Zed won’t start. Been stood for about 3 weeks.
Battery powers all electrics ok though
Battery ?? Or worse ?
- Thread starter Jonnysnapzzz
- Start date
Zed won’t start. Been stood for about 3 weeks.
Battery powers all electrics ok though
New battery required
If all electrics ok try rocking car in gear in case starter motor stuck , if not charge battery
When I leave my car standing for any length of time I use a trickle charger to keep battery topped up
When I leave my car standing for any length of time I use a trickle charger to keep battery topped up
Battery flat so will charge up, but maybe on it's way out.
Check nothing is on like boot light or interior light but they would probably have drained the battery fully.
Check nothing is on like boot light or interior light but they would probably have drained the battery fully.
Best to purchase a trickle charger if you are leaving the car for a few weeks, for example Ctek do lots at various prices.
Problem is that the garage is not close to home so has no power
Battery looks like it’s ok, the heavy clock worries me as it doesn’t appear to be even trying to turn the starter motor.
If that was down to the battery I’d expect nothing to power up.
As dash lights are fine, locks work
Fine, radio works
Battery looks like it’s ok, the heavy clock worries me as it doesn’t appear to be even trying to turn the starter motor.
If that was down to the battery I’d expect nothing to power up.
As dash lights are fine, locks work
Fine, radio works
Your accessories will work from a relatively flat battery. If you have another car, try jump starting it. As Brian said, it may charge ok, but infrequent use and cold weather will soon drain it.
Have you thought about getting one of those booster starters?
Have you thought about getting one of those booster starters?
jaguartvr
Zorg Guru (I)
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If you don't have access to power for a charger, invest in a battery pack with jump start leads. Worth there weight in gold.
Mine doesn't get used much and often give the same symptoms as yours, pop the battery pack on and off you go. Once it has run for 5 minutes it will start on its own battery.
Mine doesn't get used much and often give the same symptoms as yours, pop the battery pack on and off you go. Once it has run for 5 minutes it will start on its own battery.
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- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.0i (2007)
Sounds like battery has died, get a jump start from another car when started check what the alternator is putting out by putting a volt meter on the battery, you should see at least 14.5 volts if it’s charging ok, if not alternator gone bad. I had this the car was ok after daylight driving but if put away after night time having used headlights car was flat next day. Alternator was found to be bad putting out just 12volts, new battery and new alternator put in and no problems since. I also put in a voltmeter on the dash to monitor output.
Not sure how good they are but I have seen some solar power battery chargers
The problem is, you have to park the car in the sunshine. Leaving it 200 miles further south to do so is a tad inconvenient.
Some of these have cheap electronics in so may end up doing more damage than they do good.
Almost certainly battery, but, as suggested, very occasionally the starter may stop in a position that means it won’t turn over.
Put the car into 3rd/4th or drive, rock the car then out of gear and try and start.
If the battery is flat it will be below 12V. If it gets too low I expect the car disables the starter motor to prevent pushing the battery in to deep discharge from which it won’t recover. Check the voltage now. There will be plenty of charge for much of the cars systems.
If you can, charge the battery fully and check then voltage at the terminals. Immediately after charging there will be some capacitive charge on the plates. That’s likely to be around 0.2V above the resting voltage so let that subside due to residual current draw. It should then be 12.6V.
At 12V at rest the battery is only at 50% capacity. However, the current draw of the starter is likely to pull the voltage down to 9V or less. You need to keep the battery above 60% charge to support the started. If you’ve got a 6 pot the starter is fighting compression on more cylinders too so is working harder.
Also got to remember that cold temperatures will reduce capacity dramatically too.
With the engine running you should have about 14.2V. Below 13.6V you may we’ll have an alternator problem.
Battery faults can throw up lots of other unrelated faults too. Many systems measure the supply voltage and they start doing odd things if it too low.
Complicated things batteries!
Thanks for that mate! Very useful checklist to diagnose when you have battery gremlins
Thanks everyone, I will try again at some point. I have a small battery pack (someone posted one on here not long back) but its not for 2L or above and as i have a 2.8 its not much use.
When i can i will either take the battery out and charge or try bumping it.
Thing is i have no license till Apr so cant drive it.
If a battery is left flat can it get to a point where it is unrecoverable?
Thanks again
When i can i will either take the battery out and charge or try bumping it.
Thing is i have no license till Apr so cant drive it.
If a battery is left flat can it get to a point where it is unrecoverable?
Thanks again
Am afraid leaving a battery connected in the car it can make it unusable. It will go into deep discharge or at least reduce its capacity. It's better to keep it fully charged and disconnected. Once charged but not connected its charge should last quite some time (months).
Cool, thank you.
I will remove it and charge it quick then.
I will remove it and charge it quick then.
If you do try and jump start it with leads use the connectors under the bonnet to connect the leads to. You should also use this if you are charging the battery in the car.
Now thats something I never knew, I have been charging my 2.8 in the boot throughout the build, Thats what I love about this forum, little gems pop up from day to day
Only reason I can think of for that is to reduce the chance of fumes building up in the boot Sean? When I leave mine on a battery conditioner I lock the car, connect the charger/conditioner to the battery posts then close the boot latch with a screwdriver which turns of the boot lights (on a Z4) and gently lower the lid onto the rubber seal.
If you don't have power where your car is located something like this is what you need.
Tony.
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