non starter

Hi Guys,
Any Help would be great…

Car: Golf Cabriolet
engine: 1.8 Carb Auto
Year: 1987
Fuel: Petrol

I've broken my car some how..
A few days ago i started it up with no problems, drove it out the front of my house and gave it a good clean.
when i went to take it for a spin it wouldn't start, I could just hear a clink of a relay from the fuse box but nothing else, It didn't even try to turn over.

I checked the battery and my jump pack said the battery was duff so put a new one on and hey presto the car started straight away. I took the car out for a drive and stopped and started a few times the car started with out any problems.

That was a couple of weeks ago since then the car hasn't started by its self once, i have to use the jump pack every time i go to start the car.
once the car has been jumped and is running i have no problems i can drive it use all the electrics its fine, as soon as i turn the car off it will not start again with out the jump pack.

The car will not turn over just the one click of the relay then nothing.

what could it be?

Thanks
Jax

Sounds like you have something draining the battery.
The classic one is the boot light is not shutting off when the lid is closed.

Do you have access to a multimeter to measure current being drawn when everything is turned off?

You could then go along taking fuses out of the fuse box until you find the circuit that is the culprit.

I also recommend a car trickle charger that both keeps the battery charged and more importantly conditioned.
I have a ctek one and have been very happy with it, it comes with some pigtail leads that make it easy to connect to the battery, particularly if you have a battery cover fitted.

I'm going to borrow my friends multi meter and i will start checking everything.
Could that be causing the battery to go flat in an instance?
Also i noticed today the fuel gauge has stopped working could the two be like?
thanks

It wouldn't cause it to go instantly flat, that would take a huge short and probably cause a fire!

However if the light in the boot is left on, the battery will go flat overnight and without a good charge will always remain undercharged.

Not sure that the fuel gauge is related, but it could be if you have an earth issue - perhaps the fault is a corroded earth that appears to be ok once current is flowing and then furs up again once turned off, check the battery earth connection for green fur!

As you have already changed the battery, I would check the alternator next, sounds like it might be weak, providing enough power to run the car but not enough to charge the battery. Have you checked that your ignition light is not glowing when the engine is running?

Ok,
so last night I tried to start the car and as usual it was dead, started up no problems with the power pack but after driving it about 5 feet the car cut out and I had to jump it again,
I left the battery charger on for a while and the car seemed to run fine.
I drove it for about twenty mins no problems. Got to my mate house and left it running for another 20 mins it then started coughing a bit and cut out completely.
It wouldn't turn over at all after that even with the jump start pack.
I've left it with a garage now for them to have a look, I'll let you guys know what they say. (as long as its nothing stupid)

does the battery light coem on with ignition and go out when started? if not blue charge wire from clocks to D+ on alternator is disconnected somewhere

Ok, So i finally got my car back. The garage replaced the Alternator the battery and the starter motor.
I also got them to remove an old immobilizer as well .
Car start first time every time and drives really well.
Just need a new exhaust no