Dead Car

[boristhespie]

2006 C5 hdi exclusive.

Car died last night. Went in. Turned key. Lights came on for split then everything died. No lights, doors not locking. Book locked etc. no turn over.

Teo weeks ago there was on episode of it struggling to start. But since then been as perfect as ever.

I'm going it's the battery. Going to multimeter.

Main worry alternator or worse some electric wire fault. Which I guess is a pain to hunt down.

EDIT:

Okay multimetered

From start 11.90-12.1 (after it ran)

Droped down to. 9.8 initially for first start but also remained around 11 for all subsequent.

Was above 14 .09 and the 14.19 when revved to 1500rpm.


Is the initial drop of the battery an issue indicating dying battery?

What it went like was, nothing happened on turning key. No lights nothing.

Shoogled terminals and the lights came on. So went in and nothing happened again. Shoogled the terminals more and then this time the car turned over but never kicked in. Then shoogled more and then the car eventually started (this was where the multimeter dropped below 10 for a split second. Then the can ran. Started, ran, started ran. The batter never dropped below 11 on each start up.

Other thing despite everything including locks etc being dead none of the clock and date settings have reset which suggests some current get through.

I'm assuming the terminals had gotten damp with this weather?? But the battery roo below 10 on start up I read was a sign of a dying battery?.

Any advice on this and whether I need a new battery would be appreciated.

[GiveMeABreak]

If the battery is anywhere over 5 years you're on extended time to be honest. The battery can operate up until the last then it will just die. You may experience all the dash lights on and off and the dials going mad as another example of failure - or it will just die.

[boristhespie]

Ordered a new battery. As it happen, it was 30 quid cheaper on Amazon.

How do I change this WITHOUT losing settings. Namely without losing access to radio etc. I don't have the code. So don't want to reset it, which I assume unplugging would do, when I have no code to get into it?

[GiveMeABreak]

No need to panic, the radio is coded to the vehicle using the VIN, so no code needed. but you may need to check the time and date etc.

Remember to follow the BSI Reset / Battery Disconnect / Reconnect Procedure when changing the battery.

[boristhespie]

Can I try and be a smart arse and connect a new battery to system while removing old one so as to have no interruption? Obviously I am aware this may be stoopid.

[Dommo]

Can I try and be a smart arse and connect a new battery to system while removing old one so as to have no interruption? Obviously I am aware this may be stoopid.

You can do that, it is a 'done' thing, it's just that you'll need a separate battery and jump leads to do it, or a jump pack. So essentially your cars battery cables always have something providing power to the car while you swap the battery.

https://www.tayna.co.uk/tutorials/chang ... radio-code

[boristhespie]

Thanks. Got those.