Help please - lorry won't start since it got cold?

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RonnieHowe

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If anyone could give me any help or advice on my little problem it would be greatly appreciated!

In September I became the proud owner of (a rather old) ford transit Horsebox, which ran perfectly until I tried to start it in early December when the weather was much colder and it turned over but didnt fire up. Someone jump started it for me (my battery is just a 12v car battery) and it started fine, I took my horse out in it and when ready to come home from the show it started up fine first try.
But then I went to start it a couple of days later and the same thing happened, it turned over but wouldn't start properly.

Admittedly it has now been stood for over a month without being properly started, it will still turn over but just not start up.
The lights will all still come on also.

My question is :

Should I just buy a new battery and put it in,

Or should I take the current battery out and give it a full charge? Is this likely to help or does it sound like the battery is ******ed?

I am assuming jump starting it and running it for a while again isn't going to be a long term solution because I've already done that and it ran fine for that day but then no dice a couple of days later?

If anyone could give me any guidance or help I'd really appreciate it, I've no idea what to do!
 
Diesel or petrol?
If diesel try putting new glow plugs in, we had the same on VW camper, new glow plugs and fine,it could also be air leak in there somewhere or pre heater on fuel pump not working amongst other things
If petrol, have you checked the timing?
If the battery was that knackered it probably wouldn't turn over the engine.
 
I swear by cans of 'Cold Start' spray by Holts. If that doesn't work then you may have to look at a new battery - you can get your battery tested for 'oomph'. I am so technical - not :p
 
Mine is doing this at the moment. I just jump start it and away we go. It'll always do it in the winter when it's so cold and not been used regulary. In the summer it'll be fine.
 
As a rule - I hate jump starting - it doesn't do the alternator any good at all!

First thing - is it diesel or petrol? When you did jump start - did the turning over sound significantly faster, stronger than when you tried it with just the installed battery or no difference?

How old is the battery? These days - two years and they're done! So £80 -100 up your shirt.

How many miles has the vehicle done? Or age.

I swear by cans of 'Cold Start' spray by Holts
Click to expand...
Don't like any form of easystart too - they're all ether based and hollixes engines - can be addictive
 
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If diesel could be the heater plugs. If not, get a new battery and an isolator fitted. Other than that, start your lorry every day and keep it running for a while in this cold weather.
 
As somebody as has said either use or get an isolater fitted my ford transit is in her 20s and I always use the isolater and she starts everytime even after 5 weeks of no use and the snow and she still started up straight away.
 
Thankyou everyone for input - much appreciated!!

It is a diesel. It is C reg so 26 years old, but in fairness previous owner was a HGV mechanic so been well looked after and had some new bits.

1stclassalan - It turns over very slowly when i try at the moment. When it was jump started it just started up immediately. I have no idea how old the battery is at all unfortunately.

I have an isolator fitted and am religious about switching it off every time I turn off the lorry off and leave it, but this hasn't made a difference?

Also sorry to sound so stupid but are heater plugs and glow plugs the same thing?

Many thanks again for everyones replies!
 
RonnieHowe said:
Thankyou everyone for input - much appreciated!!

It is a diesel. It is C reg so 26 years old, but in fairness previous owner was a HGV mechanic so been well looked after and had some new bits.
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Well we'll take that as read then. A diesel will be good for 200,000 miles well looked after and probably more.

1stclassalan - It turns over very slowly when i try at the moment. When it was jump started it just started up immediately. I have no idea how old the battery is at all unfortunately.
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Actually, I turn over slower and slower every flippin' day! Depressing really - it's age and so it is with yer battery - time for a new one I'm afraid.

I have an isolator fitted and am religious about switching it off every time I turn off the lorry off and leave it, but this hasn't made a difference?
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It won't with an old battery.

Also sorry to sound so stupid but are heater plugs and glow plugs the same thing?
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Yep, at 26 years young - yours still has heating somehow - later models were fitted with direct injection engines and you just start 'em up.
 
Nicnac said:
I swear by cans of 'Cold Start' spray by Holts. If that doesn't work then you may have to look at a new battery - you can get your battery tested for 'oomph'. I am so technical - not :p
Click to expand...



Or easy start is another one use it ALL year round. Have you got anti freeze in???


There could be something draining it !
 
RonnieHowe said:
Thankyou, so I can assume it's not the heater plugs, and I just need a new battery? (Just want to check before forking out for a new battery :o)
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Get your mechanic to test the battery's charging he can do this one a test . It also checks the holding a charge, you might have a damaged cell or two not holding charge
 
RonnieHowe said:
Thankyou, so I can assume it's not the heater plugs, and I just need a new battery? (Just want to check before forking out for a new battery :o)
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Yes if it starts with a jump start sounds like the battery is on the way out or not quite big enough, bad/dirty conections wont help as will dirty or the wrong oil in the engine this
will also stop it turning fast enough to start..
 
I had the same problem with my old transit.

I bought a charger from Halfords and if it was very cold in the winter, and knew I was going to use it, would charge it up overnight.

It was fine in the summer.
 
I think I would get a new battery, for peace of mind anyway. Mine both went recently after the isolator wasn't used, then after it was jumped they just didn't hold charge well, and as I was not sure of the age of them I changed them anyway. Touch wood been great since. I do run mine every week, as in I take it out on the road for a half an hour blast, which helps too I think. :D
 
Diesel or petrol? Diesel it's likely to be a dodgy glow plug or two or possibly a fuel filter.

Glow plugs are heater plugs. Have you tried listening for a "click" that happens just after the glow plug light goes out, sometimes the light goes out before the plugs have warmed the fuel enough, had a VW that if you left it for the click to happen it would start fine!
 
Make sure as well that nothing is left on when you are starting it, radio, heater etc. Sounds like a new battery is what you need.
 
Ours was doing this last year. The fuel filter was blocked and OH also done something with the warming coils (i think thats what he said!) and was ok after that.
 
cold weather no starts are usually a poor/aged battery. Get the local garage to drop test it for you, this will check the charge.
If you replace it make sure you buy a heavy duty diesel battery with the correct amp capacity.
if the battery is ok probably the alternator, which on something like that shouldn't cost a fortune to replace :)
 
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