If I leave the car for a few days it will turn over fine but will not fire. If l jump it, it fires after a few turns. Then will work until left again or is it a fuel problem ?

 

Hard to see how it could be a fuel problem if it starts when you use jumper leads.

The battery is probably on the way out, but really the question is why? They have a use by date of course so it could just its time to go. It its not an old battery (4+ years) you may have some parasitic drain on the battery (excessive discharge with everything off). If you replace the battery , check for drain with power off (or have it checked if you use a battery place).

The other thing that may be useful, but not always possible depending on your home parking situation, is to use a battery maintainer to help keep your battery in good shape. Thats after you have determined eveything is normal.

 

Check the charging voltage, it should be around 14volts.

A faulty alternator could only partly charge a battery.

 

Warrens suggestion is the better starting point. I stepped over a likely and easily checked cause and started looking for the hard answer, a trick I am good at :-)

 

You're not Robinson Caruso there. Having fixed electronics for a living and knowing the simplest option is usually the fix I still often overlook it.....

 

Time to create the "Hutchins patch".


Materials.
1. VOM. HF has them cheap in analog and digital. digital best here.
2. Red and black wires with plugs to fit the VOM. I found them in a batch of stuff I got somewhere along the trail.
3. Cigar lighter plug. In my case from some defunct device. A jump box, I think...


Now, one can read volts in real time and at various loads and RPMs!!!
I exonerated an alternator and convicted a battery !!!!


Alternators are great at providing volts as one goes. but, not so good at charging up a seriously depleted battery.


Use of a "Smart" charger can do wonders.


And, as stated, a parasitic drain.... Outta be a new thread for that...


Carl

 

Thanks guys. The battery is a few years old maybe 4, so it may be on the boarder.
I do use a battery tender when parked up for more than a few days.
Just strange that it turns over ok but doesn't fireup.

 

If the car does not get used much its a good idea to put it on the charger, My car does not get used much these days and short trips will not fully charge the battery, I have a CTEK, which I plug in when I park the car.

Lead Acid batteries do like to be discharged. the more the battery is drained the shorter its life expectancy.

Have you checked the charging voltage?