i know random question, but after having small running issues with my car, and then a problem with it not wanting to start, i checked the voltage, and it was too low, so swapped for a new battery and it runs like a dream now
my faulty battery the readings it gave were:
11.7 before starting, and 11.9 - 12.5 when running
my new battery:
12 on start up, and 13.5 when running
i demand everyone goes out and gets their readings, i bet at least one person comes back with wrong readings :D
mine last month was 7v therefore i knew it was bollocksed as it only cranked half a turn
my new battery is 12.2v before starting and 13.5v running
Didn't have time last night after it wouldn't start making me late for work!
Mine cant be knackered as its not very old at all! Still goes flat tho :(
check it! please even people who think theres is fine, i guarantee we will solve someones problems!
I think mines just due to a naff earth somewhere. The last multimeter we plugged upto my car died! lol.
iv had the same battery in 6 of my polo's lol and it still 12v on start up, and 13.4 when running
QuoteMine cant be knackered as its not very old at all!
that's a dangerous assumption to make, even an almost new lead acid battery can be knackered if it's been left uncharged for a length of time.
Thanks Dan more stuff to check and spend money on :-)
Luckily only just serviced the thing so all is good, but a fair point to make i think.
its one of them things you just dismiss, but like i said, my car runs sweet now, no start up issue at all, and general running is much better
Quote from: vwmk3jon on October 02, 2009, 11:56:50 AM
Mine cant be knackered as its not very old at all! Still goes flat tho :(
Paradox much? :D
hahahah
It's either not holding it's charge or something is draining current. Can't be that difficult to sort out.
If you do a lot of very short journeys ie daily commutes, your battery's going to have a much shorter life than if you give it a regular twenty mile trip. It's a bit of a bummer if your pride and joy sleeps in the street, but regular overnight charging is well worth it.
Quote from: MartinB on October 02, 2009, 05:33:01 PM
Quote from: vwmk3jon on October 02, 2009, 11:56:50 AM
Mine cant be knackered as its not very old at all! Still goes flat tho :(
Paradox much? :D
Could say that. Having to work around everything that could be causing it (so that'll be checking the whole engine over!). I'm sure we checked the battery though and it was fine when we got the thing fired up again.
Could be that the battery is knackered, but just drains quicker than the alternator can charge it depending on what loads on upon it.
Make sure your earths are in good condition, both the charger to chassis and gearbox to chassis, helps to run a thick earth from the gearbox, and also your lamba/inlet manifold to the battery earth... from yoof's tuning (or hardhitters, cant remember who did it) advice on a clubpolo sticky a few years back.
A link to a different one... http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t120353.html (http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t120353.html)
I thought a healthly alternator should read 14.4v, and at least above 13.6v for the ECU to use correct engine control parameters. Correct me if im wrong, but I remember beavis harping on about it all the time when your car wasn't making enough power no matter what you did.
We had my black car on the rolling road at race power motorsport, no matter what you changed, every run came back with 164bhp and same graph plot everytime, peak power at 6600rpm, alternator read 13.4v. Bought a new alternator, fitted it while down at beavis's, 14.4v reading and car responding a hell of alot quicker and liam came out with me to setup ignition and cam timings on the vernier, devestating performance upto 8krpm... then we blew the charger seal springs again, ::) :D
With the alternator... most times its the voltage regulator (that oval/diamond thingy on alt) bushes that have gone, or the solder has broke, 2 philips screws and it'll come out, about a tenner to get a new one or fix the OE one.