Van won't start

[walshie]

Just got back from a few days away and the wife's dog bus (old vauxhall combo) won't start. I've checked the battery with my multimeter (12.5v), checked the starter motor fuse (ok) and relay (makes one click when turning the key). I swapped the relays around to make sure that wasn't the problem and swapped them back again. 

When you turn the key to the first position all the dash lights come on as usual. When you turn the key to the start position the lights don't go dim, just the click from the relay. There was no issue like slow starting last weekend, so I'm a bit stumped. Surely if it was the starter itself the lights would dim when trying to start?

Any ideas? 

Ta. 

[snow white]

Battery not got full charge it needs 14 volts to turn engine all though its showing 12 volts its not enough.

[walshie]

Surely it wouldn't have 14 volts with the engine off? I'll try and jump it and see if that works. 

[Jason_ox]

Battery is charged at 14v so no it doesn’t need that to turn it over. Check starter solenoid, give it a tap while someone tries starting? If you can get to it..

If it was slow starting last week it’s more than likely the starter motor has had it. 

Edited October 19, 2018 by Jason_ox

[walshie]

23 minutes ago, Jason_ox said:

Battery is charged at 14v so no it doesn’t need that to turn it over. Check starter solenoid, give it a tap while someone tries starting? If you can get to it..

If it was slow starting last week it’s more than likely the starter motor has had it. 

There wasn't an issue last week. It just went from starting perfectly to not starting at all. 

[Flyboy1950]

Usually turns out to be the battery, try jump leads and see if that will do it. Had this several times with family cars after a few days standing. Remember to depress the clutch of the non starting vehicle at the same time as you turn the engine over, this takes some of the load off of the starting engine, especially as the weather is turning colder and the oil is pretty viscous.

 

FB

[Dave-G]

Another point about starting cars is some people leave fans and other items turned on. This diverts electric that could otherwise make a difference to the amount used to turn the engine over. Make sure everything is off, including interior courtesy lights etc.

It sounds like a duff battery to me, a bit of cold really knocks bad batteries about.

[Jason_ox]

36 minutes ago, walshie said:

There wasn't an issue last week. It just went from starting perfectly to not starting at all. 

Apologise I read it as it was starting slow last week

[snow white]

Get somebody to hold your tester on batter and ask them to tell you what it reads when you turn key to start it it will drop down to about 9 or 10 volts.

[walshie]

1 hour ago, snow white said:

Get somebody to hold your tester on batter and ask them to tell you what it reads when you turn key to start it it will drop down to about 9 or 10 volts.

Done that. It drops from 12.5v to 11.5v. Waiting for someone with a car to get home soon to try jumping it. 

[Gu5]

Go and get a USB charge pack jump starter, great bit of kit. 😁👍

Some here - 

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/92728/best-mini-jump-starter-packs-2018

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I would put my money on it being an old battery that is now failing to hold sufficient charge and with the cooler, damper weather coming on it has given you notice that it needs to be replaced!

[snow white]

Its not got the ampers it needs it can show 12volts but if its not got the ampers it will not turn starter i had this 2 weeks ago with a friend phoned up starter knackerd put jump leads on started straighg a way.

[ditchman]

solenoid bendix stuffed............or the field wire bad connection......get the mrs to sit in the van turn the ignition to start and you tap the starter motor with a small hammer to free the bendix............

[eddoakley]

We should start a poll or run a book!

Sticky starter or dead battery?

I'll have a fiver on the starter.

 

Edd

[TIGHTCHOKE]

11 minutes ago, eddoakley said:

We should start a poll or run a book!

Sticky starter or dead battery?

I'll have a fiver on the starter.

 

Edd

Can you donate your fiver to help for Heroes please.

[walshie]

It's not the battery. Won't jump and can't get to the starter to persuade it with a hammer. 

Edited October 19, 2018 by walshie

[TIGHTCHOKE]

So AA, RAC, Green Flag...............

[walshie]

Not sure. Could bump it and take it to the garage, but she's been nagging me for a new one for a while so she might get her wish. 

[guzzicat]

Starter jammed ? put in gear & rock back & forth, listen for click as it frees.

[snow white]

 It still could be the battery if one or more of the cells as gone down does not matter how good the donner battery is it will not start it only way to make sure is change the bat

Edited October 19, 2018 by snow white

[walshie]

1 hour ago, guzzicat said:

Starter jammed ? put in gear & rock back & forth, listen for click as it frees.

Nope. Made no difference.

39 minutes ago, snow white said:

 It still could be the battery if one or more of the cells as gone down does not matter how good the donner battery is it will not start it only way to make sure is change the bat

Temporarily swapped it for another. No luck. Bump starts fine though. I'll tell her to park on a hill.

[snow white]

Ok thats a shame i used to work in scrap yards you would not belive how many cars where brought in with flat batterys people would say we have tried jump starting .

Most of the time all it needed was a good battery puting on.

Glad you got it started in the end.

 All the best

[Digger79]

Try crossing starter terminals, i use old large screwdriver thats had slight bend put into the end, usually does trick to free stuck starter

[Westward]

Clean the battery connections. The start current is very high much higher than the dash lights and even a tiny amount of resistance will drop the voltage and kill the current. Seen it thousands of times.