FabSwingers.com > Forums > Wales > Car Trouble, again!!!
Car Trouble, again!!!
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The car I have use of is becoming a problem!!
It doesn't seem to be holding the charge in the battery. That's fine outside my house as I'm on a slope and I can bump start it, but on the flat I have no hope!
Put a set of jump leads from another car and it starts straight away.
It's a 51 plate ford mondeo estate.
Is is a simple case of a new battery or something more costly?!
(Knowing my luck with cars, its the latter!!!!)  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It could be the battery.. Just get a new one.. That happened to mine the other day.. Wasn't holding charge.. Found out it was the battery.. But the worse case.. It could be the alternator.. You be able to pick one of them up for a mondeo in a scrappies cheap enough though.. Hope that's helped.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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To test the battery you need a volt tester to see 1. If the alternator is giving the battery enough juice or 2. The battery is holding charge when the car is switched off. Dont buy anything until one or the other is tested. Take it to a battery centre and they normally check free of charge. |
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"To test the battery you need a volt tester to see 1. If the alternator is giving the battery enough juice or 2. The battery is holding charge when the car is switched off. Dont buy anything until one or the other is tested. Take it to a battery centre and they normally check free of charge."
That's fine, I could sort that out. But would be stuck there then!! lol  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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it could even be a simple thing like leaving a light on or interior light.check no lights left on any where in the car.as that can drain a battery as well.xx |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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if you take it to a garage lass they can put a voltmeter on it as the car is running. This will tell them if the alternator is charging the battery or if it's the battery itself. Replacing the battery will be cheaper than an alternator, but being as it's a mondeo there should be a few about in scrapyards as it's a ford. ( I have one too x) |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Lol chick here. Even I know how to sort that. But go to a local small car spares just cost me £30 for battery and an amazingly lucki £35 for the ault. Mind you I am a trained mechanic.  |
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"if you take it to a garage lass they can put a voltmeter on it as the car is running. This will tell them if the alternator is charging the battery or if it's the battery itself. Replacing the battery will be cheaper than an alternator, but being as it's a mondeo there should be a few about in scrapyards as it's a ford. ( I have one too x)"
Mr snap, as you are local, do you recommend a garage??
You have a ford or a scrapyard!? Lol x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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does it start easy once warmed up?
if so the battery is knackered .
how old is it ?
they last between 5 /7 years .
less if you use heated rear screen and other stuff all the time .
btw i bought a brand new one last month for a mondeo and never fitted it.. hint hint 
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Just go to a garage or a battery centre and ask them to check the battery. The battery may show full charge on a meter but they will test to see if a cell has gone in the battery and then tell you if battery is good or bad. If you know someone with a trade discount card then they could get you a battery cheaper if it is that |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Ok so battery about £60 in Halfords. If I go and buy it and it doesn't solve the problem, can I take it back?! lol
How do I test the battery???"
halfords are expensive for batterys
i bought a mondeo one from supac a wholesale supplier in merthyr. for £49 halfords wanted £86 |
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Bloody thread is a jinx!!!
I jump into Jaynes car to go to Cardiff..... and half a mile down the road the power-steering goes into "don't want to play" mode! Arrggghhhhh!
I don't know if there is a separate hydraulic system for the power steering, or whether it's all-in with the brake and clutch system, and the engine is impossible to work on, all covered up, so it's down the garage tomoz.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Lass just get yr bum to halfords. Batt test and when pay the fiver foe fitting. Remember you need the radio code. Unless the keep juice on the leads when changing it like i have managed. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Bloody thread is a jinx!!!
I jump into Jaynes car to go to Cardiff..... and half a mile down the road the power-steering goes into "don't want to play" mode! Arrggghhhhh!
I don't know if there is a separate hydraulic system for the power steering, or whether it's all-in with the brake and clutch system, and the engine is impossible to work on, all covered up, so it's down the garage
tomoz. "
what car have you got. |
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"i had one of those with the same issue....twoz the battery....take the bulb out of the glove box....it was staying on but you cant see it.... "
Thank you for that tip. I've switched off the interior light when the door is open too |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Hi Welshlass, would put money on the battery being the cause of your problems, places like FMP or GMF are the best places to get batteries, good quality, good warranty and cost way less than Halfords/Kwik Fit
The Toyota Auris will have its own independent power steering system may even be electric power steering pump. |
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Just back from kwikfit. They tested battery for me. It definitely needs replacing.
