Can someone perhaps shed some light on this? Van was starting fine - then the battery went flat after being sat for a while and so took it out and charged it. Put it back in - now all I get is a click from the starter solonoid, I would have thought this would mean a poor earth or battery connection. but still no start! I have: Copper greased and retightened the clamps on the terminals Run Jump lead from battery earth to various parts of the body / engine. Run Jump lead straight from +ve on leisure battery to +ve on main battery. Bypassed main battery with both leads and tried to start off leisure battery. Rocked in gear Smacked starter with large hammer Any other ideas? Has my starter died at the exact same time as the battery went flat or am i missing something obvious?
Hmmm I will try later, surely I should have got something off the leisure battery though? At least an attempt to kick over...
Take care when jumping off your LB, if it is rated as a leisure battery it won't take kindly to the current draw of the stater motor. What tells you the starting battery is in [glow=red,2,300]FACT[/glow] fully charged? Its easy for a standing battery to get a sulphate build up on the plates and block a full charge. A check of the cells with a hydrometer will quickly tell you what sort of state its in.
Terminal Voltage sounds ok. Worth a jump before climbing under but had same with mine recently and the spade had come off the solenoid - was just touching! Try it as over the years Ive experienced most strter circuit problems. Catch you later.
It's your battery. Lead acid main vehicle batteries are known as Cranking Batteries and are designed to be kept fully charged. If you let them go flat, especially if they are a few years ol,d they suffer from sulphation. The sulphur molecules in the sulphuric acid plate onto the lead plates and kill the battery. The plates can also warp and pit. It's non reversible. Your leisure battery is a Deep Cycle battery, useless for cranking but good for long time use and copes with discharge better. So the only way to make your battery last is to keep it charged. Both mine sit in my workshop on trickle charge all winter, and work like new each spring. The reason why people notice battery failure in the winter is because the battery chemistry works so much more slowly at low temperature and not at all if you've let it go flat. Sorry but those are the FACTS
It would be worth a jump from a running vehicle as previously suggested. Then get under and check/clean all the terminals. It does just sound like a duff battery.
Looks like its an issue with the starter - the +ve connection on the solonoid is shot. Thanks for all the help - I'll let you know the result....
