Mini won't start after winter

[lgomgf]

Yesterday I tried to start the mini and of course the battery was dead... it gave me only one trial and then nothing..

I let the battery charge overnight, the charger said full this morning but today not even the lights were showing.... nothing completely dead... nothing works...

Anyone might know why? The tester shows that the battery has 12v but I get nothing from the car at all...

[anonymous-user]

Is EVERYTHING dead like the fuel pump?

[lgomgf]

all even fuel pump... nothing works at all... but it did before I tried to start...

[camelotr]

Check the terminals and earth, and look for corrosion.
If ok, get the capacity of the battery measured. No matter if it shows 12V without load, it can still be dead.
Or easier: try it with a proven battery.

[lgomgf]

i will get a new battery and see...

[mini1380cc]

There is a very high chance that the battery is beyond recharging. If its been left connected all winter and it managed to completely dissipate all charge it is likely goosed.

I take it you have another car given that this one has been off the road for winter? If so take booster cables straight to the mini leads whilst having the mini battery out the loop.

[lgomgf]

something happened... the mini just started yesterday... I put the key in to push the car out of the garage so I could tow it to the service to get the gearbox fixed and I noticed that the control lights were working again and the fuel pump started well pumping...

Anyone knows why this could have happened?

[Steffan]

lgomgf said:

something happened... the mini just started yesterday... I put the key in to push the car out of the garage so I could tow it to the service to get the gearbox fixed and I noticed that the control lights were working again and the fuel pump started well pumping...

Anyone knows why this could have happened?

Almost certainly a bad earth, or a bad connection.

Clean every connection on the main power lines particularly the terminals and earth straps connecting directly to the battery. Take these right off clean thoroughly with carborundum paper.

Coat lightly with No Crode a Holts product designed to prevent erosion on the contact faces. Very common on Minis. Check and clean the contact faces on the Earth straps etc.

The intermittent nature of the fault suggests poor earth or poor contact.

Worth doing this at least once a year. Good Luck.

[lgomgf]

thanks I will...