Duff battery?

[rlaming]

Please can someone advise me if this is simple dead batter problem or if it could be something else. Just recently had complete re-wire which makes me suspicious. Apologies if a basic question, I am a novice.

Car is a P5B Coupe. After couple of years very reliable use, and after the complete re-wire, went to use the car and battery appeared flat and car wouldn't start -just a few clicking noises. Starts fine with jump start. Recharged battery for 15 hours - still wouldn't start other than with jump start. Went for 25 mile drive, would restart immediately when stopped then after 30 minutes, battery appeared dead again.

All advice welcomed. Is there a tester of some sort I can buy? If it is dead battery, where is the best place to get a replacement.

[glennr]

Why don't you take the battery to a tyre fitting place and they can put a tester on it and tell you in 5 secs to see if it has a dead cell(s). Sounds like battery to me

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Sounds like a duff cell or two
If you want to check your charging ok measure the voltage accross the battery at half engine revs it should go between 12.5v and 13.8v modern systems are 14.2v another piece of usless information

[Deleted]

Turn the headlights on and if they go dim when you try the starter you will know that there is no power from the battery and it is u.s. It could be an interlock spade connection problem though which prevents starting. You will however hear a click but not from the starter solenoid. Does the parking gear work?

[Smallfry]

Sounds like battery. However, if it was fine before rewire, it may be you have a current leakage (not quite a short circuit) Something connected wrongly, or a faulty component............alternator or related gubbins normally ............

Disconnect battery positive terminal, and try a bulb between the terminal and the heavy cable, with everything switched off it should not light up.

You will of course need a charge in the battery to try this, and any leakage like this will kill a good battery stone dead (it will not even take a charge)

[Deleted]

Just as a precaution, take up the door trim under the left rear and check the insulation hasnt chafed through to the chassis.

[rlaming]

All - Thanks for advice. Took to Halfords to test. he said it was not good, amps very low at 3. Don't know what it should be. He then asked if it was a Ford battery as it had square terminals with holes for bolts and code of 097. Halfords system did not go back far enough for Rover P5B. Question now - is this 097 battery the correct battery one for a 1969 P5B coupe? Don't have handbook or anything to check and can't find anything on the internet.

[Phil Nottingham]

097 is not correct and Ford battery terminals are no good either - 071 and use search for full list

[johnwp5bcoupe]

The terminals should be round ones (posts) get as big a battery current wise as you can safely get in the box 90AH at least, I assume the 097 stands for 97AH? If your car is not used a lot a Leisure Battery may be the way to go

[rlaming]

Thanks Phil and John for latest advice. Is 071 standard number I can just get from Halfords or elsewhere? Is a leisure battery just a generic heavy duty battery of some sort of is there a specific code/number for rover? I do indeed not use the car very much. Thanks in advance. Roy

[Phil Nottingham]

There are various batteries - the modern ones are all smaller so you can get a more powerful one as long as it fits in the carrier and has the post terminals in the correct place.

Not certain whether a leisure battery would last anyway as they are not desiigned for a heavy load the starter motor draws.

You must check the types given in earlier threads but you will have no trouble getiing one - Halfords are not the cheapest of places but they will have a variety. 55AH is the minimum requirement

[johnwp5bcoupe]

If you are not constantly stopping and starting a leisure battery would be fine and is more flexable/reliable over long periods of none use otherwise a battery conditioner on a standard heavy duty battery would be better if not used on a regular basis

johnwp5bcoupe said:

The terminals should be round ones (posts) get as big a battery current wise as you can safely get in the box 90AH at least, I assume the 097 stands for 97AH? If your car is not used a lot a Leisure Battery may be the way to go