Kitty Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 What is 'starter motor' in French please?I think that I have a problem with mine. On three separate occasions that I have used my car today, when I have tried to start the dar, it goes 'phut'. I try starting it three or four times and on the turn of the key each time, it just goes 'phut', 'phut' etc. I wait a bit and try turning knobs and being patient and then it suddenly decided to start after all and roars into life. Does this sound like a problem with the starter motor to you? Are they expensive to fix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 demarreurI would check the battery and all the connections to it and the starter motor before spending any money Cathy.Make sure they are clean and tight.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 In the present cold weather the load on the starter motor is much greater, it really shows when the battery is coming to the end of its life. How old is the battery?Your connections may be good, the starter motor may be fine but the battery may be on its last legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Ohhh. It's an 04 registration, bought off my brother a couple of weeks ago. He hasn't had any problems like this.I'll look at the battery and the connections tomorrow morning when it's light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 If you've got a battery charger Cathy why not try an overnight charge.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckdendave Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Because it sometimes starts and on other occasions doesn't, I think it's more likely to be the starter solenoid than anything else, though the battery connections are also worth checking. When you turn the ignition key, which is a low current device, it activates the starter solenoid which passes the much higher current required by the starter motor. It could also be the ignition switch. An auto electrician can easily check.Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 Thank you everyone for your ideas. I shall put them into practice as soon as the frost allows me to in the morning.Sadly, my computer went down before I was able to read BB's suggestion to put the battery on charge overnight. It's the middle of the night and I've just mended the connection (a faulty ethernet cable) - Im so resourceful.... [Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Did you get the computer from your brother (who hasn't had any problems) too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 To me Cathy, 3:14 isn't the middle of the night. It's early phutting morning[:D]What make and model is the car and is it a petrol or diesel? Edited: I am sure you know...but be very careful when you carry out the suggestion to charge the battery, because if you remove the leads to charge it you will lose the code on the radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 It's a Nissan Terrano - diesel. I got it going today when a (German) friend came round to help me charge it. It would not start when the reading was 12 (on his German machine). We then charged it for an hour or so and it went up to 14 and the car started no problem. I took it for a spin without heating, lighting, minimal windscreen wipers etc to a town about 30 mins away. What happened - it decided to play up again when trying to start it again to come back home (also 30 mins). Aaaggghhh.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maricopa Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Sounds like either the battery is on its way out, or the alternator not working correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Cathy, I have been in your situation and I advise always parking at the top of a hill until you get it sorted out or bought a new battery. My first car was a morris minor and had a starting handle, I wish modern cars did too. Likewise why can't cars have real bumpers any more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 4 1/2 year old battery + very cold winter = probably dead / dieing battery.However.......with my view of Nissan reliability it could equally be the alternator (as well) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 What is an (the?) alternator?Thank you everyone for your help. A bit depressing as I have only had this car for 3 weeks.Renaud - when I have some more time (next week as I'm looking after two families at the moment - a long story), I'll pm you. Your comments made me laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 The alternator is the modern equivalent of Renaud's Morris Minor's dynamo, it charges the battery. If the battery is flat or phutted the alternator will not fully charge the battery even if you drive all day. Sounds like as everybody says, it's the battery. A good electrical shop should be able to test the alternator and battery for you without any bother.Today I have had to replace my battery, it cost 90 euros. My car is diesel as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Get your german friend to charge the battery overnight.Check each cell with a hydrometer the next morning.If any cell or cells are not in the green with the float, then to put it politely the battery is "stuffed". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 Thank you. My German friend has now gone to Hamburg for a few days so I shall go to a local garage tomorrow. It's such a nuisance.Incidentally, are old batteries of any use for anything? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Much likelier to be the battery and connections than the altenator.Before Renault got their hands on them Nissan/Datsun were much better built than either Fords or BMC. Given it is now about 10 dgerees warmer you will probably be able to get away with it. In the days just after you were transported to Austalia for stealing lace handkerchiefs used batteries sold for about £ 10 a time when new ones were £ 20. Trying to flog one tommorrow so will report back cle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Be careful everyone, if someone called Anton offers you a battery decline, its probably knackered [:D][;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 [quote user="Cathy"]Thank you. My German friend has now gone to Hamburg for a few days so I shall go to a local garage tomorrow. It's such a nuisance.Incidentally, are old batteries of any use for anything? [/quote]Yes, the lead from the plates inside is recycled...you guessed right...for new batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 [quote user="teapot"]Be careful everyone, if someone called Anton offers you a battery decline, its probably knackered [:D][;-)][/quote]Anton definitely he knackered but piles just fine though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 It is definitely the battery not the alternator. Last night, I took it for a long spin and it recharged successfully. It started no problem this morning because it wasn't frosty.I am very grateful to everyone as you have saved me a lot of money. Without your advice, I would have taken it to a garage and received a high bill.Now to get a battery (so that I can use the heated seats again on these cold mornings)... Are they easy to find and are they easy to replace in the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 [quote user="Cathy"]... (so that I can use the heated seats again on these cold mornings)... [/quote]Aahh! According to my son-in-law the biggest killer of an aging battery.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gosub Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Although you can buy batteries in places like Leclerc, I think you should go to someone like "Roady" or "Feu Vert" and have the battery supplied and fitted.HERE is a link to a site in the UK, to give you an idea of costs there, I would expect to pay more in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Don't buy a cheap battery, the metal plates inside are seperated by waxed cardboard which falls apart with high drain devices like heated seats etc and is made worse by the constant vibration.Better are the Bosch silver or the new gel type which have no liquid in them so no spill etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.