i30 Owners Club

GOT PROBLEMS OR ISSUES? => DIESEL => Topic started by: treid2000 on November 11, 2017, 09:59:11

Title: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 11, 2017, 09:59:11
Morning everyone :)

First time post, long time reader. My car has developed an interesting, if not very frustrating problem. Went to turn the engine yesterday evening and all of a sudden ... Nothing. The interior lights flickered, as did the dash lights, radio and air con unit. With the key still turned we could also hear a clicking noise from under the bonnet.

Tried a few more times and still did not work so had to make other plans. Returning to this problem today however and not 100% sure what to try next. My thoughts are this:
1. Could be a dead battery? Would be annoyed if it is as not had any warnings (granted never do I guess). Plus the car also had a VERY long run a day or two prior so would have hoped it would have had a decent charge up.
2. Alternator? Based on it having a decent run but not holding the charge, could it be the alternator?

I am not that great with cars, but try to learn about them so any help would be very much appreciated :). Assuming it is the battery I can not imagine it would be too difficult to change. Just worried incase it might be something else more sinister causing the problem. Someone said it could be an earthing problem for example and I would have no idea what to do with that!

Looking forward to your response :)
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: The Gonz on November 11, 2017, 10:04:30
Do you have a voltmeter, either standalone or as part of a battery charger? Check voltage before and after ignition. Check battery terminals for a solid, clean contact.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 11, 2017, 10:21:54
Do not have one ... Yet :). Will try and pick one up today to give it a test. What am I looking for when testing?

Not sure if it is related problem wise, but when trying to crank engine, the lights go like a Christmas tree (interior lights and dash), radio turns off, air con goes funny. Also noticed that when locking the car the indicator lights are very dim in comparison to how they used to be. Assuming this is all related.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: Shambles on November 11, 2017, 10:25:22
Welcome :D

We're seeing a lot of battery-related problems recently. It's looking more and more like the life of batteries is around 5-6 years, so you could end up having to source a replacement.

Do perform the checks above first, though.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: The Gonz on November 11, 2017, 10:27:38
The experts here will tell you or you can google healthy voltage figures. I think it should be around 13.8V for a healthy battery and your alternator should be charging above that rate when running. Even as you turn your key you should hope for at least 12V. It seems to me from all the signs that your battery is tired or your connection bad.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 11, 2017, 10:53:03
Thank you :D

Will give it a go as soon as I can.

If I do need a replacement battery, what kind do I need? Did a quick check on Halfords and £150 seems very steep to me!

Also, just came to memory, the engine revs sometime hunt around when started from cold. Rarely a problem but has been there since I bought it 18 months ago. Could this be related?

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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: The Gonz on November 11, 2017, 11:00:56
If your voltage has been unreliable it may have been affecting your control module's ability to 'control' but deal with one symptom at a time and often others are resolved.

I recall spending a bit over $200 a year ago so £150 seems OK to me.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: tw2005 on November 11, 2017, 11:03:10
If the terminals are clean and nothing was left on to drain the battery sounds like classic battery failure. generally they collapse internally and be good 1 minute and literally dead the next.

I've jumped in a car started 100% fine, locked it, bought a paper came back and the central locking barely opened needless to say I could nt get a solenoid click from the starter

as for type, you have the original to go by but pay close attention to the dimensions, terminal orientation and capacity.  Looking at 600CCA upwards I would think.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 11, 2017, 11:03:11
If your voltage has been unreliable it may have been affecting your control module's ability to 'control' but deal with one symptom at a time and often others are resolved.
Will do :)

On the hunt for a battery if needs be.

Not tried to fix a car in a LONG time so trying to be prepared :)

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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: eye30 on November 11, 2017, 15:03:01
Check termials are clean and tight as this was the cause in a flat battery posted on here just a few days ago.

Is it possible that an inside light, glove box or boot not closed fully and just drained battery.

Do you have a charger?

If so charge up and see how it goes and if you can get local garage or battery shop to do a drop test to see if the battery holds its charge.

Ps
Drop test IS NOT physically dropping the battery from a height as some on here think it is....
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: Dazzler on November 11, 2017, 19:09:25
Hi treid,

Hopefully you have tried (see what I did there) all the other suggestions.

I couldn't see what year your i30 was but as others have said if it is over 5 years old a dead battery is very likely the cause. Gerard (tw) hinted at the fact the diesel needs a slightly better battery than the petrol versions, so take special attention to the specs/model of battery as stated on the battery or in your manual for your model.

