Flat battery problem

[Zoe Lowery]

Hi All, hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

My battery and leisure battery are both fully charged but everytime I get into my van it won't start and I have to jump start it...please help

 

[meanders]

Hi and welcome.

Bad earth strap? How are you testing they are "fully charged"? Off load charge is very different to under load. The leisure battery should not be used for starting the van? What is the make and model of van please? When jump starting, where are you connecting the jump leads?

My suspicion is that the starter battery has had it, or there is a poor connection.

 

[jockaneezer]

Does the engine try to turn over at all, can you hear any clicking noises or anything when you turn the key to the start position ?
It does sound like a knackered battery or a bad earth/poor battery connection though.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

It's a Renault traffic lwb.

Hi and welcome.

Bad earth strap? How are you testing they are "fully charged"? Off load charge is very different to under load. The leisure battery should not be used for starting the van? What is the make and model of van please? When jump starting, where are you connecting the jump leads?

My suspicion is that the starter battery has had it, or there is a poor connection.

As above. Best to check your battery when it's off charge. Your leisure battery is not used for starting. You need to describe how it won't start. Ie.
Does it click when you turn the key.
Turn on the lights and see if they go out when you turn on the ignition.
If the former it could be a starter motor issue. Jammed or needs replacement.
Can be unjammed with a mallet.
If the lights go out it could be a bad earth or flat battery.
An earth strap is cheap . Just attach a new one to somewhere else or use your jumper cables to earth the engine to thd chassis as a temporary measure.

 

[Spriddler]

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[Zoe Lowery]

Hi and welcome.

Bad earth strap? How are you testing they are "fully charged"? Off load charge is very different to under load. The leisure battery should not be used for starting the van? What is the make and model of van please? When jump starting, where are you connecting the jump leads?

My suspicion is that the starter battery has had it, or there is a poor connection.

 

[Zoe Lowery]

Hi
I'm trying to start the van the normal way and it clicks and that's it

 

[garry55]

If his starter motor has failed, how come it starts with jump leads?
Surely a battery fault?

 

[Spriddler]

If his starter motor has failed, how come it starts with jump leads?
Surely a battery fault?

It might be that there is a bad earth connection of the earth strap between battery Neg and chassis and Zoe might be attaching the Neg jump lead to a chassis point rather than the battery post, thus bypassing the dodgy battery to chassis earth lead.

 

[jockaneezer]

If it just clicks, then it suggests the starter battery is goosed.
Do you have a multimeter (under £3 in Aldi at the moment apparently ) ?

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[Jimbohorlicks]

When you jump start the van with leads can you advise where you connect them to please.
Ie do you connect to your existing battery or battery +ve and body/ engine jump points.

 

[Zoe Lowery]

Thank you, going to try the earth lead but a mechanic friend has just lent me a multi meter so will try in the morning

 

[Spriddler]

Thank you, going to try the earth lead but a mechanic friend has just lent me a multi meter so will try in the morning

Using a meter is unlikely to tell you much as from what you say there's a good enough circuit to get a 'click' when you turn the key but it may be insufficient to carry the high current demanded by the starter motor.
Pleease answer Jimbohorlicks question as to where you connect the jump leads as it isn't asked out of idle curiosity but can be a good clue towards diagnosing the problem.

 

[1967bowesj]

Using a meter is unlikely to tell you much as from what you say there's a good enough circuit to get a 'click' when you turn the key but it may be insufficient to carry the high current demanded by the starter motor.
Pleease answer Jimbohorlicks question as to where you connect the jump leads as it isn't asked out of idle curiosity but can be a good clue towards diagnosing the problem.

The op better think about the next answer as its number 5 so unless they join we wont get any more updates

 

[Zoe Lowery]

When you jump start the van with leads can you advise where you connect them to please.
Ie do you connect to your existing battery or battery +ve and body/ engine jump points.

Just to the battery

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[Northernraider]

And that's possibly the last you'll hear about that .

5 posts done

 

[Fdhadi]

If your mechanic friend has loaned you some jump leads, what did he suggest and would he not have a look at it for you?