Hi Guys,
I own a "G" reg Townace Diesel and my battery doesn`t seem to hold a charge for long.
I`m also getting a problem with just a clicking from the starter relay?
I recently took my car in for an MOT and they couldnt restart the car constant clicking and then dashboard lights faded. Lucky for me I`ve been carrying a spare battery in the car so I managed to get it going again.
They said to me it without looking that it was the starter motor.
I broke down the other day and all I got was the clicking noise again tried jumpstarting but to no effect. My mate towed the Towny home (bloody scary no P/S and having to work hard on the brakes).
He tapped the starter motor and nothing then he tried jumpstarting and it came to life.
My mate being a qualified Electrician said it was the battery but it is less then a year old.
Just got in the Towny this morning and guess what a flat battery.

Can anyone else give me any advice?

- (#13162) Len, 3 Sep 04 00:32

First get the battery checked on the vehicle, when you have it running. Most battery outlets will do this, it will show state of charge, rate of charge/discharge and indicate any alternator problems.
Just because the battery is new-ish don't mean it cannot fail. Is the battery man enough for the job?
Are all the leads clean and tight?
As the lights go dim I wouldn't have thought it was the starter, but as a last resort check the starter system out.
Plenty of info on Ace Answers Archive to sift through.

Are you pressing the black button just above the ignition key and turning off that extra click with the key?

- (#13162) Clive (Bristol), 3 Sep 04 01:22

See my post "Solution to starting problem". No-one has confirmed what I've said but I have had exactly the same problem - dashboard lights fading as well - and I am now sorted simply by checking the connections.
The main point is (again no-one has confirmed this) if the connections & starter motor are ok then a duff battery will still operate the starter motor albeit slowly and perhaps not sufficient to start the engine. Clicking is symptomatic of poor connections or poor starter contacts. Anyone able to confirm this?

- (#13162) Peter Dawson, 3 Sep 04 02:27

Peter - not had time to check your suggestion out yet.
Len - when you say lights go dim does that include headlights ?

- (#13162) Clive (Bristol), 3 Sep 04 06:33

On the Townie, it is rarely the battery that leads to this type of problem. Granted any battery can fail, even a newish one. But the Townace DOES suffer the standard Japanese car problem, that is naff wiring, which can lead to a severe voltage drop. Once this voltage drop occurs, there is insufficient voltage available to pull the solenoid in on the top of the starter, if the solenoid doesn't pull in, then the starter iteself will not be engaged & will not turn, so therefore with a pre-engaged starter you will not experience slow turning as Peter seems to think you will.

The only way to see where you are losing this voltage is with a voltmeter whilst cranking, if you lose more than 0.5 volts at the solenoid then this is too much & will mean you need to replace either wiring or connectors.

The other alternative is to add an additional relay under the car, this is fed from a large wire from the battery & allows a full currentr flow to the solenoid by only having a low current draw from the starter switch in itself, thus alleviating the problem.

Regards Rob.

- (#13162) Rob Drinkwater, 3 Sep 04 15:18