6 replies to this topic

[minimarco]

Model:not injected
Year:89
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible): So a bit of background history. I had a new alternator installed 3 months ago, headlamps brighter than before, car starts normally etc. New (factory second) battery a year ago. I've used the car about once or twice a week since the new alternator and everything's been fine.

Yesterday afternoon, the car decided to not start. It went...Grrr click click click... then I turn it again and it just went click with no Grrr. It ran perfectly fine going to the place I'm stuck at by the way. also, with the headlights turn on, it flashes during the clicking. So I went to the back, cleaned the terminal with my shirt and i found the earth strap to be very worn and it is very loose, I can pull it out of the clamp thingy and stick it back in. The wire itself has a few of its copper strands snapped. I've never used any proper cleaning agents or metal brush or lube to clean/maintain the battery, never got around to doing it. I had a friend jump start the car and I drove home with the car running perfectly. I turned it off and tried turning it back on again and the same Grrr click click click with no ignition.
Before I went to sleep last night, I hooked up my charger to the battery and it said it was empty (I think). The charger used to be smart enough to turn off when it's done charging, so I left it over night. This morning the battery was still charging, it smelled like burning, the battery was warm to the touch and there was a fizzing sound with wet spots on the top of the battery.

So today, or tomorrow, I will be going to get a new battery (it is probably shot by now? can it be repaired maybe?) and get new earth straps and those battery terminal lube grease things.
Will it be safe enough to drive? I'm thinking I will turn on the high beams a few minutes to get that overcharge drained. is that a good idea?

My question is, without knowing anything about electricity, could the loose earth strap be the culprit? or is there an underlying problem?
I'm kinda getting sick of my car... though a lot of times it's human error, it is still annoying to see it spend more time being broken than being driven.

Thanks peeps

[m1tch]

If it goes click but no GRR its the starter solidnoid, exactly the same problem on mine its on the left hand side under the washer bottle, my betting is that its badly corroded or has lose strap

[JD8891]

replace that earth strap, a bad earth can cause the problems your having, as for the leaking batt what type of batt is it? e.g sealed ect.

JD

[bananaman]

Change the earth strap, this is actually quite common and people go through new alternators and batteries before checking it. This is the main earth for your engine, if this plays up then your battery will never recharge, plus you run the risk of the engine earthing to the body elsewhere (Choke and heater cables have been known to get very hot because of this)

I always stick another earth strap on my engines, from the thermostat housing to the bulkhead, never had a charging fault after that.

Clean up the negative terminal in the boot too, where the cable earths to the body.

Tony

[Tomf]

The earth is more important than the live...

Edited by Tomf, 14 September 2009 - 07:15 PM.

[minidaves]

broken or iffy earth and the car will not start or charge properly, get the earths sorted and you may find the battory is fine

dave

[minimarco]

I definitely learned me something good today. Thanks guys.