Toyota Aygo 2010

xbrenx

Hi, Just after a bit of advice. I bought the Aygo in August this year and it was fine for a week or so. Then out of the blue it just wouldn't start, the lights came on on the dashboard but no power to the engine. Mechanic came and jump started it, checked the battery and said I needed a new one. Fair enough, it was a cost I could deal with.

All was good for a couple of days and then the same thing again, same mechanic apologised that we must've got a dud battery and replaced it for me.

Again, all was well. We even left it unused for a week while on holiday, no problems. Then a week later the same happened again (grrrr). Mechanic took it for a couple of days to see if he could find something draining the battery, nothing did and the car was fine.

He suggested not using the A/C and see how we get on. Well today, it's happened again, no power at all.

My mechanic is at a loss, so I'm wondering what to do next. My hubby has suggested an auto electrician instead, I am just wondering if anyone has an idea what the problem could be?

Herzlos

Does the alternator work?

Joe_Horner

Check the battery connections.

xbrenx

Herzlos wrote: »

Does the alternator work?

You've got me there. How do I find that out?

Richard53

Simple if you have a voltmeter. Check the voltage across the battery terminals with the engine off. Should be around the 12V* mark. Start the engine and repeat. Should be in the 13.5V to 14.5V range. That shows the alternator is charging. If you don't have a voltmeter, any garage could do it for you in seconds. Places like Halfords will sell you a battery/alternator checker, basically the same thing, but lights up red/amber/green in the same circumstances. It would eliminate the obvious cause - the battery isn't getting charged while the car is running.


*Yes, these are approximate values, for the purpose of illustration.

xbrenx

Richard53 wrote: »

Simple if you have a voltmeter. Check the voltage across the battery terminals with the engine off. Should be around the 12V* mark. Start the engine and repeat. Should be in the 13.5V to 14.5V range. That shows the alternator is charging. If you don't have a voltmeter, any garage could do it for you in seconds. Places like Halfords will sell you a battery/alternator checker, basically the same thing, but lights up red/amber/green in the same circumstances. It would eliminate the obvious cause - the battery isn't getting charged while the car is running.


*Yes, these are approximate values, for the purpose of illustration.

The mechanic has done this and said it was working fine.

fatrab

It's unlikely that 3 batteries were all duds, so either the alternator isn't doing it's job properly or you have current drain from an electrical item/ecu that isn't shutting down.


The batteries in the Aygo/106/C1 are tiny. Are you doing very short journeys in the car? Perhaps the drain on the battery when starting isn't being fully recharged if you're only doing small trips?


Otherwise I think a reputable auto electrician should be your next move tbh.


Best of luck with it

xbrenx

fatrab wrote: »

It's unlikely that 3 batteries were all duds, so either the alternator isn't doing it's job properly or you have current drain from an electrical item/ecu that isn't shutting down.


The batteries in the Aygo/106/C1 are tiny. Are you doing very short journeys in the car? Perhaps the drain on the battery when starting isn't being fully recharged if you're only doing small trips?


Otherwise I think a reputable auto electrician should be your next move tbh.


Best of luck with it

Thank you.
I've contacted an auto electrician today to see what he can find.

daveyjp

Find your local Bosch service centre and get a proper charging and electrical system check.