starting problems

[Tony M]

Right then, I my car was originally a 1litre but now it has a 20XE. Sometimes when trying to start - nothing, other times straight on the key. Gunny put a multi-meter across my coil, there was 12volts but it drops to 9volts when cranking, is this right or not?

[Andy]

Probably a bad earth,my escort van does that sometimes

[Damo]

yea as andy say sounds like a bad earth is the gearbox earth strap ok?

[Tony M]

It was only 3months ago that I checked all the earths, scraped paint off etc. Ill get a multi-meter on them later.

[calibra-keith]

my old calibra was like that, was just the battery, had power in to do everything but if dropped below about 12 it wouldn't even try to turn over but started straight away all the time when got better battery after i found out the battery was off a 1l they just slapped on.

[Tony M]

I've got the battery on my Nova from my old 306 Turbo Diesel. It read 12.4ish volts with no key and it dropped to 11.5volts when cranking.

[windfreek]

I've got the battery on my Nova from my old 306 Turbo Diesel. It read 12.4ish volts with no key and it dropped to 11.5volts when cranking.
that sounds about right on crank, my TD drops to 11.2v on crank, still go with all the others on a loose/dirty earth strap somewhere

[Tony M]

Got the multi-meter out earlier and all the earths are good.