Chris Fleet Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 Good morning all, I’ve been starting the 3A up routinely and bring up to temperature every couple of weeks since the colder months have started and she’s been tucked away. Today the car wouldn’t start despite seeming to turn over strongly. However now, when the starter or solenoid button is pushed, I’m only getting a clicking noise. im hoping it means that it’s just the battery drained from repeated attempts but any other thoughts? the car has been kept on a ctek trickle… Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 (edited) Try the headlights. If they are dim the battery is discharged. If they work OK the solenoid or starter may be duff. Is the earth return braid for the engine intact? Edited January 11 by RobH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Fleet Posted January 11 Author Report Share Posted January 11 12 minutes ago, RobH said: Try the headlights. If they are dim the battery is discharged. If they work OK the solenoid or starter may be duff. Is the earth return braid for the engine intact? lights etc turn on, but as soon at the starter is pushed they dim. Ive also just noticed I can hear bubbling and smell sulphur when I release the starter, so very much thinking the battery is discharged. Will let it trickle charge again overnight and then see. out of interest any battery recommendations? I think it's a 96 size, it currently has an Exide 100VSE ..... and I assume a higher CCA won't be an issue? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 Hi Chris, it sounds as though you have simply flattened the battery. These trickle chargers are OK but now and then you need to whack the amps in. Put it on a decent charger for 24Hrs (ensure some ventilation) . Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Fleet Posted January 11 Author Report Share Posted January 11 34 minutes ago, RogerH said: Hi Chris, it sounds as though you have simply flattened the battery. These trickle chargers are OK but now and then you need to whack the amps in. Put it on a decent charger for 24Hrs (ensure some ventilation) . Roger Hopefully so! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 Just had exactly the same issue…….trickle charger wasn’t enough. Put on a proper charger for 24 hrs and all good. I had the battery tested too. It’s down but I think ok at 70% of original 630 Amp. No doubt I’ll find out soon if it’s not! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 My charger is 50, if not 60, years old, with chunky rectifier inside - and it's box is certainly not pocket-sized Despite its optimistic ammeter (scaled 0 to 10 Amps), it has never shown more than 2 Amps on even a really flat battery, but it works away and has always resuscitated near dead batteries (as low as 5V). It's not intelligent, but the output decreases to almost zero when the battery has been re-charged, and that's intelligent enoigh for an old man! Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 That chunky rectifier is probably a selenium one. Real steampunk - lots of fins ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Fleet Posted January 11 Author Report Share Posted January 11 3 hours ago, iain said: Just had exactly the same issue…….trickle charger wasn’t enough. Put on a proper charger for 24 hrs and all good. I had the battery tested too. It’s down but I think ok at 70% of original 630 Amp. No doubt I’ll find out soon if it’s not! Must be the time of year! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Yes, Rob, I feel sure it's a selenium rectifier. Good, old-fashioned technology (like its owner!) Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Collins Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 I remember the smell when they fail, truly awful. Mike. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Fleet Posted January 12 Author Report Share Posted January 12 so overnight trickle charging (I don't have a full blown charger.... yet) showed no errors on the charger, and when the battery was tested with a multimeter, it was showing 13V. Car still only clicks and won't turn over, with the ignition light even dimming. So assuming the battery is no longer pumping out enough amps or CCA, ive ordered a new battery. In fact looking through the history, the battery is about 20 years old, and with minimal usage, id say that's pretty good! fingers crossed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 You've certainly had your moneys-worth out of that one Chris. Best I've ever managed is 12 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted January 12 Report Share Posted January 12 Blimey 20 years, that doesn’t owe you anything! Take it to the scrap man and he will pay you for it too :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Fleet Posted January 13 Author Report Share Posted January 13 (edited) New battery in. What a difference, starter sounded so much more powerful than anytime since we got the car in August. She was firing a bit lumpy, but resat the ignition cables and all seems good now. I should also say the battery has only been loosely connected. Have a new liner, rubber matting etc coming Edited January 13 by Chris Fleet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TimG Posted January 15 Report Share Posted January 15 In my experience Varta Batteries are excllent. I had one last 17 years on a vintage Sunbeam with no voltage control & that is what's in now. Another lasted 13 years on a Bentley S3, that unfortunately failed as soon as I had agreed a sale. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldBob Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 (edited) On 1/15/2024 at 8:40 AM, TimG said: In my experience Varta Batteries are excllent. I had one last 17 years on a vintage Sunbeam with no voltage control & that is what's in now. Another lasted 13 years on a Bentley S3, that unfortunately failed as soon as I had agreed a sale. Varta was bought out I'd heard, but new owners are continuing the Varta name. Edited January 19 by OldBob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DesNoble Posted January 26 Report Share Posted January 26 I have one of those Lucas batteries and so far have no problem with it. Just for info I'd keep your non smart charger as it will try to charge any battery no matter how low the voltage is. A smart charger has a cut off voltage which means if the battery voltage is too low it won't charge. A work around is to add another battery in parallel (as long as it has a decent charge) which will trick the charger into believing your battery is good enough. Leave them both together until they are both charged. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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