lowpo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 (edited) Hey Guys,I recently swapped my clutch in my Lupo 1.7 sdi , the battery was disconnected for around a week and left outside, after putting everything back together it started after a slight delay but chugged along fine after starting.I've since travelled a few short journeys as well as a motorway trip (65miles give or take) each time it took a second to start until the other day, i tried to start it the other day when it was snowy/icy and the car just wouldn't fire up. I may have gotten slightly frustrated and gave it a few more goes until the battery was pretty much flat.I've since used a Battery charger to charge the Battery and it charges, and cleaned the terminals with baking soda and added grease to the terminals, the car then started straight away, because i didn't want to drain the battery any more i gave it a 40min / 15 mile run.I come to it today and it just won't fire up, it tries to start but no joy . I'm looking on ebay for new battery but don't want to waste my money if it's something else.What you think guys? Did i just mess the battery up ? was it the cold ? or is there a possibility i might of messed up putting everything back together when changing the clutch?Thanks in advance Edited February 8, 2012 by lowpo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick123 Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Use a voltmeter over the terminals to check and check for a short on battery neg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchell Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 is the earth connected back onto the gearbox correctly, and the cold snap kill's worn old batteries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowpo Posted February 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 Thanks for the suggestions I think the earth is connected back correctly, i was slightly gung ho when removing it, so not 100% sure it's connected back in the same way , the earth is connected though. I'm currently waiting on a multimeter so i can test nick123's suggestion, it should be above 12v at very least and more like 14v with the car running right ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lola the lupo Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 A similar thing happened to mine and it was the alternator that had gone they arent too expensive to pick up, but test before hand to make sure it isnt just the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowpo Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 well i got a friends multimeter, the readings are good (14v + ) so it's not the alternator this time it seems, i swapped the battery for a new one and things are better.The heater coil light now goes off straight away so it looks like it was the battery. On a cold -2°c or so day it still takes a 2nd try to get the engine started with some grey smoke out the back, so we also tested the glow plug voltage too, 2 were in the 100s volts while the outer 2 on both sides were really low like 0.1v and 1.0v . I might swap the glow plugs also, so i can get everything running smoothly again thanks all for the posts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_leeds Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Where abouts does the battery earth to the box? Our lasses polo had box replaced and ever since then it won't charge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonisonvespa Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 (edited) hi lowpo, a simple way to check you alternator working, turn on you headlights, and rev the engine, they will get slightly brighter then dim as you rev the 12 to 13/14ish volt change.the way to test your glow plugs is to check the resiatance of them using a meter, one lead to the engine block the other lead to the tip of the plug you shoulg get a low resistance value id think a single digit value, ill check mine later.white/greyish smoke usualy unburnt fuel, so it does sound as maby a few knackered.just out of interest what mpg do you get from your sdi? Edited February 16, 2012 by jonisonvespa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam R4 Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Take it down to your local Motorfactors. they should be able to offer you a free battery check telling you the batterys status. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowpo Posted March 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 Thanks all,Sorry i wasn't getting emails from here! The battery was shot but after i swapped the 2 old glow plugs it starts like a dream (4x£3 on ebay!) my friend tested the resistance and it was high on two and low on the other two, for good measure i swapped the all I've had my clutch, battery and glow plugs go since xmas, and now my drivers door lock spindle has snapped off!Cheers for the help & suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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