[Kennekam]

I have had this happen four times in the last month or so:

When trying to open the car, the remote has no effect. After opening the door using the key, there are no lights on at all. When putting the key in the ignition, there is still no power anywhere.

The dual battery monitor shows that both batteries are fully charged, so it is not be battery itself. We have managed to get the car started by fiddling with the relays in the box near the positive terminal. Everything looks OK though. However, this evening my wife got it started by releasing the handbrake and the car moving backward an inch or two.

I assume it is a loose connection somewhere. But where to look? Any suggestions?

Btw it is a 2005 Gen 3 DiD LWB.

[4ePikanini]

Take the battery connections off the terminals. Clean the inside of the connections and the actual terminals themselves with a scouring pad.

Spray with contact cleaner and reassemble.

Report back.


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[Kennekam]

Take the battery connections off the terminals. Clean the inside of the connections and the actual terminals themselves with a scouring pad.

Spray with contact cleaner and reassemble.

Report back.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk because forumrunner keeps crashing on ios 6

Hi Marius
I have already cleaned the terminals. The dual battery monitor uses the same terminals and it shows both batteries as charged, so it is not the terminals.
Many thanks

[4ePikanini]

A 50% connection on the terminal is good enough to show charged and good enough to accept a charge.

The 3.2 takes some serious amps to turn over plus the glowplugs are pulling enough current to start a citi golf engine.

If the connections aren't 100% you will have issues.

the only other thing I can think off is a dodgy connection on the ignition barrel.

Next time it does that jiggle the keys a bit and see if it makes a difference.

[CATS]

I concur. Battery connection problem. Are the clamps tight? They trnd to stretch over time.

CATS

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[MThompson]

Hi Kennekam

I have noticed on cold mornings that the positive battery terminal does not make proper contact. I get in, turn key, lights everything switch on, when turning the key, everything and I mean everything goes dead. Radio looses settings everything, so check the terminal properly. This is my problem

Another option: If everything works, lights on the dash etc and you turn the key and you only hear a click....there might be a problem with the park sensor on the autobox (assuming you have an auto?) that doesn't detect that it is in park and will thus not start, move to Neutral and try again. This is another little itch I have.....but this is NOT electrical related....just a switch not detecting properly and moving to Neutral it starts without issues.

You mentioned that the battery monitor shows full batteries but nothing else works, does this include the interior lights etc? If everything is dead incl dash lights, interior lights etc but the battery monitor works, check the main connection between the battery and the fuse box, I believe that the dual battery is in parallel with the rest of the electronics thus the reason why the dual battery will work and the rest not, maybe a corroded connection on relay or in the fuse box etc?

[redvers]

Hi Kennaman

Also check the terminal connections to the starter and earth (body) itself.

Hope you get sorted

[Bernard]

Hi Guys

I have a similar problem, intermittent starting issues. I have removed the starter motor and refitted, not the issue. New battery fitted. My electrical system does not die though.
I suspect it may be ignition as when I jiggle the ignition with key, it starts.
Looks like that's my next project.....

[4ePajero]

If it is just the ignition barrel, a new one is going to cost you a fortune, and then you sit with different keys for ignition and everything else.
Consider fitting a starter push button in stead.

[Kennekam]

Thanks for all the input, but this does not address the problem. It is not that the starter won't work. The whole electrical system is dead. These are the symptoms:

1. The remote does not work.
2. When you open the door using the key, no lights come on in the car.
3. When you put the key in and turn it one click, nothing comes on. No dashboard lights, no temperature display, nothing.
4. It is as if the battery is dead depite it being fully charged.

I have cleaned the battery terminals and have checked the fuses, etc. It must be a connection just after the battery terminals, perhaps a relay?

The thing is that this is an intermittant fault. The car started perfectly all weekend.