starting in cold

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:16 pm

Sounds like it could be the battery might be worth getting it tested lots of accessory shops that sell batteries will be able to do it,

shakey · Post by **shakey** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:25 pm

Just a thought Karena, are you doing lots of short runs (couple of miles ish), starting, lights on, full blower, radio, air con on demist, heated rear screen etc. Then restarting all over again to come home. You might be discharging your battery more than your alternator has had time to replenish. Shakey

mister munkey · Post by **mister munkey** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:11 pm

Mine had the same trouble.

New battery (courtesy of Wayne - Again!) & waiting 10 secs after the glowplug light goes off has sorted it. Fires sweet & smooth 1st time every time.

Sounds like your probs may not be directly battery related, however from the sound of it, the end may well be nigh. Not holding charge for a few days in the cold means it has become rather fragile, & if its shot, it ain't gonna help.

Get a booster starter if you think its ness. But get a new battery first.

Money well spent

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:40 pm

Pop your bongo along to your local auto electrician Karena...They will do a (usually) free test on the charging system...If the battery isn't holding a sufficient charge to start your bongo,then why?

Perhaps the alternator is on its way out,which wont re-charge the battery properly.

You would be thowing good money after bad by buying jump start chargers,new batteries,without getting the system checked properly...

I wouldn't trust a boost charger through the bongo's ciggy lighter...have you seen the pitiful wires that feed the socket?

I'd skip halfrauds or any "quick fit" outfit...you'll end up coming out of there with unnecessary new tyres,brakes,shock absorbers etc...

If you are ever up warrington way,ask geoff at L.A alternators (bridge foot)to run a check on it,He's a genuine expert in such things,and will even re-furbish your old alternator if need be...(at a fraction of the cost of a replacement)

MountainGoat · Post by **MountainGoat** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:01 am

Intresting information. I finally got my Bongo to fire up again today after a long wait for a Willinton wiring loom. Now I have to wait and see if it was a duff split charging wiring loom from my converter that was causing my constant flat starter battery problems or if it could be the alternator.

Looks like I should pop into LA alternators when I am down at Wheelquick next month to ask Geoff to give my alternator a quick check over. Should not be a problem finding the place in Warrington as I used to pass through Bridge Foot every day on my way to work when I was working for Warrington & Runcorn Development Corporation in the eighties.

brianwfl · Post by **brianwfl** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:49 pm

Hi peeps, re b&d emergency battery:- they are not primarily meant to jump start the vehicle, however they are meant to push a charge into the battery in much the same way that the plug into the cigarette type trickle charges that were very popular in the past.

my college who has one runs a b&b at gatwick with car parking facilties and swares by the b&d unit as opposed to the non-commercial type jump start park,(he has both types as the b&d unit is new to the market) so long it is used by the book ie as a charger device an not a jump starter. one good use of this unit is if you have been doing short runs in dark in winter all electrical services on, you can have this device charging at home and then when you return hon, jack the unit into the cigarette lighter overnight and bob's your mother's brother your battery will be well charged for another go.

as an AA & RAC patrolman in the early to mid seventies we had a starter solenoid in the back of our vans coupled up to jump leads. we could jump start the brokendown vehicle by operating the start solenoid or trickle charge the broken down vehicle ny using a solenoid bridge lead.

brgds
brianwfl

tigs · Post by **tigs** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:58 pm

Used a solar trickle charger for me caravan, was crap.

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:05 pm

tigs wrote:Used a solar trickle charger for me caravan, was crap.

You did connect it to the battery didn't you?

BTW - are you on the left or right?

tigs · Post by **tigs** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:13 pm

francophile1947 wrote:
tigs wrote:Used a solar trickle charger for me caravan, was crap.
You did connect it to the battery didn't you?
BTW - are you on the left or right?

Franco! You got no faith in me, have ya

Right

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:18 pm

Moi!!!!!! - dunno what you mean (could it be the glazed look in your eyes when we talk technical

)

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:18 pm

MountainGoat wrote:Intresting information. I finally got my Bongo to fire up again today after a long wait for a Willinton wiring loom. Now I have to wait and see if it was a duff split charging wiring loom from my converter that was causing my constant flat starter battery problems or if it could be the alternator.

Looks like I should pop into LA alternators when I am down at Wheelquick next month to ask Geoff to give my alternator a quick check over. Should not be a problem finding the place in Warrington as I used to pass through Bridge Foot every day on my way to work when I was working for Warrington & Runcorn Development Corporation in the eighties.

Small world!... Glad you got your bongo started ok,i have the willington split charge relay on my bongo too,i've had no problems,and i don't recall any forum member having any mither with those units....

Now i think about it,geoff may be called mike, but he looks like a geoff... (i wish i was better with names,the chap in question is the spit of some bloke on emmerdale farm,but not seth, or amos...)

karena · Post by **karena** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:19 pm

know what you mean about the glazed look i just print suggestions out and take them home for hubby to read.
The problem hasnt re-occurred and it was just as cold last night but van was parked in more sheltered place. I think the local garage could check the battery for us, and we,ll replace if we need too
Shakey has a fair point too we have tended to be driving short distances with lights and heaters on so i think i may have to sacrifice my one day off (was going to do xmas decorations) and go out for a long run on sunday

(bet its raining again by then

)

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:32 pm

The weather prediction was its gonna be sunny and cold till xmas...so yeah,..it'll probably be raining and mild on sunday!

ronhud · Post by **ronhud** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:37 pm

I have about 15% veggie oil in my tank. Hard frost last night and at 7.15am my Freda started fine. Might step up to 20% at next fill!
Ron

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:17 pm

I'm running roughly the same percentages at the moment too...probably a bit nearer to the 20% mark...

starting in cold

Black and decker emergency battery