Board logo

Tin-Top: Reluctant to start in the cold :(
mcerd1 - 16/1/13 at 12:54 PM

my tin top has started to get really bad when starting on a cold day

on a warm day it'll start first turn of the key, but on a cold day it may take 2 or 3 attempts
but once its started it runs without any issues….

It’s a 1.8 blacktop zetec in a mk1 focus with no obvious faults - any ideas ?

cheers
-Robert

mookaloid - 16/1/13 at 01:26 PM

spark plugs getting on a bit?

ReMan - 16/1/13 at 01:35 PM

Reluctant how?
Wont spin over fast enough or wont fire even spinning at normal speed?

Simple as it may be the battery makes a lot of difference once it gets cold

mcerd1 - 16/1/13 at 02:15 PM

plugs arn't that old and they are decent ones so I doubt they are the problem, and the leads are only 20-25k old too


it spins over a little reluctantly but fast enough, then starts runing out of puff after a few turns...

I did wonder about the battery but it didn't seam that bad - it recovers very quickly as I only need to wait a couple of seconds before trying again and it appears to hold a charge


whats the best test for the battery to show up this sort of problem ?
(just trying not to waste money on the car at the moment - its not worth much as it is)

[Edited on 16/1/2013 by mcerd1]

Slimy38 - 16/1/13 at 02:23 PM

Might just need the battery topped up, can you stick in on charge overnight?

britishtrident - 16/1/13 at 02:53 PM

Classic symptoms of a dead cell in the battery, usually a dead cell gives trouble in the first really cold frosts of the winter. The cure is anew battery but before replacing the battery do the usual checks , connections and earth, drive belt tension, measure the charging voltage with the headlights on and the battery voltage under a heavy load.

nick205 - 16/1/13 at 04:21 PM

Sounds like battery replacement time to me.

Just had to replace SWMBOs which gave up in the first really cold snap last week.

morcus - 16/1/13 at 05:16 PM

Easy to test if its the battery, swap in a decent battery from another can and see if this cures it.

jossey - 16/1/13 at 05:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
plugs arn't that old and they are decent ones so I doubt they are the problem, and the leads are only 20-25k old too


it spins over a little reluctantly but fast enough, then starts runing out of puff after a few turns...

I did wonder about the battery but it didn't seam that bad - it recovers very quickly as I only need to wait a couple of seconds before trying again and it appears to hold a charge


whats the best test for the battery to show up this sort of problem ?
(just trying not to waste money on the car at the moment - its not worth much as it is)

[Edited on 16/1/2013 by mcerd1]



Most garages like halfrauds n moto save will test it for free.

mcerd1 - 21/1/13 at 10:52 AM

update

my tests of the battery didn't show up any major issues
(12.6v on a fairly cold day, charging at 14.5v and no massive drops under load)

however I bit the bullet and fitted a new battery and it seems to be a little better - just waiting for a really cold day to find out for sure.....