Electrical issues.

[lotusolly]

Hi all,

I'm hoping somebody might be able to give me a few tips as to where to start looking for a problem.

What I believed to be an issue with bad batteries appears to be something more in depth. As I have mentioned on a different thread my car is stored in a garage without power so I am unable to connect a battery conditioner, which results in the battery often running flat if the car has not been used for a couple of weeks, which I know is not ideal.
Issues started with the battery starting to loose charge after just a couple of days and then only charging to about 9V. After replacing the first battery I found that the battery didn't seem to be charging properly on the car and had the alternator refurbished. All seemed to be ok for a while but then started to have the same issues again with the battery not holding charge. I replaced the battery again expecting the frequent discharge to be the issue but the problem is again reoccurring.

If I jump start from another car it has no problem starting but now if I try and start from a power bank the voltage is being pulled down so far that it does not start.
Took the car out today and a new issue appeared. A couple of times the engine momentarily cut out, all the dash lights come up as if turning the ignition to position 2 and then cleared back to normal! This was literally a split second thing and I was moving on each occasion but I suspect if I had been stationary the engine would have stalled.

Any body have an idea of what the problem might be?

Thanks

Olly

[NZNick]

Main relay?
Battery connecting cable frayed / twisted?

[Mark N]

Hi olly
Have you checked the battery terminals for clean tight connection ? Then I would checked the earth connection from battery to chassis/ body . I'm no expert mind . Then swoop out main relay . As nznick said.

[nicjwin]

If you let the battery run down to flat it probably wont hold a charge for more than a few hours . Can you run a solar battery charger from the roof to the car . It might help a bit or disconnect the battery.

[lotusolly]

Thanks for the comments.
Battery connections and ground cable good.
I haven't changed the main relay and that may explain the momentary shutdowns but I haven't had any issues starting usually associated with relay failure, just low voltage.
I did buy an optimate solar charger/conditioner but this doesn't seem to generate enough power to maintain the battery charge.
I have a vented bonnet on the car which means the battery is located behind the duct making access to the battery a bit more awkward and certainly not something I would want to have to get to every time I use the car. Extending the positive cable with an accessible switch may be an option.
Thanks

Olly

[WhyOne?]

Hi Olly. Sorry to hear you are having problems.

I have a spare main relay kicking about somewhere (fits my 2001 NA2, not sure if these are year specific?) You're more than welcome to borrow it and swap yours out. (I'm away for the weekend but back early next week). Just shout.

[Pride]

Looking at what the main relay does all points to curing your problems Steve, anyway good luck.