Weird starting trouble with Indigo

panky12345 · 17th August 2010, 13:49

hi guys,

experienced a strange thing this morning.. when tried to start my Indigo, there was a sudden noise like rapid "kad-kad-kad", with the dashboard indicator lights (hand brake, oil etc) blinking continously. the ODO was also blinking, then it settled. (this was when the ignition was in "ON" position.) the car refused to start when cranked.

checked the volts on the battery using a DMM.. showed 10.60V

any ideas what could be wrong?

here's a brief video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfyvlmTT8sQ

tsk1979 · 17th August 2010, 14:25

Your battery has gone down.
Try jump starting with a fresh charged battery.
After that check voltage. If you are getting 13.5 etc., your alternator is okay.
This means the cells in your battery are gone.
How old is the battery?

panky12345 · 17th August 2010, 15:01

thanks tanveer.. strange indeed! car was perfect till last night, and am sure there was no lights etc that remained on.

battery is OEM app 2.5 yr old exide.

panky12345 · 18th August 2010, 14:50

you were right tanveer.. replaced the battery with amaron, everything seems to be settled now.

tsk1979 · 18th August 2010, 15:16

Sometimes, a faulty alternator can lead to premature battery failure(15V+spikes). So do attach the DMM, and see voltage, first without any lights, AC etc., and then switch on the headlights, the AC at full blast without switching on the compressor, fog lamps(if any).
Then switch on the AC compressor also.

panky12345 · 18th August 2010, 17:56

I connected the DMM, abeit without switching on the lights etc. It was 14.48 after acclerating and 13.68 - 13.78 idle.

tsk1979 · 18th August 2010, 18:04

Thats perfect. Alternator is good, problem should go away now.

greenhorn · 18th August 2010, 23:39

its times like this you wish you had an analog multimeter

17th August 2010, 14:25	#2
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Your battery has gone down. Try jump starting with a fresh charged battery. After that check voltage. If you are getting 13.5 etc., your alternator is okay. This means the cells in your battery are gone. How old is the battery?
	() Thanks

17th August 2010, 15:01	#3
panky12345 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,697 Thanked: 171 Times	thanks tanveer.. strange indeed! car was perfect till last night, and am sure there was no lights etc that remained on. battery is OEM app 2.5 yr old exide.
	() Thanks

18th August 2010, 14:50	#4
panky12345 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,697 Thanked: 171 Times	you were right tanveer.. replaced the battery with amaron, everything seems to be settled now.
	() Thanks

18th August 2010, 15:16	#5
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Sometimes, a faulty alternator can lead to premature battery failure(15V+spikes). So do attach the DMM, and see voltage, first without any lights, AC etc., and then switch on the headlights, the AC at full blast without switching on the compressor, fog lamps(if any). Then switch on the AC compressor also.
	() Thanks

18th August 2010, 17:56	#6
panky12345 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,697 Thanked: 171 Times	I connected the DMM, abeit without switching on the lights etc. It was 14.48 after acclerating and 13.68 - 13.78 idle.
	() Thanks

18th August 2010, 18:04	#7
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Thats perfect. Alternator is good, problem should go away now.
	() Thanks

18th August 2010, 23:39	#8
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,401 Times View My Garage	its times like this you wish you had an analog multimeter
	() Thanks