Not a MH prob but a van prob - dead battery

[whitevanwoman]

I think this is the page you need : Peugeot LCV Partner Diesel Car Battery

Cheapest £52 Recommended heavier duty £69

Lol, how did you know what the next question was going to be?

Thanks to both of you for the link to Tayna, looking now

 

[oldish hippy]

are they pyhcic or been peeping

 

[Firefox]

Just call me psychic

 

[johnmac185]

Battery

Lol, how did you know what the next question was going to be?

Thanks to both of you for the link to Tayna, looking now

Hi W V W
where is your nearest village , i know who may help you tomorrow ,
John

 

[whitevanwoman]

Another quick question (I've never charged a car battery before...)

I've taken the battery out of the Partner and it's set up ready for charging with a 6 amp charger... do I need to remove the lid over the holes in the top whilst charging? I've never tried to do this before and have had a look and it's not obvious how to do so, so I'm wondering whether it is perhaps a sealed battery... don't really want to start fiddling round with a screwdriver trying to prise it off if it's not supposed to come off.

I've also discovered a cut wire leading to some sort of fuse type thing under the bonnet near the battery, I've taken a photo and will upload in a min. I haven't been under the bonnet for weeks so it has been like that for weeks & I haven't noticed anything amiss.

 

[whitevanwoman]

Photos of cut wire under bonnet in Partner



Any comments / suggestions....?

 

[n brown]

don't need to take off lids[caps] but connect the charger clips to the battery terminals before plugging in charger,when charged pull charger plug before removing clips.charger red clip to battery positive and black to neg.ignore the cut wire,looks like someone had something connected once,its an in line fuse,just take the fuse out of it in case its live

 

[whitevanwoman]

Thanks n brown, battery now on charge... I presume it'll take about 24 hrs? It's quite satisfying to sort this out myself, although I was a bit worried after reading all the dire warnings on the leaflet that came with the charger, especially as I'd disconnected the red/live clip first and apparently I should have disconnected the black one first and touched it against the body because of negative earth...? at least it was flat so no harm done.

There's nothing like learning the hard way - old chinese proverb :

I see, I forget
I hear, I remember
I do and I know

 

[oldish hippy]

as regard the broken wire anything on van not working

 

[whitevanwoman]

as regard the broken wire anything on van not working

no, that's what's odd. At least I haven't noticed anything... once the battery is sorted, I'll pop into the garage next week as ask them to have a quick look and check it out. For someone who knows what they are doing, it'll be a 2 min job to fix.

 

[Lorry Ball]

The battery might get slightly warm to touch when charging "but should not get hot", It should not smell...
make sure the terminals and connections are clean, use emery paper or brillo pad
when connected back up rub the terminals all over with Vaseline

Lorry :drive:

 

[whitevanwoman]

Battery charger "Full" light is showing, after apprx 4 hrs charging. Is this right for a completely flat battery? I was expecting it to take at least overnight.

 

[NicknClair]

If on a fast charge then yes, but not a clear indication of condition. If you have done it on a trickle charge the no way, not after only 4hrs.

You can take your battery down to a local ATS-Euromaster, whom should have a proper Battery Tester and can confirm the condition of your battery.

 

[MOS]

just to throw a spanner in the works here .are you sure that the battery was flat ,or is the starter stuck ,have you tryed jumping it or tryed another battery ,sorry to throw crap but its a possibuility you should rule out ,
MOS

 

[sparrks]

Battery charger "Full" light is showing, after apprx 4 hrs charging. Is this right for a completely flat battery? I was expecting it to take at least overnight.

You said you were using a 6A charger? 4 hrs and fully charged equates to a max of 24A hrs (6A x 4hrs = 24A) Sounds to me like the battery has pretty much had it.
Paul

 

[whitevanwoman]

If on a fast charge then yes, but not a clear indication of condition. If you have done it on a trickle charge the no way, not after only 4hrs.

