Flat Battery! (1 Viewer)

[StitchUp]

Evening all

Went out to potter about on the MH and discovered the battery was flat :Sad: - the engine battery. This happened once before and I just about managed to get jumper leads connected to get it started. I say, 'just about' because the battery's positive terminal isn't that accessible!

Today, I just couldn't get a strong connection to allow enough current to flow to start the engine, it's freezing cold so I've put it off until tomorrow.

When I took a good look at the battery I discovered it's not as conventional as I expected. Here's a couple of pics:

The pos & neg terminals appear to be diagonally opposite one another - is this right?

I can't make out what type of connection the positive terminal is and being beneath the bodywork, it was easier to get a picture How would I disconnect the battery if I needed to fit a replacement?

Can anyone enlighten me?

Cheers

john

 

[francour]

battery

Hi
Its the fat red one undo the two black clips and its going round to the right ok .:thumb:

 

[Daveo2006]

I had a flat battery on van once and it wouldnt turn over so used the 12v socket inside with my jump pack.Left it plugged in overnight and bingo,Is it maintenance free or maybe cells need topping up.

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[simbadog]

Looks a bit like the negative terminal is a bit corroded? Might be worth unbolting the cleaning them up anyway.
Just check that disconnecting power doesn't upset any engine management systems if you have any, you also might lose the radio & have to re code it.

 

[dshague]

if you do need a new battery go to somewhere that offers free fitting and let them have the hassle

 

[StitchUp]

I had a flat battery on van once and it wouldnt turn over so used the 12v socket inside with my jump pack.Left it plugged in overnight and bingo,Is it maintenance free or maybe cells need topping up.

That was such a good idea I braved the elements and took my jump pack to the MH only to discover the power to the cigarette socket is disconnected when the ignition is off I tried putting the pack under the bonnet but the cables wouldn't reach the terminals and now I'm frozen

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[pappajohn]

get your jumper lead clamp across the two larger nuts towards the front of the metal plate.

doesnt really matter where the connection is made as its all live.

 

[steles]

Assume its x 250 cab, jump start positive connection in engine compartment negative is stud all shown in fiat handbook

Steles

 

[pappajohn]

Assume its x 250 cab, jump start positive connection in engine compartment negative is stud all shown in fiat handbook

Steles

did wonder about that but no experience of the X250

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[steles]

Not too sure now looked at pics

Steles

 

[StitchUp]

Assume its x 250 cab, jump start positive connection in engine compartment negative is stud all shown in fiat handbook

Steles

Thanks for this. I was wondering whether there'd be some more convenient way to connect but being 55 plate (2005), I wasn't sure.

It's a Burstner 748 on a Fiat Ducato 2.8 diesel - I don't have the manual to hand so any clues?? I'd go out and connect my pack and leave it overnight

Thanks

 

[Daveo2006]

I will try and scan page for you,not sure this will work out.

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[steles]

Sorry should have looked at pics, not x 250 i guess as others say any good connection on positive will do. Can you not put on hookup for a couple of hours.

 

[Daveo2006]

Ducato jump start.

 

[StitchUp]

I'll sort it tomorrow when it's a little warmer . Regrettably it's just a little to far for me to use an extension lead and put it on charge overnight.

I'll probably make up some better way to connect to the positive terminal, makes life easier in the future.

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[Daveo2006]

Ducato jump start.

This is no goodoh: I can charge my battery on hook up yes, have you the option on control panel?

 

[mitzimad]

is there a jump lead connection point on the right of the engine bay usuall about 4/5 inches long red plastic cover which you flip up to exspose a bar below for connecting the live jump lead to the negative goes to any part of the engine theres normally a lifting ring at the front which is ideal
im only working on my van conversion it may get removed during conversion as your batteries are under the bonnet rather than underfloor as mine are

 

[Daveo2006]

is there a jump lead connection point on the right of the engine bay usuall about 4/5 inches long red plastic cover which you flip up to exspose a bar below for connecting the live jump lead to the negative goes to any part of the engine theres normally a lifting ring at the front which is ideal
im only working on my van conversion it may get removed during conversion as your batteries are under the bonnet rather than underfloor as mine are

mines still in place ,tried to post picture but my computing skills are not to clever.oh:

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[StitchUp]

is there a jump lead connection point on the right of the engine bay usuall about 4/5 inches long red plastic cover which you flip up to exspose a bar below for connecting the live jump lead to the negative goes to any part of the engine theres normally a lifting ring at the front which is ideal
im only working on my van conversion it may get removed during conversion as your batteries are under the bonnet rather than underfloor as mine are

Lifting ring is easily accessible but I couldn't find the 'HOT' connection post.

 

[Daveo2006]

Different to mine,it is to the right in the centre with a stud on front right for negative

 

[Jaws]

Identical to mine.. and twice I thought my battery had died and twice it turned out to be the stupid bloody +ve connection not 'making it' properly

Grab hold of the who +ve terminal assembly and wiggle the darned thing like mad..
If it comes back to life you know whats wrong

Then the fun begins as there is very little room to play with.
The only decent answer is to remove the connector from the battery, clean the terminal on the battery up well, and the inside of the terminal you now have access to.
Refit and hopefully all will be well ( until the darned thing goes again in about a years time !!! Damned awful design !!! )

I have now severely modified mine so as to minimise the chance of co-occurrence

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[StitchUp]

Tried wiggling the positive connection but no result

How does the positive cable connect to the battery? As I said in my first post it looks as iff the terminals on the battery are diagonally opposite - is this right? Is it a standard circular pole connection?

Any pictures online that show the actual connection & distribution plate? It's so awkwardly placed it's nearly impossible to see!

I've presently run a 50m mains cable out to the MH and got it on charge, but like a good boy scout I do like to know how it fits together.

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

[Daveo2006]

Once the battery is unclamped is there not room to pull it forward ?

 

[StitchUp]

Well, I think the battery is shot I've no idea how old it is but having been on charge for 3 hours there's just 10.9v across the terminals.

Now I need to identify which battery to buy - 12v 100AH I think.

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[durhamahoy]

Hi,
If you go on the Halfords website, Batteries, and enter your vehicle reg, it comes back with vehicle make and battery type to buy.
I bought the Bosch for mine, a bit expensive but powerful and 5 year warranty.

Hope this helps
Steve

 

[TYKETRIPPER]

Maybe have a Isolator switch fitted to switch the battery off when not in use. Worked wonders with mine. :thumb:

 

[kevin]

battery flat

I had same problem last sunday flat battery as over poster say the clip on the positive just un clip ,went to halfords paid £6.99 extra to have it fitted but dont tell them your registration as it not recognized just look in the book for your model:Ie fiat ducato and let them fit it well worth the £6.99

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[durhamahoy]

I really could do with something along those lines, it has been a battle this winter keeping the starter battery with charge. Ended up buying the Clarke 4000 jump starter.
Steve

 

[pappajohn]

if you do ANYTHING on the battery pos terminal then disconnect the earth terminal first.

no room back there for spanner swinging but there's a lot of metal to short a spanner onto.

 

[StitchUp]

Thanks for all the help.

Just made my final visit to the MH to disconnect the 50m of cables! Battery is totally dead and not taking a hint of a charge. So new battery it is.

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