Lack of Electricity

[tecnick]

Motor keeps running out of electricity. Battery currently dead, jump started from another battery, left motor at idle. Put analogue meter across and the reading is just below 14v. So, knackered battery, alternator or analogue meter?

Any suggestions most welcome

Cheers Nick

[davew]

Bettery unless you have something draining the power out of it.

If you're getting 14v at the battery when it's running the alternator is probably OK.

Once you've jump started it and run it for a while, can you turn it off and restart it straight away or is it dead again ?

If the battery is OK in the short term but it drains overnight it's also probably the battery but it's worth disconnecting the negative terminal overnight to see if the battery still dies. Sometimes a radio or (in the case of my Range Rover) the alarm/immobiliser can drain the battery if there's a fault somewhere.

[tecnick]

The battery will start the motor again during the day once jumped in the morning.
I do have the occasional electrical problems with the wipers and hazards coming on when I turn the headlights on, I did wonder if I had some kind of earth or switch problem. Perhaps the battery draining suggests an earth problem then.
One problem is, I have spent all the money I give to Matthew for sorting jobs like this on a new push bike! That is partly his fault though because when I visit his workshop, we spend more time talking bikes than landrovers
Cheers Nick

[davew]

Disconnect the earth lead at the battery when you park it up at night. In the morning, after reconnecting the battery, if it won't start you need a new battery.

If it will start then something is draining it over night.

[tecnick]

Ok, thanks, will give that a try.
Cheers Nick

[Matthews]

Don't blame it on me because you wanted a flashy new bike , the rest of us make do with 2nd hand ones, before you ask mine are 4 years old and 18 years old and the dead frame's 22 years old !!!.
You want to get it mucky tomorrow afte BTW ?.
Matthew

[tecnick]

Thanks for offer but currently in A+E with Zoe's broken arm. (perils of being a head teacher). I hopefully will get some time on the 'new' bike but it will be with the kids and I wouldn't want you to hold them up
Will find some time for a ride soon!
Cheers Nick

[Matthews]

Sounds painful tell her to get well soon

[Jabba]

Just the arm

[tecnick]

No, Dave, the arm was still attached.

Cheers Nick

[Bo]

Was it assault and battery?

[tecnick]

Tehe, I see what you did there

Cheers Nick

[Zedman]

Good tip on disconecting the battery, sounds so obvious but could have saved me loads of hassle on my last issue with battery, luckily I found the problem bfore splashing out on a new battery or alternator but will definatly be my first diagnostic on this type of issue next time.