Car wouldnt start this morning, battery?

Jamesyboyjim · 28 Nov 2016 at 10:47

My car wouldn't start this morning, I'd turn the key, it would try, I could hear the engine trying it's hardest, but nothing, while turning the key the red battery symbol and the engine management light were lit on the dash. They may always be there though, they are when you turn the key two clicks before starting.

Seemed like a battery issue but the car wasn't dying while trying to start if that makes sense. Had a look under the bonnet, everything looked ok, tried the car again and it came to life, tried it again when I got to work and it started happily.

Its a Seat Ibiza mk5 2010 1.4 petrol, obviously it could just be a one off, but if there's anything worth checking, I'm all ears

Amos91 · 28 Nov 2016 at 10:52

Jamesyboyjim said:
My car wouldn't start this morning, I'd turn the key, it would try, I could hear the engine trying it's hardest, but nothing, while turning the key the red battery symbol and the engine management light were lit on the dash. They may always be there though, they are when you turn the key two clicks before starting.

Seemed like a battery issue but the car wasn't dying while trying to start if that makes sense. Had a look under the bonnet, everything looked ok, tried the car again and it came to life, tried it again when I got to work and it started happily.

Its a Seat Ibiza mk5 2010 1.4 petrol, obviously it could just be a one off, but if there's anything worth checking, I'm all ears

Probably one of those things, my parents car did the same a few weeks ago.

However check the voltage across the battery (should be around 12.6V) and then again with the engine running (should be around 14V).

phil-k · 28 Nov 2016 at 10:58

battery could be on its way out and with the cold weather it makes it tempramental

Liquidfox · 28 Nov 2016 at 11:01

Amos91 said:
However check the voltage across the battery (should be around 12.6V) and then again with the engine running (should be around 14V).

Doesn't always work, mine read perfect but it still died a week later. It's the voltage whilst cranking you need to read, if it drops below 9.5v ish then it's due replacement.

Jamesyboyjim · 28 Nov 2016 at 15:28

Liquidfox said:
Doesn't always work, mine read perfect but it still died a week later. It's the voltage whilst cranking you need to read, if it drops below 9.5v ish then it's due replacement.

Thanks all!

I'll have to see if someone can lend me a voltage reader maybe then, the car is 6 years old and has done 45k on the (I assume) original battery so its not beyond unreasonable that the cold weather has exposed it. Just surprised it has gone from perfect to non start, I thought maybe it would have started to take a little longer maybe!

Then again, maybe that's what this morning was!

Cookeh · 28 Nov 2016 at 15:30

Liquidfox said:
Doesn't always work, mine read perfect but it still died a week later. It's the voltage whilst cranking you need to read, if it drops below 9.5v ish then it's due replacement.

Voltage when cranking will depend on size of the engine and the CCA of the battery, surely? Considering the CCA rating is based off the number of amps delivered before a battery drops below 7.2v I'd be surprised is a value of 9.5 equated to battery death.

bledd · 28 Nov 2016 at 15:37

At 6 years old, I'd just replace the battery, once they start doing this, they're typically on the way out.

Whack your reg into eurocarparts and pick one with a 4 or 5 year warranty.

Currently the code blackfriday gives you up to 70% off (8 hours left of this deal)

As for a multimeter, this would do fine for basic use

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-T...TF8&qid=1480347482&sr=8-5&keywords=multimeter

Edit. Batteries tend to last about 3-10 years.

Semple · 28 Nov 2016 at 15:40

How long are your journeys for?

My GF's Yaris is dying on a weekly basis, as she drives it maybe twice a week to work, which is maybe 0.75 miles, (walks most of the time). Heaters on full blast, radio, lights, wipers, obviously the short journey doesn't give the battery time to recharge.

Jamesyboyjim · 28 Nov 2016 at 16:28

Semple said:
How long are your journeys for?

My GF's Yaris is dying on a weekly basis, as she drives it maybe twice a week to work, which is maybe 0.75 miles, (walks most of the time). Heaters on full blast, radio, lights, wipers, obviously the short journey doesn't give the battery time to recharge.

About 13 miles each way, so 26 miles a day give or take a mile. I would have thought plenty of time to charge the battery.

I noticed the deal at Eurocar, it wont do any harm to replace a 6 year old battery either way

Semple · 29 Nov 2016 at 07:59

Jamesyboyjim said:
About 13 miles each way, so 26 miles a day give or take a mile. I would have thought plenty of time to charge the battery.

I noticed the deal at Eurocar, it wont do any harm to replace a 6 year old battery either way

Yeah i would say that's more than enough to charge the battery as well.

As you say, it's probably on its way out.

Gaygle · 29 Nov 2016 at 09:47

Did you definitely not leave the interior light on or similar? If not, battery will have died. Happens a lot in the cold weather.

Jamesyboyjim · 29 Nov 2016 at 12:10

Gaygle said:
Did you definitely not leave the interior light on or similar? If not, battery will have died. Happens a lot in the cold weather.

Everything was switched off when I locked it up. It only started again once my radio and heating / ac were switched to off. My old man was adamant it was probably damp under the bonnet and sprayed wires on the engine with wd40, any truth in this? he's getting old now bless him

It started ok this morning despite being very frosty, I'll see how the week goes before changing the battery, terrified everytime I put the key in now though :rolleyes:

bledd · 29 Nov 2016 at 14:32

Buy a multimeter either way.

SC0TTRS · 29 Nov 2016 at 14:46

Sounds like the cold weather is killing it off.

Typically manufactures give 5-6 year life on a battery but what do they know!

Recently changed mine and it was 15 years old! lol

Gamefreak501 · 29 Nov 2016 at 15:50

I had to change the battery on my winter hack this morning. Got one from euro for not too much money.

bainbridge · 29 Nov 2016 at 22:29

bledd said:
At 6 years old, I'd just replace the battery, once they start doing this, they're typically on the way out.

Whack your reg into eurocarparts and pick one with a 4 or 5 year warranty.

Currently the code blackfriday gives you up to 70% off (8 hours left of this deal)

As for a multimeter, this would do fine for basic use

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-T...TF8&qid=1480347482&sr=8-5&keywords=multimeter

Edit. Batteries tend to last about 3-10 years.

This.

MatteH Oxford · 30 Nov 2016 at 04:58

I'd recommend an analogue multimeter for battery testing, it's generally easier to see the minimum value recorded than when using a digital one. Often a digital display will not update fast enough to show said minimum value.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-272...=1480481702&sr=1-4&keywords=analog+multimeter

I'm a flash bugger with a graphing meter (Snap On Vantage)

Jamesyboyjim · 30 Nov 2016 at 11:28

Thanks for all your answers guys. Started ok again this morning, I'll see if I can borrow a multimeter before ordering one

This never ends well · 30 Nov 2016 at 11:33

Do you have anti-freeze or water in your radiator ??

LupoLover · 30 Nov 2016 at 12:09

Cookeh said:
Voltage when cranking will depend on size of the engine and the CCA of the battery, surely? Considering the CCA rating is based off the number of amps delivered before a battery drops below 7.2v I'd be surprised is a value of 9.5 equated to battery death.

at -18c too!