Wierd problem. Can you help please ?

I have a Peugeot 405GL. 1992. 1580cc J Reg Petrol.

The problem that I have is that sometimes when I turn the engine over, it
gives every indication that the battery is flat. I take the battery off the
car and put it on charge. The charger tells me that the battery is fine, so
I put the battery back on the car and again, every indication that it is
flat.
If I jump start car from another battery, leave car running for a couple of
minutes and then switch it off, the car starts normally even 5 hours later.

All ll battery termals are in good order and tight.

Anyone had a similar problem like this please or could anyone offer any
advice.

Thanks in advance

 

Maybe not the answer. But I once saw an auto-electrician clean the
terminals and the clamps. He did a very thorough job (and I had checked
them before and pass them as OK). After his efforts the car worked.

What I am saying is that you say the terminals are fine. Maybe you are
wrong - I was.

 

I agree, looking clean is not the same as being clean. If you do clean
them, it is a good idea to smear a little Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly) on them
before reconnecting. It greatly improves the connection and reduces the
chance of electrostatic snow build-up. Do not, however, use grease as it
will act as an insulator.

 

Get a new battery! The charger will not indicate the state of the battery,
the voltage might appear normal but that isn't necessarily a guide to the
state of the plates. the only sure way is to apply a load and measure your
voltage under load.

 

Suggest battery U/S

 

UPDATE
Went to the car this morning at about 08:35. First turn of the key and it
started without any bother.

 

Assuming all your connections are *really* OK, then either your battery is
shagged, or your alternator isn't charging it properly.

Replace the battery first, with a brand new one.

 

Since my original post, the car has started first time evrytime. I have only
run it for a few mins at a time because i am waiting for a mechanic to pop a
new head gasket on it for me.
The battery has what I now know to be a clip thing on top of the post that
the Negative lead screws onto, with like a wing nut (quick connection I
suppose you would call it). this I plan to remove and fit a propper battery
terminal.

 

That is a proper battery terminal. If in good nick there is no reason why
it should not be perfectly satisfactory, also it is much easier to
disconnect the battery by just undoing the wing nut a couple of turns than
by removing the cheaper sort of terminal. I have been known to use it as an
anti-theft device in the past...

Ron Robinson

 

Had a similar problem on my 406TD - would occasionally just fail to start
for no obvious reason.

Had the battery load tested and that said it was ok too, but when put back
onto car, it wouldn't start again.

Replaced battery with new one and not seen a problem since.

Hope this helps
Hurricane Charlie.