Hi all

Quick help before I call a mechanic.....car wont start!!!! I was driving the car all yesterday and have done a few times this week. Went to move the car yesterday and wouldn't start so charged battery over night......Still no joy. I used the terminals on the body not directly on the battery....any ideas or advice on whether it got a charge or what the issue can be? Starter motor??? Current Cars

2006 Range Rover Vogue 4.2 V8 Supercharged Petrol
1996 Williams Clio 2

Previous cars

Bentley GT Continental
Porsche Cayenne 4.5s
4.2 V8 Supercharged Range Rover
Porsche Boxster 3.2s
Ford Kuga
Nissan 350z
BMW 316
Porsche Boxster 2.5s
Golf 2.8 VR6 Highline
Renault Clio 16v
Vauxhall Nova GTE

Might need a little more info:

Does she turn over? If no, is the battery fully charged
Yes, she turns over but doesn't fire?
Any previous foibles with the car in recent days? 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

Yes sorry.... panic post!!!!! car doing my in!!!!!

The car has been a lemon since I bought it 6-8 weeks ago. Going in tomorrow for a full exhaust hence the panic as I need it to get there to be done.

I drove yesterday parked up no issues. Went to move it and it clicks on the ignition and the dash lights up etc just does not fire or start.

I think well 99% think it has to be battery charge. I have done a few tests over the last few weeks going into the secret menu (yes not really a secret) which tells you the voltage. It was around 11.5 so gave it a charge and it went up to 14. I do the school run and little journeys so think that is the culprit although the seller said new battery I doubt it. I left it on charge all night but maybe I will need to jump-start it. Could be (I doubt it) my charger but have checked the fuse etc and all good. It will be a simple thing as it can't just work then fail. I would have thought the battery would have retained the charge from the 40 minute round trip yesterday.

Something is draining power massively from the car. I though you could leave these for a few weeks and it would still start up Seems batteries are dying quicker on cars than they do on Iphones!!!!!! Current Cars

2006 Range Rover Vogue 4.2 V8 Supercharged Petrol
1996 Williams Clio 2

Previous cars

Bentley GT Continental
Porsche Cayenne 4.5s
4.2 V8 Supercharged Range Rover
Porsche Boxster 3.2s
Ford Kuga
Nissan 350z
BMW 316
Porsche Boxster 2.5s
Golf 2.8 VR6 Highline
Renault Clio 16v
Vauxhall Nova GTE

The 'click' would point to the starter motor.
But, old fashioned way of checking the battery is to put the lights on full beam & then turn the key to start, if the lights stay bright & still 'clicks' then I would hedge my bets towards the starter.
If the lights dim/die then it sounds like battery related.
That's just my thoughts, perfectly happy to be proved wrong by someone who has more experience than me......and that's not difficult!

Hope you get it sorted, keep us informed. 2012 Orkney Grey Westminster 4.4TDV8 with Ivory interior.........nice!
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Just one Montesa now, 349 White Wonder
Austin A40 Farina MK2
1975 Morris Marina 1.8TC

Appreciate he tips and advice. I will spend the day kicking something or someone!!!

I hope it is a battery issue I am going to try a few things. Cant see me gettimg a starter motor today and put in before tomorrow. Been waiting 3 weeks for the exhaust appointment so I hope its abattery which I can go and buy a new one easier which ai might do now with winter coming. Yeah hen do the spare battery instal in the boot perhaps. I will keep all posted. Current Cars

2006 Range Rover Vogue 4.2 V8 Supercharged Petrol
1996 Williams Clio 2

Previous cars

Bentley GT Continental
Porsche Cayenne 4.5s
4.2 V8 Supercharged Range Rover
Porsche Boxster 3.2s
Ford Kuga
Nissan 350z
BMW 316
Porsche Boxster 2.5s
Golf 2.8 VR6 Highline
Renault Clio 16v
Vauxhall Nova GTE

I had a similar issue on my 2010 3.6 TDV8 last winter. In my case the battery was the true culprit in that it simply would not hold a charge resulting in all sorts of error messages and ultimately the car not starting at all.

The process of elimination should start with checking the alternator output. If the alternator output is normal and is charging the battery, then the suspect has to be the battery, rather than any drain on the battery from the car.

I suggest you disconnect the battery and fully charge it, then once fully charge check if it is holding the charge. Alternatively get a battery specialist to test the battery.

The current cold temperatures can reduce a battery's charge by a considerable amount, and a poor battery even more so, certainly sufficiently so to stop the car starting.

