Car wont start, turn ignition and all dashlight/electrics go out

[masterbateson]

As above something strange has happened as the car has just been sat in the garage?

As title suggests if you turn the ignition all the dashlight and electrics go out.
If you release the key the dash and electrics come back, if you do this to many times the battery gets very low.

You can here I think the solenoid on the starter engaging or releasing when you release the key.

Tried putting car in gear and rocking it, in case the starter had seized but no joy?

Is there an earth strap that can cause probs or is it likely to be starter?

[craig]

Sounds like a flat battery to me.

The clicking sounds like the starter motor.

[Odin_S]

Flat battery. Recharge or replace your battery

[SonicSW20]

Get a multimeter, measure the voltage across the terminals. If the battery is good and charged, it should read around 12.6V. If it's reading under 12V, then it's flat, or has a bad cell, or both. Overnight on a battery conditioner may make it serviceable, but assuming it's an older battery, you're best off just replacing it.

[craig]

How long has the car been sat in the garage? Cold winter months and no use will flatten a battery.

If it's in there for extended periods not being used, it'd be worth investing in a maintenance charger.

I've recently replaced my battery, as it was knackered. Whenever the car is not being used, it's connected to a maintenance charger.

[masterbateson]

Its been on charge and according to the charger its good, its a lidl or aldi charger/conditioner is suppose to charge and you can then allegedly leave it on.
Its only been sat about a week with out moving.

Haven''t had a chance to get the meter on it tho.

I'll charge up my spare battery which is out of a bimer x1, it a whole lot bigger but I'll ghetto hook it up to see if fault clears then order a new battery if it does.

[abovetherim]

Check the earths in engine bay are good esp one gearbox to chassis.

Might also be worth turning the engine over by hand to check its not seized

[gnzyza]

also check to make sure the battery terminals are clean and clamped down properly.

[masterbateson]

well not managed to get a meter to it yet, but its not looking promising.
with the BMw battery connected to the existing battery and its fully charged the car still doesn't even try to start, its just instant lights out.
Looks like a massive short, but I guess it cant be or it would be blowing a fuse somewhere?

Busy with work and home so not getting much of a chance to get near to investigate at the mo

[Odin_S]

Not insulting your intelligence, but didn't you put the clamps on the correct terminals?

[masterbateson]

non taken.

but no batt connections on right way round and have not been moved/changed all the time since I took ownership and has been fine upto this week.
And if you were referring to the charger polarity then no that's also correct, both batteries are now fully charged, the main car one and the 2nd larger battery connected via jump leads.
Not tried it yet but not optimistic.

[masterbateson]

been reading this thread as slightly similar, def a few things mentioned in it I will try mr giddens makes several informative suggestions

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=160033

[markstevieandmads]

Those aldi chargers are crap.

I left mine on once and it still drained a new battery.

I just disconnect mine when I'm not using it.

[SonicSW20]

Get a CTEK or Oxford battery conditioner if it's going to be unused for a long period of time. Will save you batteries in the long run.

[Nails]

The aldi one is a CTEK in aldi disguise.

[markstevieandmads]

The aldi one is a CTEK in aldi disguise.

I disagree....it looks like one the quality is crap. I've gone through two in one year.


To be honest, I'd be getting a meter on it. That will give you a definite diagnosis and no need for everyone to guess.

[masterbateson]

The weird thing is the car hasn't been stood for longer than a week before this happened?

And the other thing is before this weirdness started, there has never been any signs the battery was getting tired/failing.
Used to always turn over straight away at first turn of the key no probs.

Def cracking the meter out tomorrow if I get the chance.

Its a bit cold for working in the garage fault finding at night at the mo, not very appealing.

[thomp1983]

Your batteries dead, the cold has likely killed a cell in it you need to remove it and connect the x1 battery directly your jump leads won't be big enough to supply the amount of current the mr2 needs to overcome it's dead battery

[Nails]

The aldi one is a CTEK in aldi disguise.

I disagree....it looks like one the quality is crap. I've gone through two in one year.


To be honest, I'd be getting a meter on it. That will give you a definite diagnosis and no need for everyone to guess.

Search the net. They all disagree with you. I've had mine for a few years and my mates had his for even longer and with the amount of projects he has had his has been hammered and still is fine.

[masterbateson]

Now here's a weird one, that hopefully someone has had before or can answer.
Had a bit of spare time today so decided to do a bit of investigation.
First checked all the earths in engine bay all seemed ok.
Next nipped up to my mates and borrowed a crumper of a battery and a set of heavy duty jump leads he uses when he's out recovering lorries.
Checked my battery and whilst i was checking the earths, popped the charger on and just topped it back up from when i was trying to get the car going last,checked the engine wasnt seized by turning by hand.

Then got in and tried ignition, same thing all dash lights and clock go out accompanied with a clunk/thud noise.
Then for some reason i tried piddling around with the key, now and again i got a bit of response.
eventually car fired up!!

So of course i then shut it down and tried to start again, once again no dice.
Eventually i found the following out, but am slightly baffled/confused.
If I turn the ignition key all the way round to the end so i cant turn it any further, all the dash lights go out+clock and you get the clunk noise from engine bay.
However if i turn the key partially between position 3 and 4 and then gently progress the key towards 4 the car fires up easy as anything
What the fudge is going on?? and more to the point how do i sort it.
Very weird, if I hadnt seen it with my own eyes I wouldnt have believed it.