Battery problem with 1990 Vauxhall Nova GTE
Discussion
Hi,
I have a 1990 Vauxhall Nova GTE, which has only done 20,000 miles.
For a few years now, I've found that it won't hold battery charge if I don't go out in it for say, a week in the winter - it's not so bad during the warmer months - so if I don't intend going out for about a week during the winter, I start it up, as advised by the RAC man and rev the engine until it warms up.
Last November it was due for its MOT & again wouldn't start because of the battery. The garage came out, fitted another battery and took it away to MOT it. Come April, just 5 months later, the battery went again & after having the RAC out who advised that it was faulty, they replaced it. I asked him if it could be the alternator that was not charging the battery properly & he said the alternator was fine. The mechanic then told me I didn't need to start it up or rev it as he said he had a Land Rover that he didn't use for months on end without any problem. Anyway, last week I went to start the car & the battery was dead again, so I am going to call out the RAC again.
After my long winded post (!) my questions are these:
I have no power in the garage so I can't keep the battery charged. Also, I don't want to disconnect the battery as I wouldn't know how to reconnect it again each time I wanted to go out in it! I just wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what could be causing the problem with the battery.
Many thanks in advance & sorry for the long post!
I have a 1990 Vauxhall Nova GTE, which has only done 20,000 miles.
For a few years now, I've found that it won't hold battery charge if I don't go out in it for say, a week in the winter - it's not so bad during the warmer months - so if I don't intend going out for about a week during the winter, I start it up, as advised by the RAC man and rev the engine until it warms up.
Last November it was due for its MOT & again wouldn't start because of the battery. The garage came out, fitted another battery and took it away to MOT it. Come April, just 5 months later, the battery went again & after having the RAC out who advised that it was faulty, they replaced it. I asked him if it could be the alternator that was not charging the battery properly & he said the alternator was fine. The mechanic then told me I didn't need to start it up or rev it as he said he had a Land Rover that he didn't use for months on end without any problem. Anyway, last week I went to start the car & the battery was dead again, so I am going to call out the RAC again.
After my long winded post (!) my questions are these:
- What other reason could there be for the battery not holding its charge, other than the alternator?
- Is the RAC's battery a better bet than the local garage & should I be asking for a certain type because it's a GTE?
I have no power in the garage so I can't keep the battery charged. Also, I don't want to disconnect the battery as I wouldn't know how to reconnect it again each time I wanted to go out in it! I just wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what could be causing the problem with the battery.
Many thanks in advance & sorry for the long post!
littlewren said:
Hi,
I have a 1990 Vauxhall Nova GTE, which has only done 20,000 miles.
For a few years now, I've found that it won't hold battery charge if I don't go out in it for say, a week in the winter - it's not so bad during the warmer months - so if I don't intend going out for about a week during the winter, I start it up, as advised by the RAC man and rev the engine until it warms up.
Last November it was due for its MOT & again wouldn't start because of the battery. The garage came out, fitted another battery and took it away to MOT it. Come April, just 5 months later, the battery went again & after having the RAC out who advised that it was faulty, they replaced it. I asked him if it could be the alternator that was not charging the battery properly & he said the alternator was fine. The mechanic then told me I didn't need to start it up or rev it as he said he had a Land Rover that he didn't use for months on end without any problem. Anyway, last week I went to start the car & the battery was dead again, so I am going to call out the RAC again.
After my long winded post (!) my questions are these:
I have no power in the garage so I can't keep the battery charged. Also, I don't want to disconnect the battery as I wouldn't know how to reconnect it again each time I wanted to go out in it! I just wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what could be causing the problem with the battery.
Many thanks in advance & sorry for the long post!
First off its worth knowing that the colder a battery is the harder it will be to hold charge or provide enough charge to turn the car over. As long as the Battery is a 50ah one you should be ok, if you want the GM part number is 93168488. I would suggest without having the vehicle with me its a mix of cold/damp getting at your battrys and the vehicle not being used for long periods.I have a 1990 Vauxhall Nova GTE, which has only done 20,000 miles.
For a few years now, I've found that it won't hold battery charge if I don't go out in it for say, a week in the winter - it's not so bad during the warmer months - so if I don't intend going out for about a week during the winter, I start it up, as advised by the RAC man and rev the engine until it warms up.
Last November it was due for its MOT & again wouldn't start because of the battery. The garage came out, fitted another battery and took it away to MOT it. Come April, just 5 months later, the battery went again & after having the RAC out who advised that it was faulty, they replaced it. I asked him if it could be the alternator that was not charging the battery properly & he said the alternator was fine. The mechanic then told me I didn't need to start it up or rev it as he said he had a Land Rover that he didn't use for months on end without any problem. Anyway, last week I went to start the car & the battery was dead again, so I am going to call out the RAC again.
After my long winded post (!) my questions are these:
- What other reason could there be for the battery not holding its charge, other than the alternator?
- Is the RAC's battery a better bet than the local garage & should I be asking for a certain type because it's a GTE?
I have no power in the garage so I can't keep the battery charged. Also, I don't want to disconnect the battery as I wouldn't know how to reconnect it again each time I wanted to go out in it! I just wondered if anyone had any ideas as to what could be causing the problem with the battery.
Many thanks in advance & sorry for the long post!
Have you done a drain test across the fuses? Something could be using the power when not in use.
Also...
An alternator even when given a clean bill of health can drain a battery when the engine isn't running.
It will charge as it's meant to etc, but diodes can break down inside it and cause power to be consumed by the alternator and the energy is given off as heat, although you wont feel it.