In fact I have the same issue currently on my 2012 4.4 TDV8 due to sub zero temperatures here in Europe. All summer no issues with the car at all. Now intermittent error messages unless the battery is fully charged overnight using the recently purchased CTEC MXS 10. The current short journeys with Lights, windscreen wipers, heater blower, heated steering wheel, and heated seats running from start up, result in error messages. I have yesterday purchased a VARTA G14 AGM battery that will be fitted once the snow has receded a bit, hopefully this weekend. In the meantime I keep the battery fully charged with the CTEC attached when the car is not used. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Current
2015 E220 with AMG Sport Pack - Currently driven by my son
2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - Written off by my son

Last edited by 4434Morrison on 10th Dec 2020 9:36am. Edited 1 time in total

I know this doesn’t help you get it started, but if, as you say, it “has been a lemon since you bought it” are you sure you want to throw money at it having new exhaust fitted etc.?

Might be better cutting losses and selling?

Cheers

@Ashmyster79,

I have a second battery in the boot of my TDV8, that is constantly connected to a solar charger.

This second battery does not resolve the current issues with my main battery apparently not coping with the loads due to the cold weather. My current main battery fitted to the car is a lead acid battery that is several years old.

The second battery in the back of the car is a 2 year old VARTA lead acid battery I had purchased for my 3.6 TDV8. 2012 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Current
2015 E220 with AMG Sport Pack - Currently driven by my son
2010 3.6 TDV8 Vogue - Written off by my son

Thanks for the input. Annoying as we dont have snow here in sunny essex it is 7c although yes wipers and heaters have been on but not to excess. I will have to do another dull charge today watching it. Over night maybe somethimg happened I dont know. I need to see what battery is on it maybe a new one is needed.

Regarding the lemon it is the exhaust that is the problem. Cats are dead so goes in to reduced performance mode. This could be why the battery is not charging as I am not going over 50mph at its fastest. I think its safe to start at battery and work from there. I have to persevere as 1 no one will buy it in its current state and 2 I just bought it so do expect to spend money on it getting it to a working order. Just a pain to have these issues all the time. I had one before for 3 years and not one problem with it. This one is riddled Current Cars

2006 Range Rover Vogue 4.2 V8 Supercharged Petrol
1996 Williams Clio 2

Previous cars

Bentley GT Continental
Porsche Cayenne 4.5s
4.2 V8 Supercharged Range Rover
Porsche Boxster 3.2s
Ford Kuga
Nissan 350z
BMW 316
Porsche Boxster 2.5s
Golf 2.8 VR6 Highline
Renault Clio 16v
Vauxhall Nova GTE

Headlights trick may not work if you have Xenon/LED lights as they're more regulated than traditional halogens...

Sticking a second battery into it if you don't know why the first one is depleting is, IMHO, creating a bigger problem! (two dead batteries rather than one...)

Stick a multimeter across the battery and see what it's charge state is at various times and go from there - or ask the garage doing your exhaust to do some proper diagnosis, it'll be worth it in the long run for peace of mind if nothing else!

Park interlock?

Mine won’t start first thing in the morning unless I move the gearlever back a poopteenth. Subsequent starts throughout the day don’t need the jiggle of the stick. Ron B. VK2OTC
2003 L322 V8 Auto
2007 Yamaha XJR1300
Previous: 1983, 1986 RRC; 1995, 1996 P38A; 1995 Disco1; 1984 V8 County 110; Series IIA

I rhink it is a combination of faulty battery and faulty battery charger. Christmas will be exciting for me 😊

Thank you for all the posts. Hopefully useful to others too. Current Cars

2006 Range Rover Vogue 4.2 V8 Supercharged Petrol
1996 Williams Clio 2

Previous cars

Bentley GT Continental
Porsche Cayenne 4.5s
4.2 V8 Supercharged Range Rover
Porsche Boxster 3.2s
Ford Kuga
Nissan 350z
BMW 316
Porsche Boxster 2.5s
Golf 2.8 VR6 Highline
Renault Clio 16v
Vauxhall Nova GTE

Battery says 14v not sure how long it will last though

Morning,
Dont remember seeing that diagnostic screen on mine, it looks very useful.
How do you get it to display??
Cheers

Go in to the home menu

Top of screen in the middle where it says Menu. Pres and hold your finger on the screen for 7-10 seconds. You should get a code menu

753 OK

Then you get all the configuration menus. One of those menus think one on bottom line will give you this diagnostics

Hope that helps. If not always youtube vids to access this menu screen Current Cars

2006 Range Rover Vogue 4.2 V8 Supercharged Petrol
1996 Williams Clio 2

Previous cars

Bentley GT Continental
Porsche Cayenne 4.5s
4.2 V8 Supercharged Range Rover
Porsche Boxster 3.2s
Ford Kuga
Nissan 350z
BMW 316
Porsche Boxster 2.5s
Golf 2.8 VR6 Highline
Renault Clio 16v
Vauxhall Nova GTE