Went out to start the cat yesterday and out of character she failed to start,weirdly I had nothing not even faint ignition lights....my particular v6 is always turn key reliable and has never given me any mechanical concerns...put it on a battery conditioner/charger overnight and again this morning nothing at all. Jumped it off my other car and it fired straight up and has been ok since, I have a cheapo battery and alternator tester and both are showing ok.....anyone got any clue as to what this could be as I was convinced it was a battery going down but not sure now as it's been ok since??
Bit of an odd one
- Thread starter Wellerman
- Start date
At a guess, the battery is hosed. You've got a cell that is starting to invert and won't take a charge from anything but the alternator.
Thing is, I would expect the dials to sweep on startup. Are you seeing that?
Thing is, I would expect the dials to sweep on startup. Are you seeing that?
I'm not an auto electrician - much less an expert on Cougar electrics - but the dial sweep happens under low-voltage conditions, or if the battery has been removed, (plus a couple of other circumstances not relevant to your situation).
So if you tried to start it, killed the battery and then jumped it, I would've expected the sweep. It should happen the second you turn the key, so keep an eye on the dash as you do so tomorrow.
So if you tried to start it, killed the battery and then jumped it, I would've expected the sweep. It should happen the second you turn the key, so keep an eye on the dash as you do so tomorrow.
with absolutely nothing, no lights on the dashboard and no clicking sound I would suggest the battery is dead, its very rare for a battery to just die, has the car been stood for a few months before hand? if not I would suggest you either have the wrong size battery, don't listen to garages you want atleast a 096, alternatively you could be grounding out somewhere which is draining the battery, usual suspect s are earth strap to gearbox (connects just underneath the thermostat) and also the battery earth under the battery, make sure they are clean and rust free 
Yeah will watch it tomorrow...as soon as I jumped it from the other car and it fired right up with no effort I thought a cell going down to be honest
- - - Updated - - -
The car was used a week ago so not sat around for ages and it's really out of character for it it usually fires on the button as soon as the engine turns will check earth straps for sure but I just got a nagging feeling it's a cell going on the battery and it will be fine for a while then catch me out one day
- - - Updated - - -
The car was used a week ago so not sat around for ages and it's really out of character for it it usually fires on the button as soon as the engine turns will check earth straps for sure but I just got a nagging feeling it's a cell going on the battery and it will be fine for a while then catch me out one day
have come across similar before on a few occasions, take off battery terminals and clean both the battery posts and make sure you clean inside the battery terminals bit of emery cloth, may cure it,but its free if not
when this has happened in the past with customer vehicles (large vehicles) it's generally ok the following day perhaps two, but if left longer it happens again, i've seen customers put battery's on @£200 and starters @ £750 + a time only to find cleaning the inside of the terminal sorted problem, they had found terminals on battery crusted up and just poured a bit of warm water to clear, only to find the problem still there after a few days then on goes a set of batterys ok for a few days left for a week then not starting new starter etc and turns out all they needed was to clean the inside of the battery clamps as they where badly coated and furred up, as warm water is no subustute for a bit of emery and getting clean and shiney, as said may not be your fault, but its cheap
took your advice disconnected the battery and cleaned all the terminals and poles with wire wool wd40 dried it all and put it back together with a bit of grease to keep it waterproof, the positive terminal was pretty cruddy to be honest, she fired up and did the sweepy needle thing so will see how it goes, cheers for that though
As above, disconnecting the battery is another reason that the dials will sweep so for that reason at least, there's nothing to worry about.
Good luck to you but if the worst comes to the worst, I've found an excellent online battery supplier with next-day delivery that one of our members has already used with great success.