Starts, holds voltage but won't restart

[squaddie973]

My Fiat Ducato (1998) will only start with a jump from leads. I ran it for an hour to recharge and the volatage is fine. I switched it off and restarted with no problems. I then went back an hour later to try it again and it won't start. Any ideas what the issue could be?

 

[Figaro]

Knackered cab battery

 

[windboy]

Dead battery

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

With them ^^^^.
Mike.

 

[ivorantony]

Ditto

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[Tombola]

Even a duff battery can show that it has a charge for a short while, but then drops like a stone.

It's probs goosed

 

[tonka]

As above... Buy a new battery...

 

[jockaneezer]

Does sound like a duff battery. If you can manage, swap the batteries over from the jumper to the jumpee and see how it performs ?

 

[squaddie973]

The battery is holding charge throughout and has for 4 days of no operation. Still a dead battery?

 

[Vanman]

Could be a dodgy Earth. What voltage shows after 4 days (Multi-meter)?

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[Outdoors Dad]

What kind voltage reading are you getting

 

[GeoffnDee]

If you have a meter that is showing a good battery voltage after 4 days what voltage does it show after trying to start the van (without jump leads attached )

 

[Jev88]

1). What voltage after a few days measured directly?
2). Put multimeter on battery and get someone else to crank engine. What does voltage drop to?
3). Older vans earth straps from battery to wing and gearbox to other wing rot from the inside out. Replace or add additional earth lead from battery neg post to lifting eye bolt on top of engine

 

[pappajohn]

It can show 12.7v a long time but if the capacity is down (cranking amps) it won't start except off leads as what capacity it does have is drained almost immediately.
It may be a 100ah battery but it's capacity may be down to 15amp.
Just buy a new battery and save yourself all this grief.

 

[squaddie973]

I pulled the battery out and loaded one in from a land rover and it started first time. So yep, definitely a goosed battery. Thanks for everyone's input, Much appreciated

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[Jake Royd]

The battery is holding charge throughout and has for 4 days of no operation. Still a dead battery?

4 days of nothing might show it to be ok. But when under load it dies.
It's still goosed IMHO.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

This time of year when some of us pull our vans out of storage or hibernation, we are all optimistic our batteries have survived the shut down. In reality if you haven't had a good solar or alternative charging source your LA has depleted beyond resurrection! Ive been there