Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Battery Issues

Hi All,

Sooooo, I managed to flatten my battery, I think with a few too many short journeys in the recent cold! I’ve had it on a CTEK battery conditioner for a couple of days and have given it a good run (15-20 miles say) but am only really getting a couple of starts at best before the flat issue recurred again (outside school for pick up amusingly, as it did the first time.... sod’s law?).

Question - have I destroyed the battery? Or does it sound more like an alternator issue? Or do I go for a good long drive and see what happens thereafter? Or is the school just located on some weird lay lines that take objection to the world best cars?

I do have a battery jump started pack which is very effective it seems, but would like to nail down the issue one way or another and solve it.

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers.

James.

Have you checked the earth especially from the gearbox to the chassis. My Roadster occisionally wouldn't start or cranked poorly. It was the earth. I found with a jump lead from the engine to the chassis all was well so cleaned up the earths at the front and rear. They may look good but can be corroded on the inside.

Assuming a normal wet battery, a check of the electrolyte specific gravity would give a clue as to whether the battery is stuffed...

If it turns the engine over at a good speed initially it's unlikely to be a connection issue. More likely the capacity has dropped off to an unviable level, bearing in mind it is a consumable. This will happen naturally with age and is often masked by an easy starting regularly used engine. However the batteries demise can be hastened dramatically if it's not fully charged at some point regularly. There is a scenario which aligns with your use where short runs only charge the battery to say 90%. Then the next time it only takes charge to 90% of the 90%, and so on in a downward spiral. I would guess yours has fallen foul of this situation.

Suggest a new battery and if then not used regularly for runs long enough to fully charge, leave it on a conditioner or smart charger, particularly in the winter.

ETA: an electrolyte check, if possible given most are sealed nowadays, will indicate the state of charge of the individual cells but not necessarily their remaining capacity as a fraction of that when new.

Thanks all for the inputs. I rather fear it is what Richard describes. I get ignition lights without issue, but when I go to crank the starter it all goes dark. Sounds like I’m in for a spend on a new battery.......

I’ve a CTEK battery conditioner that it has now been left on when parked up in the garage. It’s running the analysis program without giving any warnings, but guess that doesn’t mean the capacity hasn’t dropped below a level that would give a couple of starts only?

Any recommendations battery wise?

Appreciate the help guys. Cheers.

I run my Plus 8 on a cheap Lucas battery, first one did 6 years, current one has reached 6 years and showing no sign of deterioration (yet!), I do now keep it on a CTEK charger now I have a garage with power

How old is the battery?
What type? Wet cell, gel, sealed?

Modern batteries are generally good but yours might be a rogue poor one or simply reaching it’s natural demise.
It might be worth getting yours tested as a first step plus alternator and possible unwanted current draw from wiring or component problems. Can you try another battery in the car to see if that does the same? Make sure your earth connections are clean and good, especially battery to starter. That can either be direct or not depending on the layout. Morgans with batteries in the rear use the chassis as a connector so a couple of earth connections to go wrong.

My Mog has an Odyssey maintenance free battery. It was on the car when bought about 8 years ago so actual age unknown. 40k miles done but only 1300 in the last year (Due to lockdowns. It has only failed once when I had left the lights on and drained it ( 2 ?) years ago. Cteck brought it back ok. I leave the Cteck connected by direct battery connection using supplied connection cable. No starting problems.
I had a Focus for 10 years and the battery failed after 9 years. High mileage commuting so no low mileage issues.

JWD, as others had said, how old is it ?

There is usually a date code hot stamped into the plastic top moulding of the battery casing

Quick peace of mind check of voltage is always good. A good alternator will show 13.5 - 14.5 volts with the engine running, this indicates a good charging alternator. Less than 10 volts while cranking the engine over indicates a dying battery. Only indicators but a cheap and easy way to find out which is which.
Good luck.
Phil

Sit. Rep -

All sorted, spoke with Phil at Allon White this morning, who’d seen my post on TM yesterday and already spoken with the big brains in the servicing department before I called! They confirmed from my description that it was 99.9% a replacement needed. He immediately arranged to have a brand new battery sent out to me for delivery tomorrow and covered under their warranty. Brilliant service all round, can’t thank Phil and the team enough, really defines the term good customer service.

Thank you all also for chiming in with suggestions and problem finding solutions. One learns a plenty from these experiences. Now to get the spanner’s out for tomorrows fitment....

Cheers

James.