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Electrical problem

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Electrical problem, batery go down and car won't start.

Hi There

I need your help please, my car start and the minute i switch off 30 minutes later wont start unless I get a jump-start or kick start.
some times it happens after an hour even if I have been driving for an hour or two.

Regards

Vista

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First, does your battery light come on with the first key in, and after charging goes out?
If your Battery light doesn't come on before you start your car, then you may not be charging your battery as the "Exciter" circuit isn't functional, or the bulb in the Gauges is bad...
Marginally old batteries may not top the charge off after a short run.  That is it takes more to start the car than the cars battery can recover.


Check for a Parasitic Drain.


Causes for Parasitic drains are usually but not limited to
Radios that aren't powered to a Switched Circuit, (after market installs.)
Powered Amps
Alarm systems.
Trunk lights left on
Glove box lights were the switches are broken.

A good video on it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=KF1gijj03_0&NR=1

Basically you want to Take the courtesy lamp out.
You are going to take the ground off the car and use a DVOM in Series (most aftermarket only go 10A on the amp scale so be warned that a fried meter can result.

With the car off… Measure the current drop of the system.  if it is more than .05A or .5V you have an issue.

What you are going to do is to remove one fuse at a time and check the drop.  Better/same.  Better, you now know the circuit to look after so get out the Bentley and take a look.

Same, replace that fuse and pull out the next…….

Just heard of a 92 Cabriolet that had a power drain caused by the Window controller…. so if you have electric windows that may be a cause.

This is also a test, to verify that your Charging system is working, you may want to test the system as run it by a parts place and have them test it for free usually over here that is.

Second if your Battery Earths are still the original, you may want to think about replacing the Battery to frame and frame to engine/tranny earthing straps.  You can use 2 off the shelf cables from a parts store.  If you have CIS it is best to get to that frame ground from under the car.

Digifants just remove the airbox.

I would have your battery and Charging system Checked…..

I just had a battery that wouldn't start the cart well, and after it "KICKED" over would run all day, but the first start was ruff……If I left the car sit for a week it was really ruff……..

Got to looking at the battery, and it was at 1/2 charge, looking further it was installed FEB 2011… So I got 6 years out of a 3 year old battery..

As a side I had to have my son delivery a new battery to me at a car show so I could drive home as the battery finally gave out.
 

What do Divorces, Great Coffee, and Car Electrics all have in common?

They all start with GOOD Grounds.

Where are my DIY Links?
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