Low battery - strange - hearth contact

[Geko]

Hi there, I didn't use the car for a couple of days and this morning I gave her a crank and she gave me a "Wheuh...", crank again, "wheuh" again, crank again, starter "clack", crank again, solenoid "clik" and that was it. Got the jump-start cables from the MPV and gave it a jolt with engine turned on. Got back in the TR, crank... starter "clack" again. Moved the clips on the battery terminal to get optimal contact: starter "clack" then solenoid "clic" again. Mmm...I then clipped the negative jump-start cable directly to the rocker cover nut. Crank: Vroom ! Battery to body and engine to chassis earth cables are tightly connected to chassis, body and battery terminal; Car is negative earth. Who could be the culprit ?

Edited April 3, 2014 by Geko

[Alec Pringle]

"tightly connected" doesn't always guarantee good continuity . . . . . strip and clean the connections, check cable integrity, especially as the cable joins whatever end fitting, that can be corroded whilst hidden . . . .

 

A hot melt glue gun can be useful here, to seal the joints in a layer of set but not brittle glue, resists corrosion and vibration alike.

 

Cheers

 

Alec

[stuartmac]

I know the heaters are not that efficient, and the other day someone was accused of having a boiler in their car - but a "hearth" - that is going to far, and is possibly the culprit

[Graham Harris]

Try your jumper lead on the boby bolt end of the battery earth lead, if it fires up the problem is the earth lead if not the problem is the body to chasis earth lead, good hunting;;

Graham

[ctc77965o]

connect a jumper cable from TR Battery earth to engine...if it starts then you have a connection problem.

[RogerH]

Hi Stef,

the nromal earth connection is battery to body, engine to chassis. The body and chassis are linked via the body attachment screws/bolts. Rather iffy ion my mind.

 

I have the normal set up PLUS another earth cable going from battery to engine at the coil attachment screws.

 

Roger

[Lebro]

After you have undone, cleaned, removed any paint etc from the contact areas, smear some petroleum jelly over the now bare metal areas, & reassemble tightly.

 

Bob.

[Ian Vincent]

For my earth connection to the body, I remover all paint and covered the area with a lead washer cut from some code 4 lead flashing that I had in the garage. I then bolted up to the lead washer and covered in Vaseline.

 

Rgds Ian

[Geko]

Thanks all - I went Roger's course, relying on his sensible explanation and reflecting on the never ending quest for a good earth for the horn...Now, my black jump start lead is a bit shorter but for a good cause

Edited April 4, 2014 by Geko