Nissan Micra won't jump start

Wig

Red_Cat wrote: »

Hi Wig, I am answering your Q's in the text below:
This morning before connecting any jump leads...
You put the key in the Micra and turn it What happened? It turned over, but did not fire
Did the engine turn over but not start? Yes
Did the engine not turn over? Yes

It turned over, but did not fire.... at the beginning, when she gave up was it still turning over but not firing?

Sounds like it is not a battery problem, maybe you drained the battery trying to start it, but the reason it did not start was not battery related.

It also sounds to me like there has been a common misunderstanding here, I have found a lot of people think that the battery is at fault because a car does not start.

This sound [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Motor just won't start WAV file - the best I could find, does not mean the battery is at fault, on the contrary it indicates the battery is good.
[/FONT]

Red_Cat

I got the battery back from the local motor factors that charged it up and put it back in the Micra.

Hey presto, the car started first time - no problem.

I don't know if there is something else up, but will keep a close eye on it.

goldspanners

saintjanet wrote: »

This is true but many people have not heard of gel type batteries and how they function,even the AA MAN did not know. The c-tec is a good charger/conditioner to have for gel types ,i have since discovered.

the AA men i have known in my time spent on hardsoulders prbably thought you just put gel in your hair not a battery!

saintjanet

goldspanners wrote: »

the AA men i have known in my time spent on hardsoulders prbably thought you just put gel in your hair not a battery!

Funny you should say that,we are with 2 breakdown firms,when our vauxhall would not start the warranty covered it but the car was at home so they would not come out.We then sent for the other company who said they could not get it going and would have to tow us in the next day,when we told vauxhall this they said that they would tow it in,they arrived with the truck,had a go at starting the car and got it going!!

They were not best pleased with the other lot:mad:

Conor_3

Red_Cat wrote: »

The problem is that the Micra is not taking it. I have put the cables on correctly (I have checked). I left the donor car connected and running for five and then ten minutes, having it revved up when trying to start the Micra. I am pretty sure tyhe battery is OK (apart from being flat) with no cracks, corrosion and it was not frozen.

This morning it was at least clicking over, but now there's nothing, no lights, central locking or starting.

Has anybody got any advice?

Red Cat

Two problems:

1) Most jump leads are woefully inadequate for the job. They're simply not beefy enough. Basically if it's the usual 1/2" diameter stuff, you might as well not bother.

2) When you leave the flat battery connected, most of the current travelling down the leads is being sucked up by the battery.

Try removing the earth lead from the battery on the Micra. Connect the jump lead to the positive as normal and the earth lead that you've just removed then jump start the car. Once it's running, remove the jumper cable from the earth lead and place the earth lead back on the battery and then tighten up. This way you're only trying to start the Micra and not charge its battery as well. If it conks out when you remove the earth jump lead, the alternator isn't working. You also only do this with the earth lead so if anything contacts the body such as the loose jump lead or your spanner, there'll be no shorting out.