91 740 GL auto won't crank

magoo · Post by **magoo** » 14 Apr 2008, 20:19

Hi all,

I have the above car & it's not cranking at all. Solenoid & starter make no noise at all when turning the ignition.

I checked the voltage at the starter & it was only about 9.5V, I then checked the battery & it's also only 9.5V. My question is this - with the voltage this low, would it do nothing when the ignition is turned? I had assumed if the battery was this low it that the starter would still engage but would crank weakly - maybe I'm wrong though? I'll charge the battery & see how it goes, but figured I'd ask the question here anyway.

Note that first up I'd cleaned the contacts on the starter, battery & ground to the block & that didn't make a difference. Then I got at the neutral start switch & cleaned up the contacts & even jumpered the appropriate terminals & that didn't make a difference. I'd done these few things before I decided to check the voltage at the starter - I should've checked the voltage first & saved myself some work, but I don't suppose the other extra maintenance will hurt.

Thanks,
Shane

Post by **billofdurham** » 15 Apr 2008, 11:32

Charge the battery. At that voltage it will not crank.

Bill.

magoo · Post by **magoo** » 15 Apr 2008, 16:42

Thanks Bill.

I charged it overnight & it started fine this morning & the alternator looks like it's charging (at about 14V).

We've had the car 3 years & the battery didn't look new when we got it so it may've been near the end of it's life. It's just started getting colder here in Brisbane so that may've topped it off, that always seems to be the way it goes. I'll get it checked out today.

Thanks again,
Shane

magoo · Post by **magoo** » 15 Apr 2008, 18:31

Now that it's running I dropped past a mate's workshop (he's an auto electrician), the battery actually load tests OK & he's also happy with the charge. He suggested I see how it goes & hooked up a wire so I can short the starter if it does play up again so I can determine if there's a starter or starter wiring issue. I'll give it a few days & see how it goes. It may've even just been a one off battery charging issue with the dirty terminals, we'll see what happens.

Will keep you posted.

Thanks,
Shane