Non-starter: battery?

Started 8th March 2018 at 14:12 · Robert Baker

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Lion battery – 15 months old – car won’t even turn over (no “click”: nothing) so I replaced it with a hugely expensive and very lovely new Yuasa HSB010 via Halfords today. Fully charged and ready to go…… except I have exactly the same thing: the car will not even try to turn over. With the old Lion battery it was possible to boost-start it (and, yes, the alternator is charging the battery) but I don’t see the logic in ‘boosting’ a new battery.

Any thoughts please? The old battery, because I considered it suspect, had been on a trickle-charger just to maintain it. Somewhat flummoxed.

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- 8th March 2018 at 14:38 #12462
  
  Robert Baker
  Participant
  
  ..update… just tested old and new batteries: both have 13v (but cannot measure amps).
  
  Can it be an immobiliser/ignition fault?
  
  As I mentioned, however, slightly suspect because boost-starting/jumping did work with the old battery….
- 8th March 2018 at 16:31 #12466
  
  Anonymous
  Inactive
  
  Hi Robert,
  
  I cannot see it would be your immobiliser if you could boost start the car with the old battery. When you say boost start do you mean jump leads from another battery? I would check all ignition connections as the extra boost may be jumping a poor connection.
  
  Alan
- 10th March 2018 at 09:40 #12494
  
  Robert Baker
  Participant
  
  Good point, Alan, many thanks. That would surely make sense. Any clues for someone entirely clueless as to where to start this investigation?
- 10th March 2018 at 11:08 #12499
  
  Anonymous
  Inactive
  
  Hi,
  
  i assume your car is a V12, so I recommend you find a starter circuit for your model on the internet and view the components involved. The starter relay is a good starting point and to find the part on your car just ask the question again on the internet. Just look for loose or burnt contacts. You can short out relays to check them out but I would not go there if you not not sure what you are doing. If it is difficult to find components disconnect your battery and check all visible contacts. I know this looks to be a bit of an overkill but with old cars I think it is a good process to look for anything that can give you a problem in the future. I am sorry I cannot be more specific but I have not had this issue with my 3.6 cabriolet. My job before I retired was to do with domestic appliances and I found that with any electrical issue the first step to use is observation as a poor circuit problem will in many cases show some sign of deterioration, especially high voltage/amps circuits.
  
  Regards
  
  Alan
- 10th March 2018 at 13:38 #12502
  
  Robert Baker
  Participant
  
  Alan – very many thanks. Really appreciate it. OK – update: recovery guys (home start cover included with insurance) traced the fault to “no power to the trickle wire and thus no power to the starter motor”. We hotwired it – and – hey presto – all starts fine. So we started the engine a couple of times and then tried it again with the key: nothing.
  
  The car is a 1995 AJ16 4l 6 Celebration. Apologies now if this is an idiot question, but is there a relay or fuse that could be responsible for the trickle wire and starter motor not receiving power? Sorry if this is a dumb question.
- 10th March 2018 at 15:30 #12509
  
  David Wardale
  Participant
  
  Hi Robert,
  
  I have an ’88 with the V12. IF you’re car is wired the same as mine- here is something you can check.
  
  The heavy positive cable from the battery comes forward along the underside of the transmission tunnel to the engine compartment.It is connected to another heavy cable that runs from left to right , on the engine side of the firewall. At the RHS of this cable is where the connections are made for your starter. BOTH ends of the firewall cable need to be checked for a poor or loose connection.Disconnect your battery(or you will have fireworks) and you should find both connectors covered by a rubber boot. You will find that there is more to it than just a simple nut and bolt, there are actually two nuts that need to be removed to clean everything up. A bad connection at either end will kill your starting efforts! Again- IF your car is wired the same as mine………
- 12th March 2018 at 10:24 #12530
  
  Robert Baker
  Participant
  
  Many thanks David.
  
  Here’s a funny thing: Sunday morning I dedicated to checking every single fuse in all locations and to identifying “likely” relays, then swapping and sacrificing known ‘good’ relays for those that switch and control relevant functions. Zip. Nothing.
  
  Left the car alone for 3 hours and then went back to it: tried the key in the starter, and, yes, started.
  
  Cannot be a fuse, so I suspect sticky / temperamental relay. Will deliver the car to a Coventry-based specialist and ask his advice.
  
  Just tried it again: yes, good as gold; started on the key.
- 13th March 2018 at 13:14 #12541
  
  David Wardale
  Participant
  
  Robert, I’m glad you are having some success. Based on my own experiences, here is something else for you to consider.When I acquired my own car, I checked and cleaned all the various connections on the convoluted battery cables. Went over everything, or so I thought. About a month later, I went to start the car, turned the key to the “start” position, and- nothing. Silence. On strike! I tried a few times- not a click. Finally, after maybe six attempts the starter engaged, and the car came to life.
  
  I suspected the starter/ignition switch, and removed it from the car, and opened up the electrical part.The contacts had a coating of slight corrosion , and just needed to be cleaned and lubricated. Not wishing to be stranded somewhere, I wired a generic pushbutton switch into the starter circuit, and mounted it under the dashboard, within easy reach. Now I have a back-up. I find myself using the push button to start the car now.
  
  I suspect a “specialist” will advise replacement of parts rather than a repair, but that is for you to decide. Corrosion inside the starter/ignition switch is fairly common, I have discovered.
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