I had this on my car.
Also...
An alternator even when given a clean bill of health can drain a battery when the engine isn't running.
It will charge as it's meant to etc, but diodes can break down inside it and cause power to be consumed by the alternator and the energy is given off as heat, although you wont feel it.
I had this on my car.
Hi AngryPartsBloke,
Thankyou for your reply & for the part number, I can give this to the RAC man when he comes out. Would it be worth keeping something over the outside of the bonnet to try and keep this area a bit warmer or is it pointless?
You say about the car not being used for long periods being the problem, but if this was only the case why would both the RAC man and the mechanic from the garage say it's not? Also, it's sometimes only a week or so and the battery will die.
Thankyou for your reply & for the part number, I can give this to the RAC man when he comes out. Would it be worth keeping something over the outside of the bonnet to try and keep this area a bit warmer or is it pointless?
You say about the car not being used for long periods being the problem, but if this was only the case why would both the RAC man and the mechanic from the garage say it's not? Also, it's sometimes only a week or so and the battery will die.
Hi callyman,
Thankyou for your reply. I wouldn't know how to do a drain test across the fuses. Would this be something the RAC will do when testing the battery?
It was interesting what you said about the alternator. Can the RAC or a mechanic test to see if the diodes are breaking down inside it?
Thankyou for your reply. I wouldn't know how to do a drain test across the fuses. Would this be something the RAC will do when testing the battery?
It was interesting what you said about the alternator. Can the RAC or a mechanic test to see if the diodes are breaking down inside it?
Kinda difficult to descibe, but here goes...
The battery on our Audi was doing the same. Itw as a reasonably new battery however of left for a week or so the car would struggle to start and more often than not, it wouldn't. Like you, it was worse in the winter months. The issue was that the battery was fine when it was new, for example it had a cold cranking output of 600Ah. However, due to the lack of use and a slight drain from the likes of the clock, the alarm and so on the battery would drop over a period of time (accelarated by the colder weather) and then she'd go out and start it. By then the battery had perhaps dropped to the point where it wouldn't start it.
She'd then get it jump started and drive a couple of miles with the lights, heaters and wipers going then come back and the car would sit for another few days. The issue was a) the battery was slowly discharging as it was unused (which is normal) and b) once started, the car wasn't getting enough of a drive to charge the battery back up. So, the more and more this went on, the worse the battery got. Basically, it wasn't being used enough to keep the battery charged up. It wasn't the battery, it was a lack of use.
I'd say as long as the battery tests fine and is showing enough charge and there is no excessive current draw from the car, then the issue is the lack of use. If you're storing a car for a while then you really need a trickle charger or remove it (one a Nova it's one 10mm nut to disconnect the positive lead) or if you can't do either of these, buy another battery and keep it in the house along with a set of jump leads and jump start the car. Once jump started, give it a good 20 mile plus run to give the alternator a chance to recharge the battery.
Oh and first dibs if it ever comes up for sale!
The battery on our Audi was doing the same. Itw as a reasonably new battery however of left for a week or so the car would struggle to start and more often than not, it wouldn't. Like you, it was worse in the winter months. The issue was that the battery was fine when it was new, for example it had a cold cranking output of 600Ah. However, due to the lack of use and a slight drain from the likes of the clock, the alarm and so on the battery would drop over a period of time (accelarated by the colder weather) and then she'd go out and start it. By then the battery had perhaps dropped to the point where it wouldn't start it.
She'd then get it jump started and drive a couple of miles with the lights, heaters and wipers going then come back and the car would sit for another few days. The issue was a) the battery was slowly discharging as it was unused (which is normal) and b) once started, the car wasn't getting enough of a drive to charge the battery back up. So, the more and more this went on, the worse the battery got. Basically, it wasn't being used enough to keep the battery charged up. It wasn't the battery, it was a lack of use.
I'd say as long as the battery tests fine and is showing enough charge and there is no excessive current draw from the car, then the issue is the lack of use. If you're storing a car for a while then you really need a trickle charger or remove it (one a Nova it's one 10mm nut to disconnect the positive lead) or if you can't do either of these, buy another battery and keep it in the house along with a set of jump leads and jump start the car. Once jump started, give it a good 20 mile plus run to give the alternator a chance to recharge the battery.
Oh and first dibs if it ever comes up for sale!
littlewren said:
Hi callyman,
Thankyou for your reply. I wouldn't know how to do a drain test across the fuses. Would this be something the RAC will do when testing the battery?
It was interesting what you said about the alternator. Can the RAC or a mechanic test to see if the diodes are breaking down inside it?
The RAC wouldn't do a drain test, their job is to recover not investigate too much.Thankyou for your reply. I wouldn't know how to do a drain test across the fuses. Would this be something the RAC will do when testing the battery?
It was interesting what you said about the alternator. Can the RAC or a mechanic test to see if the diodes are breaking down inside it?
If there is a significant drain on the battery, removing the wiring on the alternator would show a drop in current.
Hi Davie & callyman,
Thankyou for your replies, I've booked the car in for its MOT next week & told the garage there are a couple of things I'd like them to look at too so I will mention your comments to them. Hopefully I will sound quite knowledgeable about cars and they won't think I'm a 'typical woman' lol
Thankyou for your replies, I've booked the car in for its MOT next week & told the garage there are a couple of things I'd like them to look at too so I will mention your comments to them. Hopefully I will sound quite knowledgeable about cars and they won't think I'm a 'typical woman' lol
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