When it was running the machine said charge was good. But it also said "ripple too big" Guy said it gives the same reading for a faulty battery and a faulty alternator.
Just for the battery I was quoted £117!! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Bloody thread is a jinx!!!
I jump into Jaynes car to go to Cardiff..... and half a mile down the road the power-steering goes into "don't want to play" mode! Arrggghhhhh!
I don't know if there is a separate hydraulic system for the power steering, or whether it's all-in with the brake and clutch system, and the engine is impossible to work on, all covered up, so it's down the garage tomoz. "
hi mart lots of cars now have electric motors on the steering columb (cheaper option )but they always break down . the hydralic power steering would have a resoviour for the power steering fluid (which you check weekly ) oh dear hope it does'nt cost too much .
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Bloody thread is a jinx!!!
I jump into Jaynes car to go to Cardiff..... and half a mile down the road the power-steering goes into "don't want to play" mode! Arrggghhhhh!
I don't know if there is a separate hydraulic system for the power steering, or whether it's all-in with the brake and clutch system, and the engine is impossible to work on, all covered up, so it's down the garage tomoz.
hi mart lots of cars now have electric motors on the steering columb (cheaper option )but they always break down . the hydralic power steering would have a resoviour for the power steering fluid (which you check weekly ) oh dear hope it does'nt cost too much .
"
if it is hydrolic it mught just be the power steering belt snapped . |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"owch.....pick one up cheaper if you shop around...
I have a few people looking for cheaper as we speak!"
i have a brand new never used one £45 its a 096 the right one for a mondeo |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Bloody thread is a jinx!!!
I jump into Jaynes car to go to Cardiff..... and half a mile down the road the power-steering goes into "don't want to play" mode! Arrggghhhhh!
I don't know if there is a separate hydraulic system for the power steering, or whether it's all-in with the brake and clutch system, and the engine is impossible to work on, all covered up, so it's down the garage tomoz.
hi mart lots of cars now have electric motors on the steering columb (cheaper option )but they always break down . the hydralic power steering would have a resoviour for the power steering fluid (which you check weekly ) oh dear hope it does'nt cost too much .
"
if it is hydrolic it mught just be the power steering belt snapped .
just googled it its an electric motor on the steering columb ans wait for it ! it has its own computer. second hand £300 but might just be wire or fuse .
there are lots of indipendent power steering specialists who do it far cheaper that main dealers |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"owch.....pick one up cheaper if you shop around...
I have a few people looking for cheaper as we speak!"
get urself on phone to the AA and get breakdown and parts n labour cover, about £25 p/month! Not only u got b/down but anything goes wrong ie, alternator, head gasket, timing most things u pay £35 excess n they pay £500 of garage bills! Best thing i ever had when my gasket went! Only cost me £35 bill was £470 in all x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Buck , if I'm not sorted by the end of the day, I'll have it!!
Do you have an alternator too, just incase!? "
i can pretty much guarantee its not the alternator..if its not charging you usually have a red light come up on the dashboard .its sounds like its just an old battery. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"owch.....pick one up cheaper if you shop around...
I have a few people looking for cheaper as we speak! get urself on phone to the AA and get breakdown and parts n labour cover, about £25 p/month! Not only u got b/down but anything goes wrong ie, alternator, head gasket, timing most things u pay £35 excess n they pay £500 of garage bills! Best thing i ever had when my gasket went! Only cost me £35 bill was £470 in all x "
Ive got that now....best thing since sliced bread !!! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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was going to say stay away from kwik fit since they are robbing fekers.
another way to check your alternator and belt.at dusk with engine running and lights turned on.in neutral rev the engine.if the lights get brighter then there's a problem with alternator or belt. |
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"was going to say stay away from kwik fit since they are robbing fekers.
another way to check your alternator and belt.at dusk with engine running and lights turned on.in neutral rev the engine.if the lights get brighter then there's a problem with alternator or belt."
