My 2.5L X Type Auto could not start this morning. I knew the battery was bad as i was still waiting for the correct size battery from the spares shop. I jump started the car and it managed to start. I then drove to work which is about 10km away. When I arrived at work I removed the battery for charging, it then I realised that the battery positive cable was very hot.

I charged the battery for 6 hours. When I tried to start the car after charging all I heard was a click. Not starting. Tried to jump start it, not starting just a click. Put another from another car, still a click.

What could be the probable cause? Is it the positive cable or something serious? Please help.

I am sorry for the long story.

 

I would check the positive lead connections? normally the reason it is getting warm is that it could be a bad connection remove if possible and clean the ends with emery cloth or sand paper hope this helps.

 

I would park it until you get a new battery as a bad battery causes the alternator to overwork itself trying to charge it, forces lots more current to run resulting in heat. Once you get the new battery in check the condition of those cables. They may be corroded at the connections, internally or you may have a poor ground.

 

That battery may have (probably) shorted-out internally.

 

mmolaik, if the battery cable is hot, but the battery is cool/not nearly as hot as the battery cable, you have a bad battery cable. If the battery is warm too, then you have a bad battery.

Another check that you can do is to put a multimeter across the battery. IT should read 12.6 VDC. If you are down around 12.3 VDC, then you need to recharge the battery. if you are down around 10.6 VDC, you have a bad cell. Now, with the multimeter up around 12.6 VDC, attempt to start the car while watching the multimeter. Does the multimeter drop to around 12.3 VDC, 11.0 VDC or down around 9.0 VDC? If up around 12.3 VDC, you have a bad battery cable. If you are near 11.0 VDC, then you have a bad starter. If you are down around 9.0 VDC, then you have a bad battery.

 

Thermo with the increased posting of this type of problem it might be good to form a sticky post explaining the problem and what to look for/fix or get help on. Thermo is right and you could also use the in dash battery volt meter to test the voltage dips when you turn stuff on/off I did and it let me know when ish was wrong considering I didn't know how to properly use a multimeter.

PS I found the book THermo so I will be reading it

 

mmolaik, follow the positive cable all the way down and around with your hand. At it's lowest spot, it may have rubbed through the insulation, as mine did, against a bolt head and actually arced a bit of a smoldering fire.

 

Kris, sure, you can use the voltage as seen on the dash, but keep in mind that this is seeing the voltage as the computers see it, not what is at the battery. Besides, when you start the car, it pulls the instrument cluster out of whatever it is doing and blanks the screen. So, if you need to measure while starting the car, the use of a multimeter is much better.

 

Checked the battery with a battery tester, seems OK. Tried to jump start the car still it cannot start.Just a click. Checked all the fuses related to the starting system.

Tried to get assistance an auto mechanic and he suspects the starter. But he has no experience with X types.

 

I would venture to say its the starter dude. Try and and turn the key on and jump the starter by crossing the posts on it with a screw driver. Ipersonally have not done it on my X yet but has been a typical problem with others. Seein how you used someone elses positive cable it sounds like i doubt you have a bad cable. Also you say you cannot JUMP it which in itself leads me more to believe starter. So try and jump the starter and see if its it.

If you do not know what i mean, there should be two terminals on the starter, cross them with a screwdriver, it will arch which wont hurt anything and she should start.

 

mmolaik, to prove the starter, what you will need to do is to look on the starter and find the large diameter wire feeding the starter (should be mounted on a stud sticking out the round part of the starter). You will want to put the red lead of the multimeter on this post and the black lead of a multimeter on the engine block (any bare metal spot will work). Now, attempt to start the car. If you are getting above 11.0 VDC, then it proves a bad starter. If you are getting less than 11.0 VDC, you have a wiring issue and since you talk about the battery voltage being good, that will point back to either a bad battery cable (positive or negative, more than likely the positive cable based on the hot cable) or your starter relay is bad.

 

I will be replacing the battery and battery cables tomorow. I will give you guys feedback on how evrything went.

I thank you all for all the assistance you gave me. This is a small world. You can imagine been assisted by someone over 10000 miles away.

 

Thank you to all. I managed to start the car. It was the starter motor as you said. The starter motor end cover was corroded making poor ground contact. I cleaned the cover with some sand paper.