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time for the axe!!!???

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:15 am
by poppet
Hi
having problem starting the minor in a morning.
Essentially it has a slightly tweaked marina 1.3 engine with electronic ignition. All auxillaries are new which makes tracing the problem very difficult. If anybody has any ideas or suggestions please?
Steve

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:56 am
by PSL184
All you need is fuel, spark and compression. Check for each of these until you find one not working.....

ready for the axe

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:21 am
by poppet
Hi
thanks for response.
I thought i'd traced it to a problem with the battery(even though it wasn't old) so replaced the batterywith a new one. All went well until the following am when exactly the same thing occured. It has left me scratching my head.

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:37 am
by PSL184
Sounds like either a battery connection problem (either to earth or to starter motor) or the alternator/dynamo is not charging the battery when the engine is running. Have you got a test meter? If so, with engine running, put the leads across the battery and see what voltage reading you get - Should be around 14 volts at a fast idle speed...

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:03 pm
by MarkyB
It sounds like something is draining the battery overnight.
Do you have an alarm fitted?
They are notorious for draining bike batteries.

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:41 pm
by chrisd87
Same as above really, but do you have a radio fitted? In both of my cars the radio will drain the battery if not wired through the switched side circuit, although not overnight.

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:05 pm
by PSL184
To check for a drain on the battery disconnect the positive battery terminal. Set your meter to read amps and connect one probe to battery and the other probe to the battery lead. If anything more than a few milliamps is shown on the meter then something is draining the battery. You will then need to disconnect various circuits in turn until you find the culprit....