Weak charging?

[IrfanIbrahim]

Starting yesterday when trying to start the car, it will just kept on cranking but no engine start, wait for a few minutes before cranking again and it okay, checked the battery fluid level and it was low so top it up. Noticed since few weeks ago when switching on the headlight the battery indicator slightly lighted up but very dim. And the light even blinks with signal on. Does this mean battery not charged properly? Too add up fan blower sometimes doesnt work at all and will turn on randomly.

[oneday]

sounds to me like the battery is low on charge. check the alternator output. also sounds like you miht have some bad earths. i might be wrong i ammost of the time but its a place to start

[Mandrake]

Check the voltage at the battery terminals while idling (after at least 5 minutes running) is 14.2 volts +/- 0.2 volts. Below 14 volts would indicate a problem with the charging system unless the battery was very flat and still charging back up.

[IrfanIbrahim]

Doesnt have tool to check the voltage. However i tried to start the car just now and it will just crank but it wont start, but that just after a long drive this evening. If it would start straight away on jumpstart, it could be a weak battery right?

[IrfanIbrahim]

Tried to start again just now but it will kept cranking. So jumpstarted it and ignition on first try. So it is the battery but correct me if im wrong?

[Hell Razor5543]

How fast was she cranking? If it was slow, and (when jumpstarted) it was quick, then yes, it could be the battery, BUT it could be that the battery isn't getting a good charge of the alternator.

[IrfanIbrahim]

Idk she was cranking okay but no start, after jumstarted she start rather straight away after crank. Didn't notice any difference in cranking speed though but she just wont start, after jumpstarted she started normally even after cable off. But I should try starting her up next morning and see how it goes. Btw few days ago, after the incident, i just topped up battery water because it was very low so i assumed the battery could be going dead soon..

[myglaren]

Try charging the battery off the car for 48 hours.

[Hell Razor5543]

Then, if she is cranking over at the correct speed, that would suggest the battery is (unless otherwise proven) likely to be good. I would get hold of a multimeter, and check the voltages.

[Mandrake]

I agree...multimeters are cheap, batteries are expensive. Why diagnose with guesswork when a few simple voltage measurements will tell you where the problem lies ?

[Xantidote]

For me, a modern battery needing a top up is telling me it's getting towards the end of it's useful life, though may still get a bit more use out of it. Always assuming the charging circuitry is working correctly.

[IrfanIbrahim]

Hi guys finally sorted it out, It was the bad battery due to die soon, the cranking may sound at normal speed but it wasn't enough juice to start the engine. Changed to new one as the old one going out soon anyway and it starts just fine. The price was PITA though but it is better than being stranded somewhere far from home.