Yesterday going home from work in my AX, my lights dimmed, the indicators didn't work, the wipers went at quarter speed and finally I had no power.
I'd been aware that the battery warning light had come on but didn't beleive it as everything had been running OK.
Anyway I got to the side of the road and called AutoAid to recover me. 10 minutes later the chap turned up and we couldn't believe it when saw the alternator belt was no longer there. I've someone installing a new one for me on Friday.
My question to you is as the battery is completely flat is it worth recharging it or get a new battery (about £30)?
Alternator belt gone!
Moderator: RichardW
Alternator belt gone!
1996 Citroen AX Debut and 2001 Citroen Saxo.
I love Citroens!
I love Citroens!
Thanks Alan
I'll get a new one, for nothing else other than the peace of mind that it shouldn't break down again as I rely on the car.
By the way I will recommend AutoAid to anyone looking for breakdown cover. Fully comp cover, only you pay recovery firm with credit card / they post an invoice to you and then you claim it back from Equity Red Star. This cover is only £32! The recovery person told me they are subcontractors for all the breakdown services so the level of service is good.
I'll get a new one, for nothing else other than the peace of mind that it shouldn't break down again as I rely on the car.
By the way I will recommend AutoAid to anyone looking for breakdown cover. Fully comp cover, only you pay recovery firm with credit card / they post an invoice to you and then you claim it back from Equity Red Star. This cover is only £32! The recovery person told me they are subcontractors for all the breakdown services so the level of service is good.
1996 Citroen AX Debut and 2001 Citroen Saxo.
I love Citroens!
I love Citroens!
BUT, a lead acid accumulator in good working condition, will not have an open circuit voltage under about 11.2V in a discharged condition. If the OC voltage is 10.5V it has passed it's sell-by date!
Just running it flat will NOT stuff it.
Just running it flat will NOT stuff it.
Once modern batteries get below about 10.5 volts they are cactus.
You can try a recharge; you might be lucky, but often that's the point that is their swansong.
Alan S
R.I.P. January 2010.
XM 2.1 auto VSX 1996 - Bosch Inj, Xantia HDi 90 estate 1999, Xantia 1.9TD 1997
Previously...
GS 1970, Dyane 1974, Xantia 94 VSX TD, XM 94, 2.1 auto - Lucas Inj, XM 92 2.1 estate - Lucas Inj
XM 2.1 auto VSX 1996 - Bosch Inj, Xantia HDi 90 estate 1999, Xantia 1.9TD 1997
Previously...
GS 1970, Dyane 1974, Xantia 94 VSX TD, XM 94, 2.1 auto - Lucas Inj, XM 92 2.1 estate - Lucas Inj
Well I've just been to Halfords.
As the battery is a modern sealed one, battery chargers are not recommended unless you use the fully automatic chargers to prevent overcharging. This would cost £26.
A new calcium battery even in their battery promotion would be £52
As the battery is a modern sealed one, battery chargers are not recommended unless you use the fully automatic chargers to prevent overcharging. This would cost £26.
A new calcium battery even in their battery promotion would be £52
1996 Citroen AX Debut and 2001 Citroen Saxo.
I love Citroens!
I love Citroens!
The answer is don't overcharge it - If it really is flat - and is a 35 amp hour one which I would expect in an AX petrol then it will take 18 hours at 2 amps to charge fully - or 9 at 4 amps - so if you leave it on a moderately powerful charger overnight you're unlikely to do any damage.
Bodger's method - ie mine would be to connect it to another car with jump leads with the engine running at a moderate speed for about 10 minutes then see if I could start it. If I could I'd then drive it for half hour or so and it would probably be OK from then on.
Had this on my BX diesel with a radio running the battery down last summer and a touch of air in it. Surprising how much it slowed the ZX while charging!
You will need to run the 'donor' engine at about 1500 rpm to get any sensible output form its alternator. They are nearly as useless as dynamo's when idling.
Bodger's method - ie mine would be to connect it to another car with jump leads with the engine running at a moderate speed for about 10 minutes then see if I could start it. If I could I'd then drive it for half hour or so and it would probably be OK from then on.
Had this on my BX diesel with a radio running the battery down last summer and a touch of air in it. Surprising how much it slowed the ZX while charging!
