it didnt start and seemed exactly like it was flat.

 

Turned out to be a combination of dodgy earth and bad contacts at the starter motor.

 

Fixed it all at no cost other than some time to clean it all.

[Ratters]

 

put a meter on the battery , you should have above 12.5v

start the car and whats the reading at idle ?

rev to 1000/1500 rpm and whats the reading ?

turn on all electrics that can cept the indicators , whats the reading?

 

 

Good advice Gary.

 

Check the voltage reading while holding the engine cranking over too

[antz]

its got perfect charge. exactly as you describe because it was checked only yesterday.

 

went out this mornign and its flat as a pancake.

 

omj624p i will go try that now. give it all a good clean and hope it works...fingers crossed

[Ratters]

What, it's completely flat?? Won't even turn over??

[e501]

as an old git who remembers when these were everyday cars bonnets raised down the street early morning was a fact of life.

[Rick]

dont give up mate

 

i believe this is what its all about

once youve finally sorted all your problems itl b great ykt

 

if u really do give up. il swap you my corsa for it

 

...

...

...

[antz]

battery was flat....BUT.....i think my starter motor has decide to give up as well...

 

perfect timing

 

 

ive got a spare battery anyway so im gonna keep them both charged and see what happens.

 

just gotta order a enw start now.

[Twinkle]

get the battery drop tested m8 even though its new its not un heard of for them to be fooked, was once told by a battery supplier if they are gonna fail it will be in the first couple o months of use

[antz]

battery is only 1 1/2 years old!

 

just put a new one but i dont like the sounds the start is making so ill be ordering a new of them as soon as i can get in touch with someone.

 

i will get the battery checked. its in my dads garage charging at the mo

 

OH AND...

 

my nice shiny alloy wheels have got all pitted in the salty weather so need another refurb do i refurb the wheels or just be lazy and buy some minilites

[Twinkle]

hope you get it sorted m8 dont get disheartened with it these things are there to test us

[Gareth]

Antz m8,

Get the 4 spokes lacquered

[antz]

ive heard they look crap when laquered.

 

or maybe i might just buy some mexico steels....go for a complete sleerp look

 

slammed on its arse, mex steels and standard looking

 

 

if i can ever get the fooking thing to run right.

 

thanks everyone for the encouragement!

[atomic punk]

Don't give up mate....

 

The cortina kept draining the battery I found out troday that the interior light was going on and off of its own accord, which was draining the battery enough to stop it starting.. managed to drive it 5 miles before a rear wheel cylinder went so it will be brakes apart yet again

 

The best investment at this time of year is a can of WD40 wang it on battery terminals, starter connections and the HT leads keeps the damp off a treat

[Posse]

Right mate what you need to do is get a clamp meter! This measures the amount of current being drawn through the cable!

 

It maybe that you have a short somewhere in your loom, put the clamp meter round the battery live cable just after the battery terminal, with the car turned off it should draw less than 0.1 of an amp maybe a bit more if you have a clock or alarm!

 

If its more than that it'l show that you have a dead short which will be the cause of your battery dieing!

 

 

A simple option is to fit a cut off switch or disconnect the battery everytime you leave the car! A pain i know but at least you know its gonna start everytime youi get back in it

 

Hope this helps mate! Stick with it and dont turn the the dark side of plastic fantastic!

[escort21]

Know how you feel mate....washed and polished the 'tina today and then it wouldn't start ......soon sorted it though, I find fixing cars fun so its all good

[antz]

ive put a brand new battery on today and ill go try it tommorow and see if its flat.

 

 

if it is then somethign is wrong.

 

i definately know my starter motor is shagged so ill be ordering a enw one of them ASAP.

 

ill just disconnect teh gattery everytime for now

[BIGKEV]

ANTZ!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARK ON A HILL!!

[antz]

thats my next idea!

 

shame my car is parked at the bottom of a banked driveway.right bugger to push it up

[emu]

 

A simple option is to fit a cut off switch or disconnect the battery everytime you leave the car! A pain i know but at least you know its gonna start everytime youi get back in it

 

quote]

 

Get a cut-off with a removable doo-dah and itll help slow theiving little pikeys down too.