Starting Woes

[Sulla]

Hi Guys

1999 Xantia S2 HDi LX 110

Last winter I began to have random starting issues, usually in cold weather. I would get in and turn the key and the the dash would briefly light up and then I would lose all power in the electrics.

First time it happened I called out the AA, they tested the battery, said it was fine, reconnected it and she fired up. It happened a few times after that, almost always in the morning after a cold night. Each time I have to open the bonnet, disconnect the battery (both terminals), reconnect and she fires up. I input the radio code and off I go.

Anyhow it stopped after a couple of weeks and I thought no more of it.

It happened to me again tonight though. I got in the car and she struggled to get going, Then once I had scraped the ice off I was asked for the radio code (which I couldn't remember). I drove home, turned her off, turned the ignition back on and got no response. The old trick of disconnecting the battery worked again but I think it would be nice not to have to worry about the car starting for the rest of the week!

Any ideas?

[CitroJim]

Just a very quick answer for tonight Sulla, I suspect the battery clamp crimps, particularly if it clears through disconnecting and reconnecting the battery.

Where the wires crimp into the lead alloy clamps, high resistances can develop.

When the engine is next running, switch on all possible electrical loads and then after a couple of minutes feel the battery clamps. If one or both feel warm to the touch you have high resistances in the crimps.

A re-crimp using very heavy pliers can bring temporary relief but for a perfect job the clamps need to be replaced.

If not that, check where the battery earth cable earths to the body and to the gearbox.

If none of the above come back for more help

[Sulla]

Cheers Jim!

I know for a fact that the positive terminal gets quite warm indeed whilst the negative doesn't so perhaps the clamps need replacing as suggested. More expense, ok joy!

[wotwot]

Local motor factors do the clamps fairly cheap and is a nice easy fix.In this weather you need max output from the battery and bad terminals can cause a lot of damage to wiring.A quick possible fix like jim said is a recrimp molegrips are ur friend.

[Peter.N.]

Mole grips are very good for crimping things, I repaired my 406 gearchange cable using them, just keep winding them up until you can only just close them.

Peter

[Sulla]

Short update:

I had the clamps replaced yesterday and so far so good. Fingers crossed problem solved, thanks for the help guys.

[citroenxm]

you should of also changed the cable from the altinator to starter to battery... give that cable a wiggle and bend IF you can. . if its stiff at all which it sometimes is near the battery then that too will cause a high resistance and starting and charging problems...

if that cable is really bad it will get warm even with just the engine running and the altinator trying to charge the battery..

i did post yp a topic about checking yur battery leads but its dropped off.. prehaps a sticky one should be made as its rather important certainly if things are getting hot.. we dont want any lost to fires because a simple check hasnt been made..

Jim.. a stickey, ? about battery terminals??