HELP - can't start my Bongo

[Griffalo]

Help

I can't start my van this morning. When I turn the key all that happens is that there is a ticking sound like a woodpecker coming from the engine bay?

I changed the battery yesterday morning but it was fine for the rest of the day.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Darryl

[Bob]

First thing to check is that the battery is fully charged, that noise is usualy the solenoid not having enough power to engage, if fully charged check the battery contacts.

If you ever get a problem just after you have done something it is always worth looking at what you have just done. Not 100%, but always a good place to start.

Good luck

Bob

[John the sparky]

I'd also check battery connections, as you changed it

battery could be charged, all could seem well, but a bad connection could be limiting current....

you just need to check they are clean and tight... then maybe later put some terminal grease on, but not till you've got it running!




John

[Griffalo]

Thanks for the advice John and Bob.

I think it was a flat battery - jump started it and it started OK. Alternator reads 14.3v and with the ignition off it is only pulling 0.05amps.

The only things I can think of is
1. Must have left door ajar last night - so interior light was on.
2. Duff battery
3. Poor conection - but why would this drain the battery and it was OK yesterday on several trips?

Will charge today and see what happens. Will grease up the terminals later

Thanks again. I'm now off windsurfing and I have packed my jump leads for the trip home!!

Darryl

[John the sparky]

bad connection wouldn't drain battery, but with jump leads clamped to leads from battery would work even with dodgy connection from battery post to leads....

but it does sound more like a flat battery...


glad its going



John

[Bob]

Well done, 1 & 2 could be, 3, poor contact won't flatten the batery, but could let enough power through to start the vehicle when hot, but then it doesn't charge fully due to poor contact, tiny drain over night, pre-heat glo plugs, cold engine, thick oil = not quite enough oomph.

Recomend keeping jump leads in the car. You can often help someone else out, but be careful with newer cars as jump starting can kill the ECU.

Live long and Bongo

Bob

[Mikey B]

If the fault returns check your starting motor.

When my starting motor started to fail, I thought it was the battery initially as it would work fine after after a full re-charge. But as I found out it was the starting motor.

[Griffalo]

Mikey B

That sounds very familiar.

Before I changed my old battery I would charge it up and after a few weeks or even a few days it would be flat again. I thought (and was told by a garage) that the battery was knackered and not keeping it's charge. Which is why I bought a new one.

How can you tell if the starter motor is gone and why would this drain the battery?

Thanks

Darryl

[Stockport Dave]

I doubt if an interior light would flatten a new battery overnight. It could be that you do have a poor connection and that attaching the jump leads nudged it enough to correct it. However the fact that you measured the drain current shows you probably know what you are doing. good luck with it.