Reluctant to start

[martynd7]

I have had problems starting my TS GTV over a period of time and thought it was the battery, so kept on charging it but seemed in the the morning that the battery was flat as when you turned the key nothing, so I just bumped it and it started easily and ran fine. After 8 hours at work it did nothing on the first turn of the key, then on the second you can hear the solenoid click, then on the third it slowly turned over then when tried for the fourth time it would spin over and start and run fine. This has happened for a couple of weeks now, so I am in need of some ideas, thanks.

[seadart]

If you charged it all night and it was still flat in the morning it might be an idea to try another battery..

[gtvtommo]

Originally Posted by martynd7

I have had problems starting my TS GTV over a period of time and thought it was the battery, so kept on charging it but seemed in the the morning that the battery was flat as when you turned the key nothing, so I just bumped it and it started easily and ran fine. After 8 hours at work it did nothing on the first turn of the key, then on the second you can hear the solenoid click, then on the third it slowly turned over then when tried for the fourth time it would spin over and start and run fine. This has happened for a couple of weeks now, so I am in need of some ideas, thanks.

I had this problem once on another car (non alfa) i.e. starter turning engine over very slowly or not at all.......stuck a new battery on only to find it was the starter motor at fault...........obviously have your battery load tested 1st. to rule that out together with all electrics including a possible faulty ignition switch or similar.

[seadart]

To check it out.. borrow another known good battery ..probably wont fit.. so remove your battery.. connect borrowed battery to your cars battery leads with a couple of jump leads.. see what happens.

[rat trap]

Do not mess about with borrowing batteries. First check all doors including boot is shut and stereo is only on standby, if the interior lights above your head remain on you more than likely have a door switching problem. Then get it started up by hook or by crook (jumpleads) get a multi-meter and check to see if the alternator is working right. You should have 14.5-15v when Positive and Negative probes are connected across the right correlating + & -battery posts. If you have any less than 14v it points at all probability at the alternator. If you have above 14v across the battery posts and the next morning and dead yet again get yourself another battery, as we have just had quite a cold winter and the cold could have destroyed the ionising of the electrodes. Good luck