starting troubles, mk2 escort please help someone :(

[tom28]

hi all,

 

recently been having trouble with me mk2, battery light stays on dimly, she dont start in the morning or anytime at all, brought new alternator, same problems, tried new battery and still same problem and just brought a solonoid today and she still dead!! starts fine with jump leads and drives fine and even once its warmed up it will start fine but the battery light still stays on its so frustrating, im using it everyday for work and its a real headache!!

 

any help would be grand

[cjay2004]

try cleaning the engine earths , the arm that earths the alternator etc, myn did somthing the same as & that cured myn???

worth a try and its free

[banarama]

HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT THE WIRES THAT GO INTO THE BLACK PLUG. TAKE THE TOP BIT OFF ,AND CHECK THE WIRES ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SPADE TERMINAL.I HAD SAME PROBLEM LIGHT FLIKERING ON DIMLY .NOW FIXED AS IT WAS THE WIRE FLAPPING ABOUT IN THE SPADE TERMINAL

[tom28]

will do mate thanks, ill post back as soon as possible, to dark and no battries for the torch, pain in the arse!

[bullittcraig]

as bananarama said. sounds like a poor connection on the alternator charge wire at the back of the alternator or the other end which is behind the dash clocks.

[tom28]

now thats a good point too, i took clocks out 2 weeks ago and when i put them back in this started happening, hmm.. what part of the clocks is this? ive got rs clocks, thanks people

[tom28]

just checked the plug people, none are touching connection is good, whereabouts is it on the clocks?

[over_head_cam]

Can't remember what colour the wire is but it's on one of the multi-plugs. Just trace back from the battery light

[bullittcraig]

The charge wire from the alternator should be a blue wire on the 9 pin plug at the back of the clocks.

[tom28]

sorry to drag up an old post, but im still having this problem with me escort, ive tried everything that people have listed my mates a mechanic, i said id give him a tenner if he could solve it and low and behold he failed im all outa idea's now the bastard just dont start after an hour or so im losing hope for the new year lol

[Tom]

Doesn't start or doesn't turn over? Could be the starter, did your mate check all of the earth point are in good condition?

[RS2kSX]

get rid of it... swap it for my estate

[tom28]

new starter motor, check plug to the starter, battery has charge but drains very quickly, earths are good, car starts fine with jump leads, havent fitted new starter but im sure its not that.

 

and darren theres no chace id swap for vauxhall

[tom28]

and tom, cars dead..

[72mk1escort]

If you want my opinion mate you should head for the battery if its draining fast and only does it if left for an hour or so.

 

The only other thing it could be is something on the car is draining the power.

 

Get yourself a multimeter under a tenner from halfords get the car running at around 900rpm ticking over the charge should be around 13.5-14.5V if its less than this then the alternator or wiring could be faulty if voltage all ok let it run for a good 20mins and then turn off.

 

and then keep an eye on the voltage on the multimeter and see how quick it drops if it drops off quick its the battery the other thing you can do to check if something on the car is draining the power is to take the positive terminal off and tap it on the connection on the battery if theres a large spark then you have something draining it but make sure you do this test with everything on the car off.

 

Hope this helps you let me know how you get on if you want any advice drop me a PM

[tom28]

thanks mate, ill reply before lunch tomorrow

[RS2kSX]

yeh tom the multi meter thing's the other bit you borrowed

[72mk1escort]

yeh tom the multi meter thing's the other bit you borrowed

 

 

no need to buy one now then mate

[RS2kSX]

dodgy solenoid...

[JP.]

check for power leak setting the multimeter on 10Amps.

Disconect earth cable and place multimeter ( on Amps ) between battery earth and chassis. Readings should be about 0.1 amps ( clock or radio memory drain).

 

check this with the ignitionkey off and on ( II).

 

If the readings are way more then 0.1Amps you have a power leak in the system wich causes your battery to die every time.

By getting the fuses out one by one you can find the faulty circuit ( while keeping your eyes on the multimeter ).

 

With the engine running you should see about 14.4 Volts between te battery terminals with your new alternator. With lights, heater and so swithed on you should still see about 12.8 Volts on the multimeter.

[tom28]

ive fitted a new solonoid darren

[Col-ashtonmobile]

you say it wont start after an hour or so ?

 

ok easy test is get it up and running , switch off , disconnect battery and leave car for an hour , reconnect battery if it starts then something is deffo draining it if it dont then sounds like a battery fault

[72mk1escort]

you say it wont start after an hour or so ?

 

ok easy test is get it up and running , switch off , disconnect battery and leave car for an hour , reconnect battery if it starts then something is deffo draining it if it dont then sounds like a battery fault

 

[tom28]

hi all, mk2 is back on the road was the battery all along, i never brought a new one me mate took one of his car that i didnt know had been sitting for some time so i just went out and brought a new battery and all has been fine past 3 days,

 

one thing i am a little worried about is that the battery light still flickers when im driving the car on when its idle'ing the light only comes on when i feather the throttle, other than that all is good but it still bothers me somewhat..

[JP.]

As sayed before.......

 

HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT THE WIRES THAT GO INTO THE BLACK PLUG. TAKE THE TOP BIT OFF ,AND CHECK THE WIRES ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SPADE TERMINAL.I HAD SAME PROBLEM LIGHT FLIKERING ON DIMLY .NOW FIXED AS IT WAS THE WIRE FLAPPING ABOUT IN THE SPADE TERMINAL

 

Some Old Skool Ford have issues with flickering lights. One of my 7 osf's has the same issue. If your battery is charging while your light flickers then there's nothing to worry about ( which you can test with a multimeter ).