86 LHD GLI cabby battery/electric probs

Hi All,

i have been having major issues with the wife's cabby.
previously the car started first time every time, now it wont start, unless from a jump.

was initially told it was the alternator draining the battery, I have now changed this and am getting 14.1-5 volts when the engine is running via a multimeter.

i can only start the car via a jump, then it runs ok. if i turn the  engine off the volts drop to 12.5ish, the when i try to turn the engine the volts drop to 3 or so, and the started just goes clunk or clicks, when i return the key back the 1st notch the volts go back to 12.5 ish.

i thought it could be the earth so tired what has been suggested on here and connected the negative to the engine and it did again no joy?

any hints or tips, is the starter knackered?

ta

D

Is your battery +ve terminal getting a good contact between battery and starter?  

I'm just wondering if the fact it starts fine when you have a jumper clamped to the terminals is pointing to a faulty +ve.  Starters usually either work or not.  This is assuming your battery in in full charge.

Cheers for the reply, will check this out thus weekend

D

Hi,

cleared up the cables, and connections. Still wouldn't start but was certainly offering better than before. So now it's the battery that I think is gone. Connected up a 04 freelander battery and fired up first time.

So looks like it was a combination of knackered alternator and batter and bad connections.

Thanks for the help.

D