don't know if this is the right forum or not, cause i dont know what the problem is

went to start the EF the other day and its pucked!

When the key is either in the OFF or ACC position everything seems to work fine. When i switch it to ON (without even cranking the motor) everything dies. Stereo turns off, aircon control lights, dome lamp and odometer go really dull. Can hear the fuel pump clicking on and off, and if i hold it to cranking for a while i can hear the starter trying to do something.

did a couple of tests with the multi meter, battery voltage is fine, battery terminal connections are fine. what i found (i'm sus of the BEM) by hooking multimeter up to the BEM Battery In line (Pin 19 Upper Connector) and the Ground is that when the key is OFF we have 12.6v, when it is ACC we have 12.4v. When it is ON we have around 2 or 3v. When i switch it back to acc it hovers around 9 - 10v for a minute or so, then finally comes back up to 12.4.

anyone got any suggestions as to what to look for? i am borrowing a BEM off a mate now to test, but unfortunately, it was replaced because it was playing up intermittently, so not the best test bed.


so yeah, anyone with any ideas please chime in.

I start my new job in townsville (400km away) on monday, and the majority of my tools are down there. murphy's law aint it!

Last edited by nicco on Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The multimeter battery test you mention - did they include putting the meter on the terminals when cranking? Does the battery matain a "decent" voltage or die?

Yes, do the above test asap, and check voltage at battery and at the starter connections. You may find the starter is "poling", that is shorting all power straight to earth.
Good luck.

most likely battery dead.
they really need a "good" battery.
I have been through a few over the years and the symptoms seem consistent. The aux line is disabled when cranking I think?

okay some test results are in - diagnosis: still f**k!!

i tested the battery while cranking.
OFF: 13.3v
ACC: 13.2v
ON: ~5v
Cranking: ~3.5v

The fact that it drops so low when its just turned to ON is really strange i thought.

I am currently trying to get hold of a spare battery from a mate, will see if that fixes it.

also, BEM made no difference at all.

oh yeah and the battery is only about 3 months old as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions though guys, i will let you know what happens when i get hold of a battery

make sure the earth lead that goes to the side of the motor is on nice and tight, and its all clean ...

batterys can still die if not fully charged regularly. My car does lots of short trips which is why i leave my car idling when dropping the kids off at the childcare before going to the station each morning.

mate came around with a battery to try, we have a winner!!

it was the way that the voltage dropped so much before i even tried cranking it that threw me off. that and the fact the battery is brand f**k new!

thanbks heaps for your help then everyone. i'm off to dry off (its pouring with rain now, sods law again) then insert a battery shaped paper weight into the anus of repco!

take a multimeter down to the shop with you and dont walk away with a replacement battery that has under 12.65v @ terminals

i found half the batteries at BigW were half flat, some even dead.

^^^ and i read that as i come back from the shops turns out this one has 12.6v, so its close enough. starts the car easily enough. i'll take it for a big drive tomorrow.


rick: my car mainly does highway driving, not much city stuff at all. so it probly was just a shagged battery.

but yeah, thanks again everyone for all your help. now i know a whole new list of symptoms which point to dead battery

yeah mine sat there fine. everything powered up radio blaring but as soon as you switch to on or start it died.