Rover 200 (1995 - 1999) - 95 1.4 Starting problems - not another new battery

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Wed 3 Dec 2008 09:15
95 1.4 Starting problems - not another new battery - wicked_buffy
The car is a Rover 214 16V of 1995 vintage. A new battery was fitted 10 months ago. It was soon after left standing for about 4 months but was started and run for 5 minutes every month or so. Then it entered daily use and was fine for about 3 months. A few weeks ago, the starter hardly turned - diagnosed to a slack drive belt and fixed, but only after an interim period of about 3 weeks when the car was started with a booster pack. Then all was OK. Now the started barely turns and it followed by a rapid clicking. battery was then measured at 11.9 volts. I started the car again with the booster pack, switched on everything (lights etc) and the voltage was 13.5V. The starter motor is "lazy" in that it has always struggled to turn initially but then soon picks up. I've concluded the following:
a) The alternator + drive belt are fine
b) The starter motor is lazy at first, but otherwise fine
c) The battery is dying but is only 10 months old. A reading of 11.9V is indicative of a battery in a fair state of discharge. Do any of you agree with my diagnosis, before I trundle back to Halfords for yet another new battery? Just had one last thought, what should the standby current drain be with the car locked? I'm guessing a few mA. I could check there is no overnight current drain taking place.
many thanks
Peter
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Wed 3 Dec 2008 09:50
95 1.4 Starting problems - not another new battery - sierraman
Is the car kept outside?The current cold weather will reduce the battery's efficiency by up to 40%,add to that the increased difficulty of turning a cold engine with oil like treacle and it could be your starter that is the problem.A voltage reading tells you nothing really,I have a new battery here that is defective,turned out to have no electrolyte in it and it still gives 12 volts on a volt meter.A battery tester tells a different story,47 amps instead of 420.Get it to an auto electrician and have him test it,if OK must be the starter,assuming connections and earths are good.
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Wed 3 Dec 2008 13:04
95 1.4 Starting problems - not another new battery - mfarrow
I could check there is no overnight current drain


Good idea. If OK get Halfords to have a look, I think they will do it for free and after all it's their battery.
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Thu 4 Dec 2008 22:34
95 1.4 Starting problems - not another new battery - wicked_buffy
Problem fiixed. Took the battery back to Halfords, they tested it and said it was duff. Walked away with a new replacement and now all is fine. Thanks for your help. Obviously newish batteries can fail.
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