jskyrme Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Dear Techmeisters, I'm a new member of the club having acquired my first Seven at the end of the Summer - Frankly I haven't stopped grinning since and the adrenaline has been pumping like mad on each and every blat. Given that my wife is less than responsive on all matters relating to Seven ownership (funny as it was a present from me to "us") I'm very much looking forward to meeting up with some like minded members so I can enjoy the car even more. However there seems to be a problem when starting the car (not good when you've roared onto a petrol forecourt, refueled and then have to push the car on to the side before the car will restart 10mins later). It sounds like a flat battery as the starter motor still turns however I have tested the battery before and during running >12v and >13v when running. In addition I use a batt conditioner which indicates the batt is ok!? So I replaced the earth strap with a nice new one. The car started on the button four or five times then I got a lazy start again. I thought it might be heat related some how but the car wouldn't start at all today from cold. Again the starter motor is turning really slowly. I would be very grateful if anybody could point me in the right direction as I can't fathom out what the issue is...wiring / starter motor / new batt required...? Any suggestions gratefully received... Many Thanks guys, Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 K series have been known to suffer from the odd starter related Gremlin 😳 No doubt one of the experts on those will be along shortly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 How are the liquid levels in the battery ? Very hot under a Seven bonnet ! Check all large cable connections on engine, battery and chassis earths. Look for bright/clean metal - if necessary, scrape clean and remake. If all ok when you replaced the earth cable for a short while, has it come loose again, or bolted onto dull/dirty metal ? Is battery losing it's charge after all the attempts at starting ? How old is it ? Put voltmeter across battery, then watch the voltage when you crank the starter. If it dips alarmingly, probably dying, low on liquid, or discharged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whitley Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Do you have a battery cut off switch? There's a lot of loss in the wiring to/from and more in the switch itself. I've wired the starter power feed straight to the battery (everything else goes via the cut off switch) and starting is much better. There's also the "relay mod" which you'll find in the 7FAQ I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 There are a host of issues which can cause hot starting problems. Here's a few: Poor earth from the battery. On my car I have a single earth lead from the battery to one of the starter motor mounting bolts. This is steel into aluminium, and has to pass the entire 300A (or whatever it is) starting current. Take out the bolt, and clean it fully. Loose or corroded connections on battery, starter or FIA switch. Dody contacts inside the starter motor solenoid. Worth dismantling the solenoid and cleaning all the internal contacts and looking for breaks. Voltage drop before the starter motor. If you have an FIA switch, and you're sure you'll NEVER use it in competition, considering wiring the starter input directly to the battery as Tony suggests. Iffy starter relay in the multi-function relay unit (MFRU). See the relay mod on Myles's page here. One tip, though - don't use a Scotchlok on the brown wire, instead remove the central brown wire from the bottom of the connector, and connect that directly to the new relay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jskyrme Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks very much guys...a great response and loads to go on...much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 dead battery here is my Duratec R .... C7 TOP Taffia joint AO with Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 As Dave says check the battery. If you can get the tops off, try starting it with them off (put everything electric 'on' that you can at the same time) Then look to see if one of the cells is bubbling excessively when the battery is under load (wear eye protection). If it is then its new battery time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1MON Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 However there seems to be a problem when starting the car (not good when you've roared onto a petrol forecourt, refueled and then have to push the car on to the side before the car will restart 10mins later). It sounds like a flat battery as the starter motor still turns however I have tested the battery before and during running >12v and >13v when running. In addition I use a batt conditioner which indicates the batt is ok!? It's not your immobiliser coming on is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeKK Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I'd check your battery fluid levels first, make sure it's nicely topped up. Also, is it a Banner Battery? (one of the old starting bulls), since I had issues with my old one. I had the exact same problem you describe, pulled onto petrol forecourt after quick blast down the road from my house, went to restart and sounded like a dead battery. After a cool down period, she started again no problem so it was as if the battery was over heating. I understand K-Series engines can have starter issues, but I replaced my very old and leaking 😳 banner battery with the powervamp and she has no more starting problems whatsoever. Edit to add - I moved my battery earth point (negative lead) to a different position on the engine, with a cleaner join thanks to some emery cloth and some good ol' vaseline, may have improved matters too. Edited by - TeKK on 25 Nov 2009 16:37:30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jskyrme Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks TeKK, It is in fact a Banner Battery "Starting Bull", I've no idea how old it is though but it looks in newish condition...I topped up fluid levels a few weeks back and also moved the Earth point to a fresh bolt that isn't shared with the exhaust heat shield. I'll try Graham's suggestion to see if there's excessive bubbling under load....but very reassuring to hear you manage to cure your issue with the power Vamp. Thanks to all your suggestions Guys, much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 The solenoid feed also passes alarmingly close to the exhaust, so gets fried over time. It is worth replacing this section of cable, and rerouting it around the back of the starter away from the heat. Only dead fish go with the flow....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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