97 Metro Starts only when it wants to

[MustangDave]

I have a 1997 4 door Metro 1.3 Litre that starts at it's own leisure. Somedays it will start everytime you try and some days it might not start the first time but go back in 2 hours and try again and it will start. Some days it won't start at all. Turns over but sounds as if it isn't getting fire. Any help is much appreaciated.

[Mike_Van]

I recently started having a similar issue with my '96 1.0, 5-speed, 145k

Have you checked your battery voltage prior to starting?

The first turn of the key would yield nothing. A subsequent START, especially after making sure no accessories were on (fan, radio) would succeed.

Yesterday, it would not start. The (-) battery terminal has corrosion on it. After cleaning it, and the connector with a wire brush, the dash warning lights that normally illimunate while cranking are brighter, but still no start until a few more tries (no crank at all when in START position). If it can crank at all, it will start.

After sitting for 20 min., the battery is at 10.57 volts, which seems too low. When I turn the ignition ON, it drops to 10.34. And when it actually gets to cranking, only 7 to 9 volts.

It it cranks at all, it will start. When running, the voltage rises to 14 volts. And if I restart it before the battery drops below 11 v, it restarts immediately.

In my case, I assume I just need a new battery. Can anyone confirm that a good battery should never drop below 11.5 volts or so?

The real fun would start if I needed to diagnose the source of a current drain, even after getting a new battery. Perhaps the check is to leave the battery UNconnected and see if it still shows such low voltage after sitting.

[Mike_Van]

A little research and finding the links

http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq.htm

and the FAQ at
http://batterytender.com/

showed me that my battery's as good as dead....

apparently 11.4 v represents a fully discharged battery.