Battery Problems

[Odwa_M]

Hi Guys

So we go again with my car problems that never cease to end.

Last week Thursday, I decided to put in a new front loader in my car and get rid
of the built in thingy, fine. The guy doing the fitment is my friend and he did mention
something about the front loader not gonna be able to switch off completely, unless I take of
the face/front.

Friday I decided to use the car to drive to work, I normally use the bus. During the weekend, I did use the car
for weekend driving, without any issues whatsoever and went back to use the bus during the past 3 days.

This morning I decide to use the car, reason being I wanted to do a bit of shopping after work. Got to the car, turn
the mobilizer thing, nothing comes and yes I am surprised because it was working on Sunday. I then use the key to open the door, the door light on the dash stays off and the lights as well.

My immediate thought is the battery has gone flat. I ask my neighbor to come and assist with jumping the car, he comes and we attempt to jump it. The lights start working and everything else, the only thing it won't do is to start the engine. It does make that sound as if it wants to start, but nah it doesn't. We can't take the battery out and put his battery because the thing is mounted with a screw and I am running late. The car was on reserve, but I knew it would be enough to get to the filling station, nevertheless, I went to the filling station,bought a 5L of petrol and went back to try a final attempt,it does the same thing.

Can someone please point me in the right direction, what could possible be the reason?TIA

 

[Pitbull]

So he didn't connect the remote wire?

Why?

 

[Odwa_M]

I am not sure what you mean by a remote cable.He took out a cable with four heads from his car, connected the other two to my own battery terminals and the other two to his own, started his car and instructed me to try to start mine.

 

[pinball wizard]

How did you get to the filling station?

 

[Odwa_M]

I used his car, the neighbor's car.

 

[thehuman]

Car radio have 2 x 12 v feeds
One permanent
One only powered if ignition is on
They are red and yellow
He most probably did not connect it via ignition and that ran your battery flat

 

[Drifter]

I am not sure what you mean by a remote cable.He took out a cable with four heads from his car, connected the other two to my own battery terminals and the other two to his own, started his car and instructed me to try to start mine.

Jumper cable.

 

[Odwa_M]

Jumper cable.

He used the jumper cable.

 

[Odwa_M]

Car radio have 2 x 12 v feeds
One permanent
One only powered if ignition is on
They are red and yellow
He most probably did not connect it via ignition and that ran your battery flat

Then why would it not start when we were jumping it with another car? Assuming the battery was flat.

 

[thehuman]

Sometimes jumper cables not thick enough
Then you need to let other car idle for a while to charge up your battery

 

[Odwa_M]

Sometimes jumper cables not thick enough
Then you need to let other car idle for a while to charge up your battery

So you think it's something to do with the battery not some mechanical issue?

 

[Drifter]

So you think it's something to do with the battery not some mechanical issue?

Doubt it is mechanical, get a new battery, or go to a battery shop and get it tested. They can also test your alternator to see if it is charging. If a battery is completely dead, the donor car would have to idle a while with the jumpers connected before you attempt starting your car.

If you have a battery charger, remove your battery and put it on charge overnight.

 

[Odwa_M]

Doubt it is mechanical, get a new battery, or go to a battery shop and get it tested. They can also test your alternator to see if it is charging. If a battery is completely dead, the donor car would have to idle a while with the jumpers connected before you attempt starting your car.

If you have a battery charger, remove your battery and put it on charge overnight.

Thanks man, I will have to see how it all goes after work, very frustrating.

 

[rrh]

Sounds very much like a dead cell.

As per @Drifter: start by getting the battery tested.

 

[airborne]

I have a similar issue with my stupid pioneer frontloader, newer model with USB etc, if I leave it switched off but with the face on it drains my battery in a day or 2, if I clip the face off no problem.

I have both 12v power wires powered at all times, ie one not wired to the ignition switch because thats just plain irritating, radio switching on/off everytime the ignition is switched off, anyway wiring it like that has never been an issue with the last 3 frontloaders but with the current one the face must be removed overnight.

 

[Odwa_M]

I have a similar issue with my stupid pioneer frontloader, newer model with USB etc, if I leave it switched off but with the face on it drains my battery in a day or 2, if I clip the face off no problem.

I have both 12v power wires powered at all times, ie one not wired to the ignition switch because thats just plain irritating, radio switching on/off everytime the ignition is switched off, anyway wiring it like that has never been an issue with the last 3 frontloaders but with the current one the face must be removed overnight.

Mine is also a pioneer, the one with red buttons. My friend suggested it, because it has a "Great" sound, but I suppose this
is what he mean't by great.

 

[Odwa_M]

Sounds very much like a dead cell.

As per @Drifter: start by getting the battery tested.

And where are the cells located? Please bear with my not so smart questions.

 

[Drifter]

And where are the cells located? Please bear with my not so smart questions.

A battery id made up of a series of cells. On top of the battery you will find a little round plastic cover, 4 - 6 of them, depending on the size of the battery. Unscrew this and 1st check if there is water in the it, this is the cell. If not, get some distilled water and top it up. If it is a maintenance free battery, you are screwed.

 

[Odwa_M]

A battery id made up of a series of cells. On top of the battery you will find a little round plastic cover, 4 - 6 of them, depending on the size of the battery. Unscrew this and 1st check if there is water in the it, this is the cell. If not, get some distilled water and top it up. If it is a maintenance free battery, you are screwed.

Thanks for that info, I will check it later on today.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I have a similar issue with my stupid pioneer frontloader, newer model with USB etc, if I leave it switched off but with the face on it drains my battery in a day or 2, if I clip the face off no problem.

I have both 12v power wires powered at all times, ie one not wired to the ignition switch because thats just plain irritating, radio switching on/off everytime the ignition is switched off, anyway wiring it like that has never been an issue with the last 3 frontloaders but with the current one the face must be removed overnight.

You can't have your cake and eat it.

Obviously these new ones expect to be wired to the ignition to prevent this.

So either keep taking the face off or remove it properly.

Why do you need the radio when the car is off anyway? How often are you in that situation in the real world...and why can't you just turn the ignition on if you really need to us it like that?