Battery

[Beige Belgian]

Hi,

My R4 wouldn't start at the weekend, starter motor was spinning v e r y s l o w l y. Had to rely on a neighbour and pedestrians for pushes. Got a new starter motor last year, and as its is going round but slowly and not quite enough to start up, I think (and sort of hope) I need a new battery.

How much should I pay for a battery? Phoned one place and it was £60, which seemed a bit high (maybe I am not up to date with the prices), any recommendations? Sources in SW London?

Matt

 

[malcolm]

Fredric the Frog has the answer:
http://www.renault4.co.uk/tech-battery.htm

Should imagine batteries have been going up this year like everything else, but cheapest option is a battery from the old Mini. Same size and spec as the R4 battery, just terminals reversed. Just be sure to get one with the little ridge for attaching the battery clamp.

 

[MATTT]

just a short drive down the A3 from you just past Tolworth tower
there a shop i use on the A3 slip road at the hook underpass northbound side called S W motors
0208 397 3991
hes reasonable price wise and helpfull and would prob have a mini one in stock,think my mini batt was about £28 or something like that
give him a call if its not too far for you

 

[Beige Belgian]

Gave your man a call Matt, but he didn't have any in stock. As been at work all week and off to France tomorrow morning taking 3 friends, got a friend to get one for me costing £68, about 20% of what the car cost me!

My negative lead seemed a bit short and might not have reached with the battery the other way round so didn't chance it. Prices I got for mini ones weren't much cheaper either.

 

[Pavel]

The batteries appreciated last year. I think, not even Frederic the Frog can buy the Mini battery for the 20 pounds? I bought a new 42 Ah battery for 35 pounds (converison) in Prague last year before Christmas.

 

[Beige Belgian]

Bugger, bought expensive new battery and still relying on push starts! So what is it? The starter motor is turning but very slowly, no leads seem to be disconnected.

Are starter motors a common fault? This is the 3rd time I've had problems with starter motors in just over a year and 8,000 miles! Bad luck or something else causing this?!?

 

[malcolm]

Did you fit a new starter motor last time? New ones should last for 10 years. Old ones will have clutch dust in the contacts which can cause that trouble. Also the old motors can be a problem.

If it's had a new starter then the problem could be a dirty power connection to the starter, or more likely a dirty earth to the gearbox.

 

[Pavel]

Bugger, bought expensive new battery and still relying on push starts! So what is it? The starter motor is turning but very slowly, no leads seem to be disconnected.

Are starter motors a common fault? This is the 3rd time I've had problems with starter motors in just over a year and 8,000 miles! Bad luck or something else causing this?!?

Did you check the connections? If they are OK, than it is necessary to remove the engine starter and check the brushes, commutator and bearings. The turn-to-turn fault is the worst possibility. Good luck! Pavel

 

[MATTT]

if it turns out to be the starter,that same shop i mentioned above also refurb or exchange starters and dynamos and alternators,and they actually rebuild them on the premises if they dont have one to exchange for yours.

 

[Bluebell]

Gave your man a call Matt, but he didn't have any in stock. As been at work all week and off to France tomorrow morning taking 3 friends, got a friend to get one for me costing £68, about 20% of what the car cost me!

Don't beat yourself up about the price of the battery Matt as the cheapest we could find here in Renault4land this afternoon was 80 euros (£64).

 

[Beige Belgian]

The starter motor has gone back to its old trick (just clicking - solenoid), I'll keep trying to have a play with the connections. It has worked recently but yesterday turning the key resulted in smoke coming from the starter motor. Looks like I will have to rely on pushes. Have only street parking in London and not many tools, will have a better look when I get to my dads workshop, in a few weeks. Finding a gearbox for my Citroen Light 15 is a more pressing issue at the moment.

Starter motor was bought new last August so I guess from what's advised above, a connection problem is causing all this.

cheers