Pug 307 HDI - New battery but sounds flat

**damers2000** · 8th November 2010, 12:41

Just a general enquiry really about my Dad's car.

He recently bought a new battery for it but since the mornings have sarted getting cooler the starter motor sounds like its struggling to turn the car over.

To me, it sounds like there is something which is draining the battery whens its parked up but I don't know. I only say this as when it's driving the battery light doesn't illuminate so I'm assuming the alternator is doing its job.

Having said that, once the car has started, you can turn it off straight away and then start it up immediately after that and it starts fine.

Any thoughts on this at all will help

**Das** · 8th November 2010, 13:41

Defiantly get a voltage meter over the batter terminals to double check the Alternator is working ok, should be reading 13.5-14.4v with the engine running. After that it time to start looking at things like the boot light and glove box lights, if fitted. Often switches get knocked out of place or fail causing the battery to run down over night. Of course it could be a dodgy battery too, thats not holding the charge. Is it a sealed battery or an older style battery where you can top up with water? If its the latter check and see if the plates have got enough water.

**damers2000** · 8th November 2010, 20:38

Thanks for the pointers mate, I'll go and have a look at it for him when it finally stops raining. I don't think me messing with the battery in the rain would sort it! lol

Cheers!

**plasma** · 8th November 2010, 21:13

also check the condition of the earth strap from the battery to the gearbox, plus also it could be the start of a weak/lazy starter motor

**damers2000** · 11th November 2010, 11:20

I've taken a meter reading off the battery while the engine is running and it's showing 14.4 so all seems to be fine there.

I've checked all interior lights and they arn't staying on when the car has been locked so I'm fairly sure its none of those.

I'm not too sure what else it could be as the battery is only 8 months old. battery is a bosch silver top.

Could it be the starter motor? I have heard some people mentioning lazy starter motors but is there any way of testing it?

**lee gsi** · 11th November 2010, 19:08

It could be starting motor or the glow plugs drawing extra current.

**rjw** · 12th November 2010, 11:54

has it an immobiliser? i had a 306 HDi with a faulty immobiliser that drained the battery in about 6 hours of being left standing. eventually got a motor electrician to bypass the immbiliser!

seanyy · 6th January 2011, 23:09

Hi, did you get anywhere with the peugeot? Was it the starter motor? I have one and exactly the same problem. I completely recharged the battery and it still turned over like it was flat. So I tried jumping it from my Merc and it made no difference!

**damers2000** · 6th January 2011, 23:28

it's still the same at the moment, especially when its below freezing. I did get hold of a new start motor off ebay for it for just short of £60 so I just need to get it fitted.

After reading umpteen threads I'm absolutely certain it's the starter motor, I'll be able to confirm it once I manage to get it fitted.

Apparently, jump starting isn't ideal on the Pugs as it supposed to fry the BSI??? I don't know though as I did jump start the Pug once when the old battery did die and it still goes....

**RLFH470** · 7th January 2011, 13:38

My wife's 2002 Citroen C5 2.0 HDI had exactly the same problem when the temperature dropped below freezing. Turned out to be the starter motor and a failed glowplug. Now that the starter motor and the glowplugs have been replaced it starts like a petrol engined car now and she reckons it drives smoother as well. HTH