Just wondering if the battery is on its last legs. The background is:
I wanted to wash the car yesterday afternoon so had to move the car a short distance (15m). No problem so far. I had the doors open only whilst leathering off the door closures - probably about 20W with interior and kerb lights on. I don;t expect this to be a problem.
At the end I thought I would check the lights and here noticed a parking lamp out so I removed the bits and pieces to gain access and remove the main beam connector. Sorted the problem and put everything back together. Re-checking the lights and main beam I had to put the headlights on. The offside lamp was flickering - my headlamps are HIDs so was fearing the worst.
I then went to start the car and everything dropped out but I managed to get her started with some perseverance - radio in safe mode and the idle a little lumpy but soon settled down. I took the car for a spin for a few miles and all is well.
I started the car without problem this morning.
A couple of years ago I had a similar problem and the fault was traced to a sticking throttle body. The mechanic told me that moving the car short distances is not good for the car in col weather - yesterday was much warmer than on that occasion.
S, two questions:
Is the battery failing?
Is there anything associated with the throttle body that might present a load to the main battery causing a drain?
Thanks for any ideas.
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How old is the car? How old is the battery?What make is the battery?What is the car?
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The car is a May 2001 Vectra with the original battery (not sure of who makes the batteries for Vauxhall)
{Now added to subject header - DD}
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Yes battery on it's last legs. If you have a meter chack the voltage after a run with the engine running, should be 14v plus. Or pop into your local autoparts shop they all ahve a bettery checker, the decent ones take short high current pulses from the battery and monity the effect of voltage, this gives an indication of Amp hout capacity of the bettery. I have seen batteries as low ar 8 amp hours as against 60 when new, and you could only start the car once. Regards Peter
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(not sure of who makes the batteries for Vauxhall)
Used to be AC Delco - which included the later ones rebranded "Go" batteries. The average lifespan of these batteries is approx 5 to 6 years. ( yes, I know people have got longer life out of them, but as I said, an average)
If you need a replacement then you'll find Vauxhall themselves as competitive as anyone else. Will also come with a 3yr guarantee.
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The mechanic told me that moving the car short distances is not good for the car..... .
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Period !!!
The AA told me "that moving the car short distances is not good for the car " when I called them out having done just that.
The AA guy said they get many many call outs to such situations. e.g. reverse the car out of the garage to wash it and then the engine will only turn over but not restart.
It appears that it is some sort of fuel flooding and it fools the magic boxes.
The last resort is to disable the fuel supply and turn the engine over to "dry it out" I was not too happy with sending unburnt fuel into the cat.
His advice was, in such situations to always just leave it on tick over for couple of minutes.
and added that only SAABs seem to avoid this problem.
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My 2001 Vectra doesn't like being started and stopped. If I leave it running until the fast idle has finished, then all is fine. If I do accidentally stall it beforehand, it will take a fair bit of cranking before it will start - but it always starts eventually. My previous Vectra (1997) never minded.
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Yes, mine doesn't really like being stopped before the fast idle has ended although it does start normally. Maybe I was just unlucky here and didn't give it chance to end.
Whilst pondering, I wondered whay it should be that the car started OK last night and this morning with only 12 miles charging time and another engine start in between. It didn't even hiccup at the stop / start. I didn't expect that time to be really sufficient.
I see Kwik Fit are doing free battery checks so I may pop in there after I have popped a meter on the car tonight.
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You should at least drive the car round the block after washing it for 3 reasons-1.it comes fully off the start procedure,dries out the plugs and warms up cat and exhaust;2.puts some charge back in the battery and 3.shakes the final drops of water out of the body seals and joints.
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Just had the battery on SWMBO 2001 Mazda checked free by a large chain when having an oil change..
Reported to be knackered with capacity much reduced. No reason to doubt that, as it is original ,but car still starts first time even parked outdoors. Reluctant to change battery until starting gets 'difficult'.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Exactly,my Escort TD with seven year old battery still sits outside for upto two weeks at a time but I won't change the the battery till I get serious problems.
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