Car won't start in very cold weather - new battery for the past tw

[melissao]

Hi all,

I have a 1997 discovery, 2.5Tdi and every year it really struggles to start in the cold weather. Sometimes it will start after a turning it over a good few times and then when it's really bad it just drains the battery and doesn't start at all. I can start it using leads but it tends to happen again and again in the cold.

I have replaced the battery for the past 2 years now - any advice would be very much appreciated! Is it a battery issue? It is currently sitting on my drive....dead

Thank you.

[rovernut]

It probably starts ok when the weeather is warmer but check the battery to chassis earth cable and the chassis to engine earth strap. Also worth checking battery terminals are clean and tight.

[Tanuki]

I'd be inclined to check the alternator. 1997 means you've got a "dumb charge" setup where the alternator simply responds to battery-voltage - so long as it can.

Test: Attach a voltmeter to the battery terminals. Leave it for 30 minutes with the engine not running but the headlamps on main-beam. Then start it and prop the throttle so the engine's running at 3000RPM for 15 minutes. You should then be seeing at least 14V on your test-meter. 14.5V is better.

Alternators can go 'soft' in different ways - if you lose the diodes providing one phase of the alt's 3-phase rectification the 'charge warning' light in the instrument cluster won't come on but your ability to recharge the battery will be seriously depleted, and 21st-century batteries really don't handle deep-discharge well.

[MuddyWinny]

I would also check the glow plugs. Although the heat light may be illuminated the glow plugs may have gone OC. I had a similar thing happen on my tdi.

Each glow plug should have a resistance of about 1 ohm.

Mark

[DrRob]

Glow plugs make a huge difference and are cheap and easy to change

Also run an extra earth lead from battery to engine. Easy mod.

[Supercharged16v]

Agreed with everything.

I had the same problem, turned out to be an earth issue.

Re-grounded the engine to the battery directly on a different location (on the a/c mount) and starts perfectly now.

[melissao]

Hi, great, thank you for your help - I think I will check the glow plugs first. So no one thinks it's the battery that's at fault? I don't need one with a higher cold cranking amp?

Thanks again!

[Supercharged16v]

I've got a 90amp one. Barely fits in, does the job nicely. But if you can get a smaller pack with higher amps, that would be ideal

Do you use a winch as well ?

[redneck]

Hi, great, thank you for your help - I think I will check the glow plugs first. So no one thinks it's the battery that's at fault? I don't need one with a higher cold cranking amp?

Thanks again!

My 2.5N/A has a meagre 45 CCA, starts on the button every time, as already stated check your wires, battery terminals and earths are all in good order first, then look at your glow plugs.

When checking your wiring and terminals, disconnect them and clean them thoroughly ensuring a good metal to metal contact.