Thanks for that tip, will try it later  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Think of a battery like a bucket of water if its old the water going in (charge from alternator)is filling it.
But if it has a hole it doesn't retain the water. so when you go to start it there's nothing there.
A new battery is like a bucket without the hole. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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yeah they are normally only good for 3 -5 years depends on usage.short journeys kill them quicker as they don't get a full charge and sulfication occurs......I'm waffling now sorry. 
nice arse caz by the way
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Had a similar problem turned out not to be the battery but a connection on the alternator !
Opened up the connection cleansed it and greased it up ( it was gone green and powdery) and put back together has been grand since
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The car I have use of is becoming a problem!!
It doesn't seem to be holding the charge in the battery. That's fine outside my house as I'm on a slope and I can bump start it, but on the flat I have no hope!
Put a set of jump leads from another car and it starts straight away.
It's a 51 plate ford mondeo estate.
Is is a simple case of a new battery or something more costly?!
(Knowing my luck with cars, its the latter!!!!) "
As the battery keeps on running once started you might just want to check the actual bolts where the terminals connect... Sounds like yours may have loosened somehow. Maybe that's your problem with a bit of luck x |
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"All sorted now Lass?
If not I've got a multimeter and could possibly test if I'm in the area.
x"
All running now. Does that test the charge on the alternator?? Like kwikfit tested or can it test other conections?!!
And yes please if you are close  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Yep. Test the battery charge and voltage from alternator. But that's what kwikfit would have checked for you I'd have thought.
What sort of area are you anyway? |
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They did on the old battery.
When engine was running, machine said good charge, but the ripple was too big. The bloke said that same reading comes up if it's the alternator or the battery.
I'm junc 33 |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Hi i've used these off ebay may times for batteries
http://bit.ly/1pvh0bl
Free delivery & 4yr warranty
Always get a 2nd. Or even 3rd opinion when getting a check done to see if its the battery or alternator they are free!
Never bump start a modern car with a cat fitted as it pushes un burt fuel throu cat & will knacker it up giving you high readings on mot! |
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Well, nice to see Lass got hers sorted.
Ours hasnt reached a conclusion yet, but it's the steering control module... and its gonna be expensive, although I cant understand the difference in prices... one garage wants £876 but we decided to go with the Toyota garage (who we expected to be the most expensive) at £535 (including recovery to theirs from the local garage!).
How can the same part be fitted, yet be over a £300 difference? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Well, nice to see Lass got hers sorted.
Ours hasnt reached a conclusion yet, but it's the steering control module... and its gonna be expensive, although I cant understand the difference in prices... one garage wants £876 but we decided to go with the Toyota garage (who we expected to be the most expensive) at £535 (including recovery to theirs from the local garage!).
How can the same part be fitted, yet be over a £300 difference? "
cos there are rip off gits lol
Don't tell rock I said that cos he's a mechanic lol
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By *elshy84Man
over a year ago
blackwood |
"Bloody thread is a jinx!!!
I jump into Jaynes car to go to Cardiff..... and half a mile down the road the power-steering goes into "don't want to play" mode! Arrggghhhhh!
I don't know if there is a separate hydraulic system for the power steering, or whether it's all-in with the brake and clutch system, and the engine is impossible to work on, all covered up, so it's down the garage tomoz. "
that be fluid or pump mate..... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Just back from kwikfit. They tested battery for me. It definitely needs replacing.
When it was running the machine said charge was good. But it also said "ripple too big" Guy said it gives the same reading for a faulty battery and a faulty alternator.
Just for the battery I was quoted £117!! "
You would be, Kwikfit are taught to rip people off |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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go to your local car parts place . plenty of them around had a battery for my car for 50 quid at my local motor factors ,,,,,kwik fit are the biggest rip off b@stards under the sun .
or if you know of a back street garage they will change it for you for not much more and order a battery for you |
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Then I'd plump for the battery. Had it ever been changed ? 
