Advice required re starting, batteries and possibly boosters

Hi all,

Spent the weekend doing various bits on the car - fitting a new bumper, replacing a central locking door motor and adding a shock sensor to the alarm. So far so good...

This morning the bugger (Hyundai Coupe) wouldn't start... The starter was turning yet it wasn't firing. Panic of course sets in - I was late for work and also concious of the liklihood that it was my fault. I'd obviously removed various panels, rummaged around miles of wiring loom etc and was worried that I'd inadvertantly f*cked up somewhere - possible half-disconnected a connector somewhere along the way. The alarm aspect was of particular concerns - it immobilises the starter and the fuel pump, however as the starter was working I was reasonably content this wasn't to blame.

And it wasn't - the breakdown guy started it first time with a booster pack. I know this should be a good thing but I had to pay =A350 for the privilege as it was outside my own home (that'll teach me to go for the cheapest cover option!) and for that price I could've bought a booster pack and done it myself. There was of course the option of jump starting but it was parked awkwardly in a terraced street with unknown cars either side (i.e. not the neighbours/locals) and in all honesty I assumed (wrongly?) that as the starter was turning then I had enough juice so didn't really try too hard to work out a way of doing this...

So, on to my questions (finally):

1) I was working on the car for around 10-12 hours over the weekend (hey, I was doing a 'thorough' job!) - could the interior lights and stereo have killed the battery in this time? It's also just been in for a panel respray where no doubt it's been started, moved around the workshop, and stopped, various times - each time taking it's toll?

2) By the time the recovery guy arrived the battery was barely turning the engine, however until that point it had, in my opinion, been turning over reasonably fast. The guy suggested that perhaps it wasn't turning fast enough and hence had flooded so was becoming more and more difficult to fire, and having less and less energy to turn. Vicious circle. Could this be true? Given the ECU had reset at the weekend could this have contributed? Certainly my GF's Fiesta is as rough as old boots following a battery disconnect whilst its ECU relearns whatever it has to...

3) The battery has been fitted from new - 7 years ago - could it be reaching the end of its useful life? Should I be considering replacing it anyway, regardless of whether this incident is a one-off or a sign of things to come?

4) If this is going to happen again, what is the panel's opinion on booster packs? I've got jump leads already and I'm wondering if leads alone might be just as good - if I'd known it was definitely the battery I would've *found* a way to jump start it this morning - pushing it down the round to somewhere convenient etc. I'm wondering if the expense of a booster may not pay off, and indeed if it sits unused for years will it be of little use anyway? Maybe a longer set of quality jump leads may prove handier?

Sorry for all the questions - just keen to learn as many lessons as I can from this incident given the =A350 tuition fee.

Mathew

Reply to
Mathew Newton
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Hi all,

Spent the weekend doing various bits on the car - fitting a new bumper, replacing a central locking door motor and adding a shock sensor to the alarm. So far so good...

This morning the bugger (Hyundai Coupe) wouldn't start... The starter was turning yet it wasn't firing. Panic of course sets in - I was late for work and also concious of the liklihood that it was my fault. I'd obviously removed various panels, rummaged around miles of wiring loom etc and was worried that I'd inadvertantly f*cked up somewhere - possible half-disconnected a connector somewhere along the way. The alarm aspect was of particular concerns - it immobilises the starter and the fuel pump, however as the starter was working I was reasonably content this wasn't to blame.

And it wasn't - the breakdown guy started it first time with a booster pack. I know this should be a good thing but I had to pay =A350 for the privilege as it was outside my own home (that'll teach me to go for the cheapest cover option!) and for that price I could've bought a booster pack and done it myself. There was of course the option of jump starting but it was parked awkwardly in a terraced street with unknown cars either side (i.e. not the neighbours/locals) and in all honesty I assumed (wrongly?) that as the starter was turning then I had enough juice so didn't really try too hard to work out a way of doing this...

So, on to my questions (finally):

1) I was working on the car for around 10-12 hours over the weekend (hey, I was doing a 'thorough' job!) - could the interior lights and stereo have killed the battery in this time? It's also just been in for a panel respray where no doubt it's been started, moved around the workshop, and stopped, various times - each time taking it's toll?

2) By the time the recovery guy arrived the battery was barely turning the engine, however until that point it had, in my opinion, been turning over reasonably fast. The guy suggested that perhaps it wasn't turning fast enough and hence had flooded so was becoming more and more difficult to fire, and having less and less energy to turn. Vicious circle. Could this be true? Given the ECU had reset at the weekend could this have contributed? Certainly my GF's Fiesta is as rough as old boots following a battery disconnect whilst its ECU relearns whatever it has to...

3) The battery has been fitted from new - 7 years ago - could it be reaching the end of its useful life? Should I be considering replacing it anyway, regardless of whether this incident is a one-off or a sign of things to come?

4) If this is going to happen again, what is the panel's opinion on booster packs? I've got jump leads already and I'm wondering if leads alone might be just as good - if I'd known it was definitely the battery I would've *found* a way to jump start it this morning - pushing it down the round to somewhere convenient etc. I'm wondering if the expense of a booster may not pay off, and indeed if it sits unused for years will it be of little use anyway? Maybe a longer set of quality jump leads may prove handier?

Sorry for all the questions - just keen to learn as many lessons as I can from this incident given the =A350 tuition fee.

Mathew

Reply to
Mathew Newton
3) Take the car/battery in to any tyre/exhaust/battery place and they will be able to test it under load. After 7 years, it could well be due now that its getting colder.

4) I prefer jump leads to a booster pack as they're lighter, you don't have to make sure they're charged/work and there's nearly always somebody around who's happy to help.

Z
Reply to
Zimmy
7 years is bloody good for a battery. I wouldn't bet on it making it past the first frost.

As for boosters vs jump leads, if you're not either in the trade, or always working on different cars etc, I would stick with your jump leads. Jump leads don't die of old age if unused for several months/years like a jump pack.Invest your money in a good new battery.

Steve

Reply to
shazzbat

Thank you both for your responses - 2 out of 2 for replacing the battery and retaining the jump leads sounds like a sensible way forward. I suppose it's fair to say a booster pack is more treating the symptom than the cause.

Cheers,

Mathew

Reply to
Mathew Newton

It would be in this instance. Jump packs are ideal for garages etc because it's so much easier than getting another vehicle to jump start them, also they're probably doing several per day. Horses for courses.

Steve

Reply to
shazzbat

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