Ignition Issues - Ongoing..

[cds]

Yes I've posted this before... but I'm more confused than ever now.

I went to get my battery tested by someone at Aurobarn who used one of those digital testers where you need to enter how many CCA the battery is etc, it gave a reading for my battery 75% Good. According to the rep that's good, but is this true?

I've been having starting issues, start my car around 4-6 times a day and 1 or 2 of those starts its like my battery is dead and struggles to turn the starter over, some days no problems at all and it dosen't matter if the engine is hot or cold.

To ensure it wasn't any connections... I've brought new brass battery connector's and made sure everything is solid and strong, when the car is running the voltage goes to around 14.5v's so I think everything is okay there. When trying to start the car, I've connected a multimeter to the battery and the battery voltage drops down to around 10v is this normal? The battery in my car I think is 450 CCA and 90min it was fine when I got it and has been fine until a few month back - and ive had it for around 14 month now.

Before I go and buy a new battery... Does this sound like a starter motor issue or is it likely to be the battery? I know its hard to work out.. but I'd like to spend the money on the right stuff - need to have a reliable car over xmas.

[accentstencil]

Go to to an auto electrician to have you battery tested, the guys at Autobarn probably only have limited knowledge on batteries. My guess is that the starter motor is the problem but it is just a guess.

[dave0103]

had the same problem a while back and the starter motor was buggered, replaced starter motor and never had a problem since

[Maxseverity]

Starter Motor. although your battery is sounding a tad dodgy. mine reads 12.2 V when cars off.

[cds]

Well, filling up fuel today... when to start car and it wouldn't start. It would turn once then go totally silent and wouldn't start, then retrying to start the car it made no noise at all.

Decided to just buy a freaking battery at the servo been so hot and just wanting to go home and putting the new battery in, it started normal. When I got home stopped the car and started it a few times and it seems okayish maybe it was a combination of the two i get a feeling ill be replacing the starter in the next few month.

[Maxseverity]

when my starter motor was buggered i thought it was the battery too, got me dad to give me a jump start. started no worries. that little extra umph in volts must have started it. got home, tested battery, completely fine but car wouldnt start at all. just made a click. put new starter in it. i've never heard it start so good before.

[cds]

when my starter motor was buggered i thought it was the battery too, got me dad to give me a jump start. started no worries. that little extra umph in volts must have started it. got home, tested battery, completely fine but car wouldnt start at all. just made a click. put new starter in it. i've never heard it start so good before.

yeah I get the feeling there may still be an issue, at this time of the year I'll only be able to afford to get a reconditioned one and install it myself ( at least try to... ) guess, i'll start looking for one on ebay!

[Tsunamix]

Float voltage on the auto battery is 13.8V
Charge voltage is up to 14.7v (2.45 Volts per cell)
End of life - which is flat no charge is 11.1 Volts (1.85 volts per cell)

Driving your battery to absolute flat damages cells.

First take at least one of your battery terminals off.

Hook your voltmeter up as appropriate.

If you battery is under 11.1volts it has dropped a cell (no longer a 6 cell 2.25volts per cell battery).
if your battery reads between 11.1 and 13.5v It's undercharged.
If its reading over 13.8 it's overcharged, hot (heat IMPROVES voltage output, but REDUCES life), or still being charged (you forget to disconnect the terminals didnt you !).

All gospel info - I work in Uninterruptible power supplies these days. All batteries, every day.