Starting issue

  1. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #1
    A while a go I posted saying my car was struggling to start, when I turned the key, it turned over really slowly then got faster and faster before starting.
    Well I replaced the starter motor and battery aaaaand yesterday it started doing the same then today it won't start at all...does about half a turn then stops...definitely an electrical issue as all the lights go out when I try to start it.
    Are we thinking alternator now? It isn't charging it very well and slowly over the last few weeks, the battery has lost charge?


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  2. Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 279
    #2
    Alternator would definitely be worth checking, obviously you would of checked to make sure the belt hadn't snapped so a drop test would be the next thing to test.
  3. Established Member Joined: Dec 2007 Redcar, Middlesbrough Posts: 2285 16v Rallye S2
    #3
    http://www.wikihow.com/Check-an-Alternator

    Thats it mate
  4. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by tiger1983 View Post
    Alternator would definitely be worth checking, obviously you would of checked to make sure the belt hadn't snapped so a drop test would be the next thing to test.

    Yeah belt is on an I've checked it doesn't slip and it's all ok


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  5. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #5
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by RobVT View Post

    Cheers for that! Will try this evening when a mate gets home from work cos he has a voltmeter


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  6. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #6
    Halfrauds do a free alternator & battery test.
  7. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Halfrauds do a free alternator & battery test.

    Can't get there cos car is dead and if I did jump it and I got there then it might not start again!


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  8. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #8
    Whilst I wait for my mate to finish work I've taken my alternator out to listen to the bearings, if I put my ear near it and spin it then I can hear them but they aren't that loud and don't seem to sound too bad, could it just be old age of the alternator?


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  9. Established Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 2009 Saxò VTS 16v
    #9
    I don't think that would be a valid test as you would need to hear the alternator under stress ie while it's working so you should be able to hear if there's a problem with the bearings.
  10. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by VeiRoN View Post
    I don't think that would be a valid test as you would need to hear the alternator under stress ie while it's working so you should be able to hear if there's a problem with the bearings.
    As above the alternator is just free wheeling & not under load.
  11. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #11
    Cheers guys, I've got it back in and going to volt test it tonight! Where do I put the positive and negative probes on the voltmeter to test it?


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  12. Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 215
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jbrady72 View Post
    Cheers guys, I've got it back in and going to volt test it tonight! Where do I put the positive and negative probes on the voltmeter to test it?


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    Put the probes on the battery test it first without the engine running and the with the engine runnig.
    The oroblem could be parasitic drain it may not be the alternator volt test it first to confirm the alternator is good.
  13. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #13
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by oxass View Post
    Put the probes on the battery test it first without the engine running and the with the engine runnig.

    The oroblem could be parasitic drain it may not be the alternator volt test it first to confirm the alternator is good.

    Right done some tests. Battery voltage was about 12.5-12.8 so that's good. Alternator voltage was all over the place, every second it was changing from any where between 5 volts to 12 volts.
    However when I turned the engine off, the voltage of the battery went down slowly, it lost .1 of a vault every 2 seconds or so, I only watched it till It got down to about 11.5 volts but is that normal to go so far down because of stuff still running?
    If the engine is running, I turn it off, try to turn it bak on immediately and it won't start...


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  14. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #14
    Faulty alternator which can drain a battery,had this on a metro i used to own.
  15. Established Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 2009 Saxò VTS 16v
    #15
    On mine with the engine off it stays at around 12.5 no lower,if it goes to 11.5 i would think there's an issue somewhere.
  16. Established Member Joined: Jun 2013 York Posts: 2134 Citroen Saxo VTR (2001)
    #16
    Ok, wel I'm thinking alternator as from the start! Just wanted to check! Going to have to ask the bank of mum and dad to help me on this one though!


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  17. Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 279
    #17
    Battery should always be at 12v minimum if it's lower with the engine off then the battery is either shot or needs a charge. With the alternator making it drop to 5v then 12v, it's definitely not charging the battery, ideally the battery should read atleast 13.5v while idle (that's what I would look out for when I was working in factors and garages) and raise with engine speed, gives it plenty of drop for when the lights, blowers etc get switched on so it keeps a decent charge rate
  18. Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2014 Wolverhampton Posts: 293 Citroen Saxo Furio/vtr
    #18
    Mines the same it's been sat a good month or so and I've had it idling every couple of days to keep charge but now it's not holding enough juice to start! I've ordered a trickle charger hoping a full charge will help but if it doesn't hold after that I'm thinking alternator change.

    Try giving the battery a full charge externally
  19. Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 215
    #19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by DaPPeR View Post
    Mines the same it's been sat a good month or so and I've had it idling every couple of days to keep charge but now it's not holding enough juice to start! I've ordered a trickle charger hoping a full charge will help but if it doesn't hold after that I'm thinking alternator change.

    Try giving the battery a full charge externally
    Recharge the battery and load test the battery using a multimeter and lest test the output of the alternator using the multimeter.
  20. Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 215
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by oxass View Post
    Recharge the battery and load test the battery using a multimeter and lest test the output of the alternator using the multimeter.
    Sorry about the typo difficult posting on a galaxy.
  21. Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2014 Wolverhampton Posts: 293 Citroen Saxo Furio/vtr
    #21
    I knew what you meant lol