You will need to run the 'donor' engine at about 1500 rpm to get any sensible output form its alternator. They are nearly as useless as dynamo's when idling.
jeremy
And don't go to Halfords for your new battery. Look up "Motor Factors" in the Yellow Pages or ask the person who's fitting the belt where he gets his stuff. I'd just jump start it and go for a drive too though.
The battery in my Xantia was flat a couple of mornings so I bump started it on a hill (not for the faint hearted in a Xantia). I then put the battery in a Renault 19 Diesel I was selling, which needed an alternator just after I sold it. Even after all that abuse the battery continues to start the Renault, which needs quite a lot of cranking, even on the coldest days.
The battery in my Xantia was flat a couple of mornings so I bump started it on a hill (not for the faint hearted in a Xantia). I then put the battery in a Renault 19 Diesel I was selling, which needed an alternator just after I sold it. Even after all that abuse the battery continues to start the Renault, which needs quite a lot of cranking, even on the coldest days.
Richard
No French cars of my own at present.
Care of a 1994 205 D.
No French cars of my own at present.
Care of a 1994 205 D.
You guys must get a sight better batteries than we do.
I have had the exact same thing happen to me over the past couple of years on more than one occasion.
Granted, it might take a charge, but as soon as it's not driven for a couple of days, you'll find it will battle to start the car and eventually, it will catch you out. 2 things happen when you recharge a dead flat battery; either it just doesn't have the capacity any more or it takes little for it to go flat again.
If you have to take the risk, so be it, but if you're a shift worker or have a wife or girlfriend that drives the car at times, then it's not a case of "if" it's going to catch you out, it's when.
There is a moderator on another forum I'm on over here who works for a place that specialises in batteries and his opinion is the same as mine, both based on bitter esxperience.
Alan S
I have had the exact same thing happen to me over the past couple of years on more than one occasion.
Granted, it might take a charge, but as soon as it's not driven for a couple of days, you'll find it will battle to start the car and eventually, it will catch you out. 2 things happen when you recharge a dead flat battery; either it just doesn't have the capacity any more or it takes little for it to go flat again.
If you have to take the risk, so be it, but if you're a shift worker or have a wife or girlfriend that drives the car at times, then it's not a case of "if" it's going to catch you out, it's when.
There is a moderator on another forum I'm on over here who works for a place that specialises in batteries and his opinion is the same as mine, both based on bitter esxperience.
Alan S
RIP Sept 19th 2008.
She said "Put the cat out" She didn't mention it was on fire!!
She said "Put the cat out" She didn't mention it was on fire!!
What's wrong with Halfords batteries that arouses so much passion?
I can only speak as I find - my BX TD came with a Halfords battery that looked 2 or 3 years old and it was a further 4 + years before it failed - having given some warning which I ignored and also been overcharged when I had an alternator regulator fail (Yes - the lights got better!)
We bought the ZX 1.9D 4 1/2 years ago - and it came with a Halfords battery - not new but not very old - and its still starting the BX first time even after standing for a week. This battery was run down several times last year as I had a radio in the BX with electronic switching - which drained the battery.
I certainly won't be avoiding Halfords batteries.
I can only speak as I find - my BX TD came with a Halfords battery that looked 2 or 3 years old and it was a further 4 + years before it failed - having given some warning which I ignored and also been overcharged when I had an alternator regulator fail (Yes - the lights got better!)
We bought the ZX 1.9D 4 1/2 years ago - and it came with a Halfords battery - not new but not very old - and its still starting the BX first time even after standing for a week. This battery was run down several times last year as I had a radio in the BX with electronic switching - which drained the battery.
I certainly won't be avoiding Halfords batteries.
jeremy
Got the new alternator belt fitted last night and we left the car running for 15 minutes to charge the battery a bit. I went out for an hours drive last night in it to further charge it up and have driven to work (20 mins) this morning no problems. Looks like I might be lucky on the battery!
I have nothing against Halfords batteries, I just thought they are expensive compared to going to a local independent shop.
The battery for the AX is so small it doesn't require too much to charge it up. A few years ago I'd left the headlights on. I got jump started and never had to charge the battery as I left the alternator to do its job.
I have nothing against Halfords batteries, I just thought they are expensive compared to going to a local independent shop.
The battery for the AX is so small it doesn't require too much to charge it up. A few years ago I'd left the headlights on. I got jump started and never had to charge the battery as I left the alternator to do its job.
1996 Citroen AX Debut and 2001 Citroen Saxo.
I love Citroens!
I love Citroens!