You can take your battery down to a local ATS-Euromaster, whom should have a proper Battery Tester and can confirm the condition of your battery.

Have just studied charger and instructions but it doesn't say whether it is a fast charger or trickle charger. No switches anywhere. All it says on the charger and box and instructions is that it is 6amp. I don't know if that is fast or slow charge?

My "local" ATS is 20 miles away but I will be near a Halfords tomorrow and I can always try the helpless female act there...

 

[Lorry Ball]

Leave it on charge overnight, fit it in the morning, if it starts, problem solved
from the photo the terminals & connections did look a bit manky (the blue furry bits), maybe they just need a good clean, and tighten,
make sure the negative wire to the body is not rusty or loose.

looks like the battery number is on the label on the top

Lorry :drive:

 

[whitevanwoman]

You said you were using a 6A charger? 4 hrs and fully charged equates to a max of 24A hrs (6A x 4hrs = 24A) Sounds to me like the battery has pretty much had it.
Paul

I don't understand maths or electricity so the numbers are meaningless but if you say the battery's had it, then I believe you. Especially as its over 10 years old and apparently thats old for a battery. I'm going to order a new battery using the link that the OPs posted earlier anyway, prices very reasonable. I'd been waiting to order as I needed to check measurements of old battery.

So, next question : how do I dispose of the old battery if it is u/s seeing as how I can't use the tip without a permit because it's a van? Will the supplier of the new one take the old one back in return?

If new battery doesn't work then at least I'll know that it might be the starter, or the cut wire, or something else completely... :lol-053:
and I'll call out the Breakdown on my insurance, I think I've got Homestart. If not, I'll ring my garage and get them to sort it.

I could do with out the extra cost of repairs at the moment as there'll be a call out charge as garage is 12 miles away (I'll have to put Tranny improvements on hold for a while) but at least I know I can trust my garage, they won't rip me off, they itemise everything on invoice, and I 've got an account so I got a month to pay.

 

[Lorry Ball]

If it is knacked
Sell the battery to the scrap man, they are worth a few quid in scrap value nowadays, maybe £10+
If I was to leave it out side my house overnight, It would not be there in the morning, problem solved :wacko:


Lorry :drive:

ps the nut and bolt middle left hand side of picture, joining 3 thick wires does look a bit iffy, could probably do with undoing and cleaning.

 

[sparrks]

I don't understand maths or electricity so the numbers are meaningless but if you say the battery's had it, then I believe you. Especially as its over 10 years old and apparently thats old for a battery. I'm going to order a new battery using the link that the OPs posted earlier anyway, prices very reasonable. I'd been waiting to order as I needed to check measurements of old battery.

So, next question : how do I dispose of the old battery if it is u/s seeing as how I can't use the tip without a permit because it's a van? Will the supplier of the new one take the old one back in return?

If new battery doesn't work then at least I'll know that it might be the starter, or the cut wire, or something else completely... :lol-053:
and I'll call out the Breakdown on my insurance, I think I've got Homestart. If not, I'll ring my garage and get them to sort it.

I could do with out the extra cost of repairs at the moment as there'll be a call out charge as garage is 12 miles away (I'll have to put Tranny improvements on hold for a while) but at least I know I can trust my garage, they won't rip me off, they itemise everything on invoice, and I 've got an account so I got a month to pay.

In future, if the engine doesn't start due to a suspected flat battery, clicking of starter solonoid, as you had, check if other electrical items work..........Headlights..........radio..........interior lights etc if head lights work then starter/Earth problem. If radio barely works, or the interior light doesn't glow then flat battery. A flat battery could be due to the charging system not working, but in this case as the battery is 10 years old I know what I'd put my money on. Best I've ever got out of a battery is about 6 years.
Paul
PS. You should be able to use the tip regardless if its a van or not, because the battery contains lead which is valuable to them. They will sell it on. Several years ago I took various rubbish to the local tip along with some electric cabling in my van, they asked what was in it and said they'd take the cabling but not the other items - I said all the items or none - they took all of it.