Hi guys,

Have recently noticed that my car wont start when trying to crank over...

I find this strange as i replaced my battery about 2 months ago.

My initial thoughts were either a faulty new battery or a rooted alternator.

So, out comes the multimeter and did a few testings....

With the car running, the alternator showed a reading off 14.0 Volts, this was with all electrical components (Heater, Stereo with 2 Amps and 12inch Sub, Headlights, Wipers) all switched on. At the same time I checked the battery which was showing about 14.2Volts so there wasnt much difference..

A few ppl have said to try disconnecting the Battery positive terminal while the car's running and if the car switches off on its own then its a faulty Alternator but mine seemed fine.

After jump starting my car with my other BA the car was running fine, actually took it for a spin and all was well but as soon as i switched it off after 15mins of driving than there was a no go? So i go and check the battery with my mutimeter and the volts suddendly dropped to about 11.2volts? I then change batteries with my other BA as i thought maybe it was rooted but i had the same issue with that connected as it still wouldnt crank over....(and showing roughly same volts 11.4)

Im not a pro but it seems with some of the testing done that the alternator and battery are working fine as they're both showing 14+ volts while the cars running so im kinda puzzled what the issue could be as ive checked for loose connections and all seem to be intact....

Any advise would greatly be appreciated.

cheers

Last edited by SIXSEATER on Fri May 13, 2011 4:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

do you mean while the cars running ? if you disconnect the battery while the cars running it should keep running, if its cranking and you disconnect it the car will stop cranking.

yeah sorry i meant while the cars running its fine with the battery terminal disconnected.

Just checked the battery with the multimeter and its dropped to 11.2v now? hmmm interesting!

im not a BA expert but if the BA is wired anything like the e-series i would say the BEM is gutted in mate

in the BA-BF the BEM is located under your ICC and should have a fair few wires going to it

my NF's battery sits at 11.2V on average and the car always starts first crank

Fixed.

SIXSEATER It sounds like your battery is due for replacement. Cold kills batteries that are close to dying anyway.

he said he only replaced it 2 months ago

I also tested my other ba's battery on my car and same result, wouldnt crank over, just tick tick tick.........

I took the car to my local mechanic who checked if the battery was draining itself with the multimeter but all seemed fine so after all the testing he said my battery was nackered. So i took it back to the place i bought if from and they said theyll do some testings and get back to me in the morning.....

With the voltage drop now it sounds like the battery, get a replacement under warranty (new things do break), if the problem is still there check the battery terminals aren't shagged, if they are the stock originals might be time to replace them, i've just done this on the EF and an NA we have and it helps a lot.

Also check main fuse (100amp fuse) in the engine bay, car will crank and crank but not do anything when this blows.

The terminals are only 3 years old from Nizpro as i got their 2.5kit back then so theyre fine and yes i did check the main fuse and thats also fine. My mechanice has said if the car cranks over by jump starting it then that rules out a faulty starter motor. The alternator is pumping 14.2/3 volts so thats also fine along with the cables/fuses/relays so yeah he reckons the battery is at culprit as its only showing 11.2 volts so thats being sent back for some testing to get done....

Its an interesting fault to have however we should have some results by lunch time 2morrow.

Ok guys, problem solved. Turns out I had a faulty "new" battery!
Received a phone call this morning after some testing's were done and yeah the battery was cactus, so the sales man offered me a refund or a brank new direct replacement battery which i happily took.
He also said i just happened to be unlucky as the return rate for a faulty new battery is 0.01% but if this new one fails again then I get another new battery or i would need to upgrade as it might not have been strong enought for my car..

cheers.