Finally, things like batteries and tyres seem relatively cheap in the UK compared to Australia, so shop around if possible for the right battery at the best price. Yes, I am a cheapskate.  :D
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: Shambles on November 11, 2017, 19:33:30
Try  :link: Car Batteries | Car Battery Replacements Online | Euro Car Parts (https://www.eurocarparts.com/car-battery) to get an idea of prices. They will suggest Lion (3 year warranty) and Bosch (4 year warranty) batteries.

Enter your reg to get a faithful selection that will match your i30. I purchased from these last week (for a Mitsubishi 3000GT) and got £68 off using a code.

This weekend you can get 35% off (details on the site).
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 12, 2017, 10:42:00
Dazzler - first person I have ever known to get that joke! Tired is another lol.

Going to give the battery a rest tonight when I get back home.

That site for batteries looks good, especially with the discount. It is saying that it is either a 005 or an 030? Are these differences in size more than anything else?

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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: tw2005 on November 12, 2017, 13:37:29
The battery I just removed and it was a decent one which fitted well, the number was 4504. Pretty sure there's a conversion chart  somewhere but it's details were 720CCA, 76Ah, Reserve capacity 140mins, 265mm L x 172mm W x 220mm H

It was a good fit, Generally you'll get what you pay for. I notice on that site some had 4year wty. That's pretty good


(https://www.racq.com.au/-/media/racq/image/content-580x360/custom/cars-and-driving/batteries/batteries/4504.ashx?h=140&la=en&w=153&hash=39B38BAC4FE1E407A1307016821B9F32C0E55C33)
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 12, 2017, 13:42:30
I asked in Halfords and he could not really give me an answer. I have so far got that my battery is 005, 027 or 096 :S

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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 12, 2017, 16:09:10
So, battery completely dead now. No central locking, nothing :'(.

Trip to Halfords now ...

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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: Shambles on November 12, 2017, 16:21:10
Good luck. You've got 40 minutes to get there.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 12, 2017, 16:23:13
Fingers crossed I get there. My concern however is that the battery is much flatter than it was before. Anyway I can check if there is a problem before fitting a new one?

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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 12, 2017, 17:26:06
So ...

Battery changed and engine now turns over :).

Will be keeping a close eye to make sure it was just the battery.

Thank you everyone for your help :)

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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: eye30 on November 12, 2017, 18:32:17
Do you still have old one?

if so, why not put on charge and have ready as standby should the new one looses it charge due to the issue being a fault elsewhere and not the battery.

Fingers crossed all is ok now.......

Ps
Did they do a test, drop test, on the battery to check it?

Yet again i'd be surprised if they knew what you were talking about!
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: nzenigma on November 12, 2017, 20:36:30
Drop test IS NOT physically dropping the battery from a height as some on here think it is....

Now you tell me  :crazy1:

Oh well, the inmates at MY asylum enjoyed the show.  :cool:
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: treid2000 on November 12, 2017, 20:40:24
Do you still have old one?

if so, why not put on charge and have ready as standby should the new one looses it charge due to the issue being a fault elsewhere and not the battery.

Fingers crossed all is ok now.......

Ps
Did they do a test, drop test, on the battery to check it?

Yet again i'd be surprised if they knew what you were talking about!
Whoops! Left it with them to get recycled :S


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Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: nzenigma on November 12, 2017, 20:59:24
Most of it is covered by tw's and Gonz posts.

The other day I made an assumption and missed the obvious, FIRST thing to do is to clean your battery terminals.

The so called 'Drop Test' is VOLTAGE DROP test.  Its been a standard test since Adam had a bike. Unlike a multimeter, a proper battery tester draws high current, similar to that of a starter motor.

( allegedly you can get new life out of an alkaline torch battery by dropping it. Hence there are now pages of ramblings about the Drop Test)

A simple method to check your alternator's performance: Start the car, turn on headlights, briefly remove one lead from the battery. If car continues to run and headlights function, you have charge voltage from alternator.
Title: Re: i30 CRDI 2011 - Electrical Problem?
Post by: The Gonz on November 13, 2017, 06:46:02
There is another (said Yoda). The battery warning symbol in your display is powered by the differential voltage between it and the alternator (more correctly regulator). Hence turning the key before starting shows the battery symbol meaning its voltage exceeds the alternator's since it's not turning yet. Once the car is running the symbol goes out because the alternator's voltage is greater than the battery's.

The best way to interpret the battery symbol is to see it as your battery not getting charged.
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