Starter Battery

[MarianThompson]

Hi,
Last week, my engine failed to start. The problem, we thought, was the Starter battery which we have had replaced.
When replaced, the engine started straight away but the next morning, when turning the key, all we heard was a winding noise and the engine did not want to start again.
I would be very grateful if anyone could point me to the eventual problem with this. Many thanks.

 

[barnaclephill]

Please elaborate on the 'winding noise'.

Does that mean that the starter motor is spinning, no clicking sounds. Is the winding noise sound like electrically it's o.k.. Or does it sound fine and the problem is in the diesel.
Please elaborate on the actual sound...

 

[oldsaltoz]

If the winding sound is from the starter then it may be that the solenoid is not throwing the starter motor cog forward to engage with the flywheel.

A light tap with a small hammer or largish spanner will often fix this problem, just a bit stiff from lack of use.

Hope this helps

Avagoodweekend......

 

[JimMcMillan]

1st put a meter across the battery.If it reads more than 12 volts then battery ok.Check if winding noise is coming from starter,if it is then do as olsatz says.If less than 12volts then battery is not being charged or there is a leak,
and you will require to find it

Jim

 

[William_H]

Yes the whining noise is very diagnostic but needs elaboration.
Is it the whining noise of the engine being cranked. Probably not cos the engine presumably would start.
if it is a whiz sort of high speed spinning noise you have never heard before it is the stater motor operating with a load.
This is unlikely to be an electrical problem but rather one of corrosion in the spline that the pinion gear slides on.

the pinion is a gerar that is normally out away from the ring gear. The ring gear is like 35cms in diameter around the outside of the flywheel. The pinion gear is like 3cms in diameter and attached to the stater armature. The pinion gear slides along a splined shaft to engage in the ring gear when all is stopped and slides back again once the engine has started. If it didn't slide back the starter would be driven at very high speed by the engine and would disintegrate.

There are 2 methods used to get the pinion gear to slide into mesh when you hit the start button. The first has a spiral spline such that initial inertia causes the pinion to hang back on the spinning shaft and so is wound into the ring gear. Any rust on the spline will stop the pinion spinning and you get no engagement so whining noise.

The second method is far better in that the pinion gear is pushed by a solenoid (electromagnet) when the pinion has been pushed in the switch which connects power to the stater is made by a mechanical connection. So pinion is pushed in then power is applied to spin the starter. It is possible however that the solenoid does not/can not push the pinion in because of rust but it still makes the electrical connection to spin the starter and make the whining noise.

So if you have that whining noise a bang with something heavy will often fix it but a permanent fix involves removal of the starter to clean and lubricate the spline.

good luck olewill

 

[MarianThompson]

Kind reply to all,

The winding was as though the battery was empty. However, since I left this message, an engineer has called and replaced the battery. The one he had put in previously was full but something is "draining" it and we have to switch the connectors off when the engine is not in use, in order for the battery to remain full.
I now understand we need to find out what exactly is draining the battery. thanks to all those who helped me with this query.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
I now understand we need to find out what exactly is draining the battery.

[/ QUOTE ]It's possible for a faulty alternator to cause a steady drain of around 3-4A, which would be enough to create the symptoms you described. If your alternator is faulty and is doing this, it will feel warm to the touch when the battery is left connected for a few hours.

 

[MarianThompson]

Dear PVB,

The engineer who has replaced the battery yesterday seems to know what he is doing, so with all due respect, I suspect he has already checked this possibility. We have bow thrusters but they are switched off. All the lights and fridge are 12 volts. Thanks anyway.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Dear PVB, The engineer who has replaced the battery yesterday seems to know what he is doing....

[/ QUOTE ]That's reassuring, and I'm sure it was a good idea to replace a week-old battery rather than recharge it. I'll keep my suggestions to myself in future.

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
Dear PVB,

The engineer who has replaced the battery yesterday seems to know what he is doing, so with all due respect, I suspect he has already checked this possibility. We have bow thrusters but they are switched off. All the lights and fridge are 12 volts. Thanks anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

With equal respect, if he knows what he is doing, he would have done some tests to see what is draining the battery, and sorted it, rather than leaving you with no domestic services, and asking for long distance suggestions on here.

NAFOF - "Never Assume, Find Out First" - I wouldnt necessarily trust that an "expert" would have done all the things he should have done, and often find that, every now and then, a suggestion from me finds something they missed, or forgot - they are human, after all.

Is he going to bring you another battery next week?

I'm no expert, but I am guessing that an ammeter, or some other part of a multimeter, coupled with some selective turning things on and off, or connecting and dissconnecting stuff, would be eyes closed stuff for someone who knows what they are doing.