start-up problems

[davids]

Normally I would just take the car to a local dealer but neither will be able to look at it for a couple of weeks, so I thought a bit of self diagnosis with the aid of some other long suffering Tuscan owners might get the answer.

Here goes:
Due to my own stupid error i drained the battery completely flat two weeks ago. I fitted a replacement battery and the car ran fine again. I got in the car on saturday and it started first time, drove ten miles and turned the engine off. I tried to restart it 5 minutes later but there was not enough power to turn the engine over. Got jump leads out and engine started and ticked over perfectly. Drove it home then tried again and once again it would not start.

I thought it may have been an alternator problem but the dash says there is more than 11V in the battery, so I checked the spec of the new battery. It is the same 072 code as the original but the cranking power is 620 compared with 650. This is only a 5% difference but could it prevent the car from starting up? If this is the problem then why did the engine start at all with the new battery? Could the dash readout be wrong and there is a problem with the alternator? Anyone got any ideas before I burst into tears?

[fish]

ODD Definately sounds like an alternator problem, ie it's not charging. It's worth getting a to see an auto electrician as they will normaly do a free check that the charging cycle is running correctly, though it might be hard to get to on a tuscan.

I vaguely remember that alternators need to be kick started to charge but can't remeber enough for it to be a useful comment.

The fact your new battery is a lower ampage shouldn't stop the car starting it just hasn't got the same crancking time and power. If I replace the I always try and fit in a 720amp just to be on the safe side.

Anyhow after all that best advice ring 2-3 good auto electricans and explain whats happened they should all give you some ideas, and maybe get the charging cycle checked that would confirm quite quickly if it is the alternator

[Jarrett]

Don't know if this is true but I was once told that one of the reasons why so many TVR's have starting problems after being left for relatively short periods of time is that they have one of the largest power drains on the battery at startup of any car.

Therefore if the battery is even slightly dodgy it can affect the startup reliablility.

Due to the generally quirky nature of TVR's I would think that it is always a good idea to change parts like for like where possible so as not to add to the possible problems.

Hope that you find the problem quickly so that it does not detract from the fun factor!

[bertie]

For it to be charging propery you should be seeing 13.5 volts on the battery.
If you're only seeing 11v then it isn't being charged.

Alternators do need a voltage on the field coils to generate but are more that self sustaining if working properly.