car battery but

[keser]

hi people
my son has a old L reg ford escort LS, IT OLD BUT ONLY HAS 49K GENUINE MILES ON IT HOWEVER WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FOR IT AS IN THE MORNINGS IT WOULD NOT START. KEPT GETTING THAT CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION KEY
I CALLED OUT THE AA ONE TIME AND HE STARTED IT WITH ABOOSTER CHARGER AND WHILE THERE HE TESTED THE ALTERNATOR AND FOUND IT WAS CHARGING THE BATTERY BUT HE DID SAY THE TEST WAS RECOMMENDING A BATTERY CHANGE
WE CHANGED THE BATTERY AND LOW AND BEHOLD AFTER A WEEK OR SO THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AND THIS MORNING HAD TO JUMP START HIM WTH JUMP LEADS
ALSO ALL SUNDAY HE WAS COMING HOME FROM HIS FRIENDS AND HE JUST OPENED THE ELECTRIC DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND LOW AND BEHOLD THE CAR FADED AND JUST STOPPED.....HE TRIED TO START IT BUT AGAIN THE CLICKING NOISE IS ALL HE COULD GET SO OUT I WENT TO JUMP START HIM AGAIN.............I DONT FANCY THIS ALL THE TIME OBVIOUSLY AND WONDERED IF ANY OF YOU GOOD PEOPLE COULD POINT OUT WHAT MAY BE WRONG OR TESTS I COULD DO SO I COULD POSSIBLY FIND OUT A SOLUTION,,,,,,,,,,,,,IT WOULD BE A PITY TO DUMP THE CAR AS HE HAS JUST PASSED HIS TEST AND I WANTED HIM TO LEARN IN AN OLDER CAR JUST INCASE HE HAS AFEW SCRAPES BEFORE HE UPGRADES
ANY HELP WOULD BE GRATEFUULY ACCEPTED
CHEERS

 

[Iamchamps]

It sounds like it's not charging regardless of what the AA guy said. Get a volt meter check the battery voltage then get the car started and check it again if it's not gone up to indicate the battery is charging sounds as if the alternator is naff.

 

[keser]

HI LAMCHAMPS
THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE,,,THATS WHAT THE AA MAN DID.....I THINK TURNED THE ENGINE OFF TESTED THE BATTERY WITH A METER AND THEN TURNED IT ON AND SEEN IT WENT UP SO IT WAS CHARGING......IF ITS A NAFF ALTERNATOR CAN IT SHOW ITS WORKING ONE MINUTE AND THEN AFTER A FEW DAYS MIGHT START NOT TO CHARGE?

 

[Iamchamps]

That's the only thing that your information is pointing to. If you can start the car by jump starting which you have needed to do a short while after replacing the battery either the battery you bought is naff or the alternator is not charging it. I don't know the exact readings but maybe the alternator is working just not as well as it should be. I may be out of line saying this as I am sure there are breakdown people on this forum but could the AA guy have lied to tell you the battery is what needs replacing in the hope of selling you a battery? Take the car to a garage and get a second opinion on the alternator.

 

[Burnerman]

Check that the alternator is charging at around 14.4 volts.....check again with the headlights on and the reading should be about the same.
Alternators can drain the battery again if the internal diode pack is faulty.....so, once the battery is charged up, disconnect one battery terminal. Reconnect again in the morning and if the car starts up, there's a fair chance the alternator is grumpy.
John

 

[keser]

thanks guys
i'll do the check at the garage and keep you posted

 

[Avocet]

Check the earth leads from battery negative to chassis and from chassis to engine or gearbox. Make sure their ends go to clean metal. Take them off, wire brush, and grease if necessary. Next time it won't start, try putting a jump lead from the battery negative to a clean bit of engine or gearbox.

 

[keser]

Hi guys
Tried what you said by leaving battery terminal off overnight, tried it this morning and same thing happened..... clicking sound
Avocet.... if I do as you say what will it prove?

 

[Burnerman]

Your battery is either discharging internally or more likely, it isn't receiving a full charge from the alternator in the first place.
John

 

[keser]

Cheers

 

[Burnerman]

Take heed of Avocet's advice.....if there is a bad earth or other high resistance connection this has to be sorted. Is the battery charge light on or dimly glowing when the car is being driven?
John

 

[keser]

i will get it checked the battery light glows brightly and the lights do shine even with the car stopped

 

[keser]

sorry the battery light glows blighty when starting up but is off when car is being driven.if that makes sense

 

[Burnerman]

Yep, that's the way it should be, although its no guarantee that the alternator is ok. If its a Lucas ACR alternator, they weren't the most reliable of units.
John

 

[keser]

ok john I ll get this checked to and keep you informed