car doesnt like start unless using jumpleads

any reason this happens.

supposed to be selling it tuesday next week. i wanna get it sorted for the guy, for piece of mind.

got a brand new battery fitted and it dont like starting unless warm

i checked all the earths and they seemed fine.

new plugs, new leads. why would it start first time when jumped and noy on its own, could the battery terminals be not connecting properly or something. as one is slightly cracked

Take a voltage reading from the large terminal on the starter motor, and an earth point on the engine, during starting. Do the same for the battery (ie put the multimeter probes directly onto the battery terminals) If the first is low, you have a wiring issue. If both are low, your battery is faulty or not charged.

I assume you have charged the battery since buying it, they don't stay fully charged for months, on the shop shelf!

yep i charged it. the car will start everyday but if left for more than a day it doesnt like starting. can here the battery dying when trying to start it

Is the problem with cold starting, or starting after the car has been left for a while? In any case, it sounds like you have something draining the battery when the ignition is off. On a stock Golf there is nothing which does this. If you have an alarm, immobiliser or stereo, it will (slightly).

could be the bushes gone in the starter, had this a couple of times, but 1st get the battery tested it could be faulty, even if new, if its good i'd risk a new(used) starter.

my mate reckons the starter my need the shaft greasing.

would the car start straight away when using jump leads if it is the starter though. surely the starter will still have to function even with jump leads coming off my van. as when this is down it starts like a dream

it only does it when the car hasnt been started for over a day or so

the car does not have a radio, there is an old alarm on the car which is unused as its a really old type which you put a key into by the boot

its all about the voltage mate, when the jump leads are on the battery is at its peak so weak bushes are not an issue it will draw what ever power it needs from both batteries, but with just ur battery it only has whats there if ur bushes are worn out a standard battery won't supply enough power.

Did you measure the voltages? What are they?

my mate is lending me his volt meter tomorrow, will see then

could i put a bigger battery on with more power in it. there is enough room for one.

G40chris said

my mate is lending me his volt meter tomorrow, will see then

could i put a bigger battery on with more power in it. there is enough room for one.

Best just fixing the existing one. The battery is brand new, isn't it?

had this battery about 8 weeks ago. i think it could be the fact that they were from a cheap motor factors and aint much good batteries cost ?25 still

cleaned distributor cap points, rotor arm, earth leads, new ignition leadsand plugs, new battery, new filler neck fitted. seems to be running great since all this. should e ok for him to drive ome now.

will be taken it for a spin tomoorow to make sure

never managed to borrow volt gauge affter all

as you can tell from spelling that i was drunk when i wrote that last post