The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hello there.
I'm a brand new owner of a 1500 FWD (1972), and I'm brand new to owning a classic car!
I have a persistent and irritating starting problem at the moment and wondered if anyone had any good ideas.
I had a new battery fitted and she was fine for a week, but now she refuses to start unless jump-started. The engine cranks and sounds like it turns over once, slowly, the dash lights dim, and then nothing. Headlights etc come on fine. If you jump start her then she goes every time straight away and runs fine.
My current suspicion is the starter motor (which has been given a judicious whack or two), rather than the battery (which is only a week and half old), though it's possible that the alternator isn't charging the battery properly (not really had her long enough, or been far enough, to work that one out). Not sure where the voltmeter ought to be sitting under normal conditions.
Any tips for where to start, similar problems encountered? Hope I'm not just being dense!

The voltmeter should be reading around 14v when running. Any less than this and it would indicate a charging problem. If it worked for a while with a new battery and then stopped it sounds a bit like the alternator is giving you some trouble. Once you have a reading from the voltmeter it should tell you all you need to know.

...or, could be a drain somewhere if it stood for a week and then wouldn't start...

Dimming of lights is either low battery power or an horrendous draw such as by a knackered starter...

Need to get the voltage and see what the drop is when trying to start...

Ah! I don't recall seeing my voltmeter ever go above 12 (and certainly today that was the case), so sounds like the alternator could be the culprit then. Any way of being 100% certain before sourcing the part, or is that certain enough!? I'd love to be free from the jumpstart pack...

xvivalve, it stood only overnight after a reasonable run and wouldn't start the next evening, then while poking around the next again day she started occasionally by herself but otherwise resolutely refused without jumping. The battery is definitely not completely dead as the headlights come on and stay on without dimming.
Will keep a close eye on the voltmeter. My suspicion is the previous owner knew there was a problem and couldn't be bothered getting to the bottom of it....

If the Voltmeter isn't getting past 12v then the alternator isn't doing it's job properly. I'd reccommend sourcing a new one.

it could be a bad battery to body earth or the battery to strarter motor cable. check the voltage with a digital meter. 14 volts at max load but anywhere around 13-14 volts will be enough to charge the battery if you dont have big stereo, amps spot light ect. do youhave a modern strereo fitted, if fitted wrong it could be draining the power when switched off.

Where are you?

I have reconned alternators here on the shelf...

melj
Learner Driver



Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Edinburgh

Battery terminals guarnteed! I've had this loads of times, mostly with the old round terminals that have a screw in the top. If how have them, cut them off. Check your engine earth too. The fact that the jump leads are contacting the outside, which possibly isn't that dirty because you can get at them, means it gets current the first time

alternator....
Its also causing the discharge....which is taking down your new battery so quickly
Dont leave the battery discharged for long...

Jonners

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Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

various options, all valid, check the lot:

1st check standing voltage of battery
then make sure terminals are tight
then make sure earth strap has good continuity and low resistance and connections are tight
then check +ve power cables from battery/starter/alt as above and also check they're tight
then start her and check voltage at the batt about 1 minute after starting

get back to us with your findings, cause will be somewhere in the above, and could still be a duff battery.

Wow, thanks guys, really appreciate the suggestions!

We had looked at the battery to body earth and thought it looked a little frayed but solid.

Certainly seems to be draining my new battery. No radio etc fitted (though I must confess to being unsure about how the heated rear windscreen works and it has been niggling me. I think it's in the off position, screwed tight clockwise, doesn't appear to push or pull.... )

Will borrow myself a digital meter to check the voltage etc and will also follow the other suggestions. Watch this space!

Ta

These are all good suggestions and I second them all. I had similar problems with Snowdrop. A faulty battery was initially diagnosed and a new battery fitted but the problem returned. I replaced the alternator and it cured the problem. I especially second Justyn's advice on the alternator that it should throw out 13-14 volts when the car is running. Anything below and the battery will discharge. Being the owner of 2 of these cars I'm a bit jealous that your's is on the road.

Good luck!

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