ERRATIC START WHEN COLD AND DASH DISPLAY DISAPPEARED ETC

[pointer]

This morning I found the galaxy had a dead battery!  To cut a long story short, we managed to jump start it from my son's diesel.  We then went for a 10 mile drive during which the dash board display disappeared  We stopped the engine and awaited about 10minutes when the engine started OK without any 'assistance' but the display did not reappear.

I had already booked the car in to check for the 'cold starting' but what has caused the display to disappear and for the battery to go flat? 

[pointer]

After driving home and locking the car, I went back after an hour or so and unlocked/opened the door.  To my amazement, the dash screen had returned!   

I did a couple of basic checks and found battery voltage and alternator voltage were OK although I noticed the battery warning light on the dash was alight for about 10-15 seconds on start up and then went out.  Strange!!!  Any ideas?

[brianh]

I've known cars to play up in all sorts of strange ways with a flat battery, either take it off and charge it (if it will charge) or replace it if not, and you will probabbly find the problem then disappears.

[johnnyroper]

On 07 1.8 it will probably have smart charging aswell, the wiring loom to alternator is a common failure point on them. I had an old tranny connect that did all manner of odd things when the loom suffered corrosion damage

[pointer]

This morning I unlocked the car, then opened the door and the dash board screen came alive (as it should).
   
I inserted and part turned the the ignition key and waited for the glow plug indicator to extinguish before starting the car, which it did without any problems.

So does it look like a temperamental control system that caused the erratic starting when cold as well as flat battery and disappearing dash board display?

[brianh]

If the battery isn't providing a stable supply, you can't expect the cars various ecus to work properly or even consistently. If the battery appears ok, check the wire mentioned above for the same reason. Ecus on most cars are usually pretty reliable, but other simple faults like the above can give you an impression there is a major problem lurking when that us t the case.

[pointer]

I changed the battery and it does start better although my local garage did say that due to its age and mileage the compression pressures are probably weakening a little which could affect starting.

[pointer]

In addition, the problem with the dashboard display is still with me so I have started another posting in a hope to overcome matters.

[2355andrew]

Hi not sure if this is relevant or not but my 2.0 tdci got a sodd to start...after lots of thoughts and guess work it turned out to be the starter motor draining the battery and not turning the engine fast enough. since i changed it it starts instantly. sorry if not relevant.

[pointer]

Funnily enough , in the cold weather my starter motor simply whirred a couple of times without engaging.  So maybe that is causing the problem.   I will have it checked out on its next service.