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[V8S]

Hi all - trying to troubleshoot a starting problem. Battery is fine, alternator seems fine.

On Wednesday it was cold in the morning and it turned over for about 10 seconds before firing. I moved the car and stopped the engine. Started it again and it was the same. As I had an electrician there to look at another car, he jump started the car when he arrived and we left the Omega running while we looked at the other one.
I went off to work in the Omega, parked then tried to start it. It sounded like the battery was dead or dying.

That night we jump started it (I should have tried starting it first in hindsight) and for the past couple of days I've been checking the battery output which seems fine. The car starts fine each and every time.

So I'm thinking I have a bad earth or connection somewhere.

Just now when I went to put it up on the ramps it laboured a bit and then started after about 5 seconds so the problem is obviously still there at times.

So, how the hell do I find the earthing points and how do I get at them. There's what seems to be an earth wire coming off the negative terminal on the battery but it descends into the darkness in the engine bay.

HELP!

[V8S]

Bump.

Anyone?

[Marks DTM Calib]

The main body/battery earth point is under the battery tray.

The main battery/engine earth point is here:



Of course, the engine earth is easy test by connecting a jump lead between the neg and engine....

[V8S]

Thankyou!

Fingers crossed it seems to have been a dying battery, and now with a new one the battery is showing maximum voltage with the alternator running.

I will definitely be testing the earths though and cleaning them up if necessary.

Is the earth in the diagram the bolt bottom left that has a blue line pointed at it?

Thanks again.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Thankyou!

Fingers crossed it seems to have been a dying battery, and now with a new one the battery is showing maximum voltage with the alternator running.

I will definitely be testing the earths though and cleaning them up if necessary.

Is the earth in the diagram the bolt bottom left that has a blue line pointed at it?

Thanks again.

Yes it is.....bad engine earths/supplies can be easy to spot because when you rev the engine the charge voltage drops

[davlad22]

Fingers crossed it seems to have been a dying battery, and now with a new one the battery is showing maximum voltage with the alternator running.

Did you get a genuine VX 'GO' battery??? They are good for the cash but watch out, the last time we bought one I don't think the battery specified in the book is the correct one. It says 66AH I think, but it should really be at least 72AH. The diesels take a fair bit of cranking and an underated one will not last as long.