The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi the battery was flat in my Dolomite 1300 so I charged it. The car started fine and I took it for a run.
After sitting for a few days she would not start as the battery seemed flat but she started with a push start. I took her for a run, stopped for a while and she started after a few times cranking.
She sat for a few days and when I went to start her there was nothing but a whirling sound.
I charged the battery again thinking that this was the problem but after reconnecting the battery there was this same whirling sound when I turned the key.
Please let me know where I should look to cure this problem.

I would suggest you have a live circuit drawing power somewhere when the ignition is off (parasitic draw). Is the boot light staying on or interior light?

How old is the battery? It could be duff.

Larry 1300 wrote:Hi the battery was flat in my Dolomite 1300 so I charged it. The car started fine and I took it for a run.
After sitting for a few days she would not start as the battery seemed flat but she started with a push start. I took her for a run, stopped for a while and she started after a few times cranking.
She sat for a few days and when I went to start her there was nothing but a whirling sound.
I charged the battery again thinking that this was the problem but after reconnecting the battery there was this same whirling sound when I turned the key.
Please let me know where I should look to cure this problem.

Whirring or 'machine-gunning' noises suggest a flat battery. If the battery had been completely drained previously it may not be able to take a full charge or hold charge. If you have one, try using a battery conditioner to recondition the battery, otherwise it may be new battery time.
My car had sat for some time before I bought it last autumn and the battery would discharge over 5 days or so. I put it on a ctek battery conditioner through the winter. I have not had any further problems this year with regular use, I suspect the clock and modern radio drew sufficient current to drain the battery.