Numpty question - horsebox won't start

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acw295

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Understatement of 2012 - I'm not mechanically minded :lol:

Meant to be going to dressage tomorrow, but my little old 3.5t horsebox wouldn't start this afternoon (had planned to get it defrosted etc). Not I imagine a huge surprise, as it was -13 last until mid morning and barely got above -5 all day. It was last started last Sunday after the snow, left running for 15mins but not actually moved, hasn't moved for about 2 weeks due to poor weather.

It barely made any noise at all when I tried to start it, just a feeble croak. Does that sound like the battery and if so is it likely to be something that can be jump-started or is it going to get more difficult than that? The interior lights worked so battery not totally flat (assuming it was battery).

I'm not going to try and take it tomorrow (have to leave at stupid o'clock as it is), my RI is going to take me in her box assuming she can start hers. But will have to try and get it going on Monday.

Have jump started a car before but no idea if this works with horseboxes (it's a small Leyland 3.5t, think it is 2.5l diesel)?

I may have to resort to ringing my dad (I'm almost 34!)

Would like some reassurance that this is a) normal after arctic weather and b) not likely to cost shedloads to sort out!
 
i'd put the battery on trickle charge overnight if i were you, either tonight or tomorrow night. when you do get it going it needs a good run, or to be left running for about 25 mins i guess... a mechanic told me that 20 mins if stationary is the minimum, just to replace the power used to start it.
 
Could be a number of things!

Starting with the battery!

Although interior lights on may still not be enough to start it!

Could also be the diesel waxing up although the daft petroleum companies will have you believe otherwise.

Start by putting your start and charge on it for an hour and see if it will start
 
I would try to jump start it from something beefy, like a 4x4, also check if your battery isn't dry, if it is, you need to put de-ionised water in it. After you jump start it, either take it for a run or leave the engine running for a good while, revving it from time to time, stand it in the sunshine if you can, too.
 
Sounds like battery, if it is a 12volt system you should be able to jump start it. If 24 volt its easier to take batteries off and put them on a slow charge. If one battery is flat it wont have enough power to turn it over. Check your heater plugs are working. If you have enough air in the tanks you can try snatch starting it, had to do this to mine today as batteries totally dead. Good luck.:)
 
I would say its the battery getting knocked out by the weather, mine is started and run once or twice a week but still the same in this weather, I either jump it off my car or start with a jumper pack which I would take with you to get yourself home after the show :D
 
Thanks all, if I don't make it to dressage tomorrow will try and jump start it, if I get there in RI's lorry will have to be Monday. Can't do anything tonight as I'm at home, lorry is miles away on the farm and it is all locked up now and I've been on the wine. Luckily was working from home anyway Monday so will be able to be at yard during the day if I flex my hours a bit so will be able to see what I'm doing and also take it for a run if it starts.

It just threw me as has always started first time, even in last week's snow - but then it has been stupidly cold here all week, and really OTT today I guess.

It is well serviced, we have a friend of family who is a mechanic and it had the antifreeze done about 3 weeks ago (timely!). So although old has been looked after since I've had it.

Keeping fingers crossed for battery! As I'm sure my breakdown doesn't kick in unless I'm a mile away from yard. Doh!

This is when I wish I wasn't single and had mechanically gifted OH to sort things out for me :rolleyes:
 
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Definately will be battery. My 7.5t wouldnt start the other week and left it on trickle charge for 2 hours and it started lovely. Mechanic friend told me for every couple of degrees below 0 your battery will drain by a certain percentage (sorry could not remember percentage).

He told me to start it every week and not just leave it running it needs to be on the 'green' part of the rev counter (in 7.5t lorry anyhow!). I tend to know just get it started and take it for a 20 mins drive out...thinking of which not done it for about 10 days...know what I am doing tomorrow now LOL

Good look - sure it will start with a bit of trickle feeding!
 
Sadly modern day batteries just suddenly die - without any prior warning.
I would try to jump start it with some heavy duty commercial jump leads and see if you can get it started. Once started take it for a 30 minute run (but make sure you have your breakdown cover with you). Once back home park up switch off the ignition and start again. If it does not start then buy a new battery.
 
99.9% the battery, My old lorry's battery never held a charge for long in the cold weather. Throughout the summer it would be fine then come the winter it was usually as flat as a pancake. . When I knew I wasn't going to be using the lorry for a long period of time I took the battery off and charged it. Otherwise it usually started if I jump started it. I carried a set of industrial length jump leads all the time (mostly because I was too skint to buy a new battery).

Make sure all the battery connections are tight and that you haven't left any internal lights etc on.

Now I remember it was one of the reasons I went to a trailer.
 
Nothing knocks a battery about like freezing weather. You should be able to jump start the box as you would in a normal car as it will be 12v battery. The best thing however will be to put the battery on charge. Once charged get someone with a tester to check the condition of the battery. Just because you've managed to charge it does not mean that you will be without problems. Sometimes the battery starts to lose its ability to hold charge & will not have sufficient 'grunt' to start your engine. If this is the case it will be time to get a new battery.
 
Thanks all for the reassurance and help.

Dad came over this morning (I love my Dad!!) and we jump started it with my Focus - no probs, started instantly. Wasn't able to drive it as planned as had a work issue to get home to sort out (boo!) but it was left running for ages. Will try and start it again in a couple of days and will definitely take it out Saturday for really good run (not competing and have lots of time). If I have any issues starting it again this week will get battery charged and tested but am hopeful it was just due to the extreme cold we've had.

I now have own jump leads and know how to use them (yes I know, I shouldn't have needed my Dad to buy me some and show me at my age, shame! :o)
 
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