Hi guys

Bit of a problem occurring, last night i decided to park up with a mate for a while in the landy, we switched off the engine and switched the interior light on and left the lights on, we did this for around 20 - 30 mins. After this when i tried to start car it wouldn't start (battery had gone flat) left it for 10 mins and with a bit of pumping on the gas the car started, i took it home and left it overnight (8 hours) before driving it next and it started first time no problem, now 5 hours later when i go to get fuel on my lunch break the car decides its not going to start ( same as last night) can anyone shed some light as to why its doing something like this and are there any ways to solve the problem?

Cheers

First off, how old is the battery? Do the lights come on brightly when it doesn;t want to start? What do the panel lights do wheen it's not starting and you try it?

Were it me (and it has been) I'd be looking at the connections to the battery itself and those in the heavy power wiring iif I was reasonably comfortablee the battery was good. Oftewntimes a work/no work/work scenario like this can be down to a dodgy connection, either at the battery posts or to the starter solenoid/starter (you didn;t mention engine type...).

If you have a voltmeter checking the connections for voltage drop when cranking could help if you have a mate/spouse/lackey of some sort to crank it while you put a meter across the connections.

ajr

the battery is 3 weeks old, i'll check connections also the type of engine is a 200tdi, the battery light always comes on even with the car starting it only goes off when i start driving the vehicle or i rev it a little is that usual?

I had something similar a while back. It was the starter motor. It was taking too much juice from the battery to turn the engine over. I forget the exact figures but my starter motor was taking more than double the voltage to turn the engine over. Replaced Starter motor and the problem was solved.

ignition light on until revs upped suggests worn alternator bushes, however this time of year if you are driving to work in the dark, lights on , heater on short journey its surprising how much toll that gives to the charge system

I take my battery off n charge overnight once a week thanks to short trips, dark journey to n from work, lights and a 340 watt veg oil heater... although I am running a 2.25 diesel daily with a hamster powered alternator

of course you've checked the belt tightness??

cheers steve