Battery issues

[jay see]

Battery is playing up. Well its not hesitating to start it wouldn't do anything.
Started Thursday morning after work completely dead. RACV battery guy came out and and after a while it started. Also found that the terminals were both loose, the negative one more so, not so they would fall off but still not tight. They can't be tightened any more. As a temporary measure a place to screw in there to keep it tight.

Could the lose terminals be the problem here or is the battery on the way out.
This is what I getting.
Off 13.13v
Starting 10v
Running 14.37v
Acc 12v.

Remember no hesitation in starting, rather start or nothing.

[Clunk]

I'd say terminals are the issue, need to be tight and clean

[Winnie]

Yeah those are pretty healthy voltages, get new battery terminals and see how you go.

[jay see]

I thought so, didn't want to go out and get a new battery and have the same issue.

Terminals all the same sizes ain't they?

[threedogs]

Ditto with the above putting a self tapper not the best but
problem solved maybe buy terminals that allow some extra wires
to be fitted

[jay see]

Repco only had one size standard size. Got it home and sure enough wrong one.
I do remember seeing screws on the terminals when I first brought it. Know why now.

Battery is a bit drained.
I'll give it a charge overnight and a descent drive tomorrow, if all good I'll hunt down some smaller terminals, if not and new battery with standard size terminals.

Thanks
Guys.

[threedogs]

JayCar may have what you need ?
whilst your out driving

[jay see]

Thanks John. But I'm home feeling with sh!t again. Will have a look tomorrow.

[Clunk]

What battery do you have in there.?

[jay see]

61412
I've had it for about 15 months and it was already in there.

[the evil twin]

Repco only had one size standard size. Got it home and sure enough wrong one.
I do remember seeing screws on the terminals when I first brought it. Know why now.

Battery is a bit drained.
I'll give it a charge overnight and a descent drive tomorrow, if all good I'll hunt down some smaller terminals, if not and new battery with standard size terminals.

Thanks
Guys.

The DIN standard for Battery terminal post diameter is...
Positive 19.5mm taper 1:9
Negative 17.9mm taper 1:9

The SAE standard is
Positive 17.5mm taper 1:9
Neg 15.9mm taper 1:9

Total PIA but mixing the two can cause problems with loose terminals even tho the nuts are done up to 1,000,000 Foot Pounds

[jay see]

I've had the battery on charge overnight and the terminals are now tight. Tried starting completely dead!!!!
When on the on position I hear a slight humming noise from somewhere around here.

61424

What is this? When I disconnect the plug the noise stops.

Will hook up the wife's battery when she gets back just to eliminate.

[threedogs]

A relay trying to work ???????
Check all the engine bay earths

[the evil twin]

Something doesn't gel... if the Battery is even half charged then it cannot be the Battery.
A low battery will at least pull in the solenoid so you will hear the dreaded 'click, click, click'

What is the battery voltage with the headlights turned on?... 12 volts or better?
If it is then you have an electrical fault in the starting circuit
Could be ign switch, a relay, blown fuse, corroded wire

Old school 10 second quick test is...
Turn Headlights on
Nice and bright, battery may be OK

Turn Ign to start
Headlights stay fully bright no solenoid click
Blown fuse, open circuit or fault in the start circuit low current side

Solenoid pulls in, headlights stay bright but starter doesn't turn
Faulty Starter brushes/dirty solenoid contacts

Solenoid pulls in and headlights Headlights go dim or extinguish
Faulty Battery or Short in the start circuit high current side (usually starter motor poling out)

[jay see]

A relay trying to work ???????
Check all the engine bay earths

Found one earth strap broken on the exhaust side, fixed it and still the same.

Have tried the wife's battery 6 months old still no good.
Starting to run out of ideas.

[jay see]

Something doesn't gel... if the Battery is even half charged then it cannot be the Battery.
A low battery will at least pull in the solenoid so you will hear the dreaded 'click, click, click'

What is the battery voltage with the headlights turned on?... 12 volts or better?
If it is then you have an electrical fault in the starting circuit
Could be ign switch, a relay, blown fuse, corroded wire

Old school 10 second quick test is...
Turn Headlights on
Nice and bright, battery may be OK

Turn Ign to start
Headlights stay fully bright no solenoid click
Blown fuse, open circuit or fault in the start circuit low current side

Solenoid pulls in, headlights stay bright but starter doesn't turn
Faulty Starter brushes/dirty solenoid contacts

Solenoid pulls in and headlights Headlights go dim or extinguish
Faulty Battery or Short in the start circuit high current side (usually starter motor poling out)

Headlights on 12.3 ignition on 12.0 lights still bright.
Going back to recheck all fuses and relays.

[the evil twin]

Headlights on 12.3 ignition on 12.0 lights still bright.
Going back to recheck all fuses and relays.

Cool... what happens when you try to crank it IE turning from "Ign On" to "Start"?

[threedogs]

at the battery terminal where all the wires meet, have a look to
see if one may have broken off and fallen down next to the motor.
Sounds weird it wont start now, you havent done that much have you??

[jay see]

Cool... what happens when you try to crank it IE turning from "Ign On" to "Start"?

Absolutely nothing.

[jay see]

at the battery terminal where all the wires meet, have a look to
see if one may have broken off and fallen down next to the motor.
Sounds weird it wont start now, you havent done that much have you??

All look OK.
All I did after it started last night was but the battery on charge as I could hear that it was a bit drained.

[jay see]

I can hear the middle one clicking.

61427

Can I swap it with another.

[Yendor]

The middle relay is for your interior fan motor.

[Yendor]

When it doesn't start do your dash warning lights stay on or go off?

What about the interior light? does it stay on or go out when trying to start?

Is your vehicle an auto or manual?

[jay see]

When it doesn't start do your dash warning lights stay on or go off?

What about the interior light? does it stay on or go out when trying to start?

Is your vehicle an auto or manual?

Dash lights work as normal.

Auto.

Have tried starting with the ignition on and a screwdriver on the starter, little spark and nothing else.

Is it safe to say that it's a crook starter motor.:D

[Yendor]

Sounds like it. What did you connect the screwdriver to?

[Yendor]

Seems you have checked and cleaned the battery terminals but what about the main earth on the engine?

If you have jumper leads try connecting the end of one lead on the negative battery post and the other end on the engine.

[the evil twin]

... not a dodgy Park/Neutral switch on the Auto, Rodney?

[Yendor]

... not a dodgy Park/Neutral switch on the Auto, Rodney?

Possibly, that's what I was thinking, but the "screwdriver on the starter" may throw that out the window.

[the evil twin]

Possibly, that's what I was thinking, but the "screwdriver on the starter" may throw that out the window.

Agree... Things are happening faster than I can type and post...

[jay see]

Sounds like it. What did you connect the screwdriver to?

The 2 terminals.

[Yendor]

If you bridged the two large terminals together and the starter motor didn't spin you have a problem with the starter motor. More then likely worn out brushes in the starter motor.

As long as the main earth to the engine is in good condition and the main positive battery cable to the starter motor is clean and tight.

[jay see]

Starter is out and farked.

Cheers guys for all the input.