What is/was wrong with my car?

[EvianBaby]

I had a little moan about my car earlier but I'd like to try and find of what the actual problem is.

When I got in it and turned the key in the ignition it wouldn't do anything. No lights, no sounds, just nothing. Eventually my brother came over with some jump leads and got it going so I took it to halfords to get the battery checked and he said it was running at 90% (we allowed 15 mins after I parked before he tested it) so couldn't see why it happened.

I only used for a short time yesterday but it was fine then and up until then. Anyone got any clue what the problem might be? I'm worried about it happening again and I need to my car too much the moment.

[coccinelle]

Is there the possibility of your boot light being on and drained the battery overnight?

[EvianBaby]

Nope, when I realised it wasn't starting I checked I'd left nothing on and hadn't, although I usually get a warning sound if I leave something on or open anyway.

[Hymie]

It may well be that the battery was at fault.

Many years ago, batteries used to die slowly – this was evident from the slow cranking of the engine when starting the car, giving plenty of warning of the battery’s demise. However recently I’ve experienced a battery dying within a day; and others have told me the same – one minute the battery is fine, the next it will not even light the vehicle dash.

However before splashing out on a new battery, you should have checked the battery charging voltage on the vehicle. With the engine revs at 1,500 or more – the battery voltage should be around 14V – certainly well over 12V. If you find that the charging voltage is around 14V and after the vehicle has been left overnight, it will not start – then almost certainly the battery is being drained by something left on (such as an interior light), which will need investigation (not a new battery).

[TWR]

Hi Evian, If you use your car on very short journeys, to the local shops etc, to start with when you start your car you take a lot out of the battery then you turn on your radio, lights, heater, demister all this takes it's toll on the battery if thats the only type of journeys you do, you are not putting into the battery what you have take out ( All the charge) there is an indication that the battery is on the way out by the way you use the car.

[TWR]

To add, start the car at night in a dark area, do you see a faint red light within the dash panel? ( Where your Fuel Gauge / Speedo / rev counter is) if so, alternator problems.

[Jumbo747]

There is a problem with a certain make and model of car....happens to the daughter of a friend of mine. I'll find out what her car is; what's yours EB?

[coppermine]

Does the battery have a condition indicator on, some of the sealed ones do in the form of a spy hole with a small disc which changes colour according to the condition of it. It is possible to test with a voltmeter and as another has already said anything over 12.5 V is serviceable, but that won't tell you the whole story. If the battery is not of the sealed unit type [ if so it will have small stoppers in the top which can be unscrewed ], then another useful test is to check the specific gravity of the electrolyte, if you can get hold of a hydrometer [ take care when using one the acid in batteries is quite strong !]. This test is best done Before and after charging to see if the battery is really charging as it should.

[EvianBaby]

I'll be honest, most of that went over my head! :)

Yesterday's journey was probably no more than a few miles but most days it's more like 15 miles each journey a couple of times a day.

From what youve all said it sounds like it probably is still the battery at fault so I'll see if I can get hold of my regular mechanic tomorrow and get some professional eyes to have a look at it.

Sorry, I should had said its a 1.6, 16v, 2003 Golf. As far as I know this is still its original battery.

[Toureman]

If it is still the oiginal battery it has done well to last that long.

[tonyav]

It could be an earth problem, check that the earth lead from the battery to the car body ( where it is connected to the car body ) is clean and tight. Undo the bolt that holds the lead to the body work and give it a clean with a bit of emery cloth and make sure it is reconnecting on to bare metal put a smear of vasaline on to the body work and connector and tighyen it back up. Also there is an earth strap from the engine or gearbox to the body work underneath do the same with this ( undo clean it up and put back on ).

[EvianBaby]

Okey Doke. Couldnt' get hold of mechanic today but I'll get one of the lads to check all the advised tomorrow (I trust them to do it more than myself). It did start no problem this morning so it's still a bit of a mystery.

[tonyav]

Evian, earth problems can be intermittent.

[Hopkirk]

If it is the original battery, change it anyway.

It is overdue to fail.

[jno]

and don't get one from Kwikfit

[miss-smithy]

I had a problem like this where by my car just wouldn't work I called recovery and I had flooded the engine by starting my car when it was freezing cold and only moved it a few spaces along the road because it is injection fuel the piston's had not had time to warm up the close again leaking petrol into the engine and flooding it it was easy sorted and now I only move my car if need be I had my car for 2 years and only recently was told this

[Bigfellah]

I had a similar problem with my 1992 Volvo 850 GLT some time ago and after various tests the fault dignosed was that one of the leads from carburettor to sparkplugs was shorting. Replaced leads and carburettor and hey presto no further issues.