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dead battery-problem boosting
by
acidwarp
on 19 Jan, 2005 22:31
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ok, so I left my radio on for like 30 minutes, then the car doesnt start, its struggling to start, so I guess theres a lack of power from the battery. I boost it with my fathers car, and then when I try to start it, its like theres no power at all in my car (I turn on the key to 2nd spot and you hear click-click-click-click). Is there a special way to boost a diesel or what?
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#1
by
NGTD
on 19 Jan, 2005 23:17
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Check your ground on your booster cables. Probably didn't have a good one. You need to ground to the engine block or something good like that.
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#2
by
MayorDJQ
on 19 Jan, 2005 23:59
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Check the battery cables themselves. Clean them while you're at it. Dirty connections will cause trouble starting/charging/jumping. Trace the negative cable to the frame and clean that connection, and also check the block ground.
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#3
by
acidwarp
on 20 Jan, 2005 01:44
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Argh, thats it, I put the negative to a metal part of my fathers car, not on mine.
I saw somewhere that it is not good to jumpstart while the booster's car is turned on. True? (they say it could make the glow plugs burn from an overdose of volts..)
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#4
by
MayorDJQ
on 20 Jan, 2005 12:50
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If the booster car is off, you may end up sucking all the power out the good battery, especially if you're trying to start a diesel. Then you'll have two dead cars.
I burned up an alternator belt on my old Toyota truck one time trying to start my Audi 5000 diesel. I'm probably lucky I didn't cook the alternator, but maybe the burning belt is what saved it.
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#5
by
acidwarp
on 20 Jan, 2005 12:55
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Ok thanks a lot!
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#6
by
acidwarp
on 20 Jan, 2005 15:45
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Hmm :-/ still didnt work, but I noticed that more energy was available. I guess im just going to check the fuses..
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#7
by
fatmobile
on 22 Jan, 2005 03:00
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Check the battery cables themselves
Yep.
Sounds like your first attempt to jump start it was to charge it for awhile then disconnect the cables and try to start your car.
I have heard that jump starting from some cars can mess up their computer or something like that.
VWs are known for having a bad ground setup.
Make sure your battery cables and connections are good.
If there is any current draw from the battery, bad connections will get warm/hot. If all you are getting is click-click there might not be enough current to generate heat. Try to start it and feel for heat;
battery posts,
ground connection on the block. By the way where is your battery grounded to the block? What kind of car?
Make sure the frame ground coming off the battery has a good connection too or weird stuff can happen.
Make sure the alternator frame has a good ground to the block or better yet, to the negative battery post.
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#8
by
srivett
on 22 Jan, 2005 18:43
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I like to have a booster pack handy. To boost my car I put the negative cable on the negative battery post and then I put the positive cable on the starter. When I say starter I mean I connect to the positive battery cable where it bolts onto the starter. This is the safest way and insures you get a good connection. The Canadian Tire 700CA booster pack will get your car going if it is going to start but it won't work if it's -35 and you haven't been plugged in. If you car is far from home you can get a friend to drag you down the street in 2nd gear. That'll get you going after a few blocks if it is -35.
Good luck, Steve
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#9
by
acidwarp
on 23 Jan, 2005 01:36
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I forgot to mention there's 10W30 in the engine...and its been around -20 all week.. :oops: maybe thats why its really struggling :?
cause everything electrical is ok after my checkup.. :roll:
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#10
by
acidwarp
on 24 Jan, 2005 19:53
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hey hi again,
I was checking the wires, and I noticed the small box just next to the coolant tank, it has a clear cover, and its a small black box. What I found is a stupid rusted nail that was connecting the 2 screws, I guess there should be some sort of fuse. What is this used for? And what kind of fuse should be there?
The code on the cover is " 1 H0 919 506".
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#11
by
srivett
on 24 Jan, 2005 19:58
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There should be a 50 amp fuse in there. It is a fusible link which is just a strap of metal. This provides power to your glow plugs so it is in your best interest to keep a couple spare fuses around.
Steve
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#12
by
acidwarp
on 24 Jan, 2005 20:38
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lmao, yes I found that fuse in the glove compartment and that should be the one (but its an old one..).
thanks a lot, finally im starting to see things more clear