Bongo Fury

I had a sluggish starter motor, sometimes engine would catch, glow plug light stayed on for a bit longer than usual even though motor running. Starter got even more sluggish: I jiggled fuses, squirted WD40 everwhere & it seemed a bit quicker, started ok for a week, then all got worse -so I replaced starter, engine still won't catch -& after 3 cranks of the starter -about 30 revolutions of the engine in all- the battery has dropped from 14.06 to 13.65v.
Battery a year or so old, can't see any bad contacts -I've cleaned up any obvious suspect ones... has anyone any ideas?

Have you checked that the earth connections between the negative cable from the battery to the bodywork, and from the engine/transmission to the body are clean, and the cables aren't corroded of frayed? This assumes you have done the same for the positive cables, corrosion can sometimes be inside the cable so hiding a poor connection.

I have had similar problems on a couple of cars and these were the culprits, remember a circuit needs power in and a way to 'earth'.

Cheers -I cleaned up the (brass?) fittings at terminal/fuse box, cables didn't look too bad but will make a closer inspection there tomorrow. I have to also admit that I checked the neg to the body, but haven't located the end of the other neg cable, or the body to the engine... I live near the sea, & a little salt goes a long way into the wires...

A 'quick and dirty' way to check is to clip a jump lead onto a good fitting on the engine,maybe a head stud, then to a ground on the body,and same again for the battery negative to ground.

I had a car which was reluctant to start, I was out in the hills mile from anywhere, then when I was driving I was getting a 'hot' smell.
It turned out that the terminal on the earth cable was rusted off, so all the earthing was being done through the choke cable.
I soldered on a new fitting the next morning and all was well again!

Thanks for your thoughts -it turned out that the 15month old Lucas battery had failed. At least I've cleaned & copper greased all the terminals...

Distilled Waters Run Deep wrote:Thanks for your thoughts -it turned out that the 15month old Lucas battery had failed. At least I've cleaned & copper greased all the terminals...

Cor - so much for well known (British?) brands