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Yesterday I drove into town to pick up some materials, a journey of about 20 miles on dual carriageway
After loading at the merchants I went to start the engine for the return, and there was nothing. A millisecond long illumination of dash lights but that was all - nothing would work, no hazard lights, no central locking etc all dead. No radio.
I got the van jump started off a 2l skoda diesel and it went immediately and I drove home
This morning from cold I put the multimeter across the battery and got 12.58. I then did it with engine idling and got 14.53. I think these are good numbers from what I understand. The engine seems to start pretty happily considering its just above freezing.
So what else would cause the van to loose all electrical power so suddenly? I'm thinking maybe a connection of some sort has come loose, but then why did it start straight off when it was jump started?
Ive not noticed any difficult starts on cold mornings, in fact the van has been running pretty well considering it's an 18 yr old 2.5 tdi
Earth strap?
Failing that, how old is the battery? I had something similar with a Fiesta ST in Spain last month and they thought the battery might just be old/dying.
Cheers yeah earth strap has been mentioned by a mate - could it corrode?
The battery is about a year old, the meter says it's ok I think. In the past, cold weather has shown up a failing battery but ive not noticed anything this winter
This morning from cold I put the multimeter across the battery and got 12.58
That indicates a reasonably well-charged battery in cold weather, maybe too good for totally flat/20 miles. I'd second an external cause, e.g. the earth strap.
Give the terminals a clean and a bit of grease as well, but make sure that you have a radio code and any digital trip numbers recorded should you lose power completely
EDIT to say, check the resistance with a multi-meter if you can get at it and compare to a known good car
Definitely check the earth strap. Mine did similar just before Christma.
It started when you jumped it because it would have been earthed across the other car.
They do corrode. The one on my Panda was terrible, but that was a mid-80's Fiat, so everything kind of corroded.
The one on my Panda was terrible, but that was a mid-80’s Fiat, so everything kind of corroded
Yeah I had an Uno in the mid 80s too, body work by Alka Seltzer
It started when you jumped it because it would have been earthed across the other car.
Ah yes, of course. I was puzzled why it started immediately.
Right I will recce the earth strap and see whats what
As above I'd check the engine earth. Had problems on my T6 with this issue. The T6 earth looking in from the open bonnet is down on the LHS & attaches to an extension stud on one of the engine mounts. It doesn't take a lot of electrical resistance to cause issues. Quick & easy to check if it's in the same location.
Good luck.