[chris scott]

It would not start in the morning tho'... a cold night kills an already dodgy  battery.
I appreciate what you are saying though sometime it is the simplest of things that can confuse us. My girlfriend confuses me and she comes into that category of " simple things"  

[Matt Gibson]

Right, just to clarify.

Ive been through 3 batteries. I then brought this to the attention of the service guy who told me to fit an isolator and mentioned i could be leaking charge because the positive battery cable was hard up against the frame.

I then installed an isolator and when i turn the accesories on (one turn of the key) the volt meter was reading 11.9v

The engine would start no problems. When the engine was running it reads a constant 14.4v so i know the alternator is working and charging.

Everything was fine, then wednesday as i said, machine ran fine in the AM then after lunch the volts had dropped and it wouldnt start.

Now i thought that normally when i turn the acc on the volt meter should read about 12.7ish volts then when its running it should be reading about 14.4ish.

[chris scott]

1)Charge the battery up and refit it. 2)Turn  EVERYTHING Off including isolator.3) Disconnect " +" terminal from battery. 4)"Tap" the  "+" terminal (battery lead) with the "+" terminal on the battery ...does it spark? yes/no 5) Turn on isolator only .Try again...does it spark?

Does the  "+"battery lead go from the battery ...isolator...starter motor and stop?  If i does not disconnect any thing after the starter motor leaving only the heavy battery lead connected to the starter....try test again...does it spark?
Reconnect everything to the starter ...pull  the wires off the back of the alternator...try test again.
Phone me this taking too long

[Matt Gibson]

I am assuming from reading something on another forum, that if i tap the positive cable onto the positive battery terminal and it sparks, that means something within the circuit is still live?

Do i need to have the earth connected to the battery while im doing all this tapping?

Ill phone you tomorrow when im at the van mate. No point now as ill forget by the time i get to the machine tomorrow 

[chris scott]

yes yes and yes....I'm on the motorway tomorrow keep trying and i will stop in the services .

[Matt Gibson]

Cheers mate.

[Matt Gibson]

Chris, didnt get a chance to look at the machine today due to weather. Might look tomorrow or monday and bell you.

Just wanted you to know not to panic and im not ignoring you.. 

[chris scott]

Chris, didnt get a chance to look at the machine today due to weather. Might look tomorrow or monday and bell you.

Just wanted you to know not to panic and im not ignoring you.. 

Are you sure...other people do.