Issue with car starting? not sure what to do.

[omarr]

Hello All.

Just got a bit of a problem, NRMA told me to get an auto electrician out to check the car.. every time i turn the car off. the car does not start again, NRMA said the battery and altenator are fine.. working well. but the battery van man said that something is draining the battery when the car is off...
i Dont know what to believe. also while driving the other day all of a sudden my speedo dash lights stopped working, when i turned the car off and the lights off. the dash came on. :S then i had to clutch start the car again...

Annoying :( i would prefer somewhere cheap as im a bit broke now. and if there was an electrician who will come out to the car.
Help me?

Thanks
Regards.

[Eclipsor]

Sounds like it could be the alternator. Maybe an intermittent problem that nrma didn't see. I've seen that happen with the speedo dash lights turning off while driving when the alternator wasn't charging and the car was running off the battery. Especially if you then had to hill start it straight away.

[VTECMACHINE]

What alarm system do you have?

I have heard many times that a faulty alarm can screw with dash lights, and/or make car stale, and drain power.

[englee]

You could try this to test the alternator. Start your engine and let it run for a little. Then disconnect your negative point on your battery. If the engine dies then your alternator is not producing enough current to charge and run the car.

[TheGoodDeal]

You can test the voltage yourself by connect the volt-meter to battery terminals.

Engine off = 12.5v (Battery is OK)
Engine on = 14.4v (Alternator is OK)

[geeang]

After searching through some of the previous battery problem threads some people seem to be having similar problems because amp power cables, or accessory power cables are loose and are 'shorting'.