Clock resets to 00:00 on cold starts, help pls!!

[cara_essex]

Hi Ive posted a few times about this but really getting desperate for a solution now!

When I start the car from cold the ignition seems to make a noise (kind of a crunch) and it makes the clock reset to 00:00 and also the journey mile counter resets.

It seems to be related to damp weather as some mornings it will do it three times over before finally firing up and this morning it wouldnt start atall until the fog had lifted.

I am worried some moisture has got in somewhere and buggered something as now my revs have gone crazy again aswell which I dont know if thats related but its the same symptoms as when we got a new throttle body and had to reset the ecu to the TB bit.

Please someone offer some suggestions, we havent got lots of money to spend on taking it to mechanics who might rip us off and I see alot of mention of relays etc, could it be something that simple!???

thanks so much
Cara x

[sticky]

i would go with a new battery as has been suggested before by someone i am no mechanic, but i had same almost same problems as you clock resetting poor starting in cold weather
in okay weather it was fine as if nothing was wrong and it was not until the battery finally gave up the ghost on a cold and frosty morning and that once a new one was installed did my problems go away not saying though i had the same problems with the ecu match to the new throttle body
this is just a suggestion as there are some very qualified people on this site but it may be worth having a diagnostic run on it as this may save you some money because once you have the fault codes there are some people on here who know this stuff very well and may point you in the right direction so you dont feel seen off by the garage when they tell you what it is
wish i knew more
good luck
regards
sticky
ps!!!!!!!!!!!!!my battery also checked out fine on test and only 18 months old but it was knackered

[Dox]

Make sure the battery leads are clean, bright and tight. Follow these leads to the starter motor and the body / engine earth and make sure these are clean, bright and tight too.

If you decide to clean the ends of the cable with emery cloth remove the battery negative (-) cable first, then clean all cable ends before reinstating the battery negative cable absolutelly last.



Put a light smear of vaselene on the ends of the cables to prevent future corrosion

[neileg]

The clock resets because the battery voltage has dropped significantly when you try to start. Both sticky and Dox have given you some good tips so I'll summarise.

The problem may be the battery itself. It could be as simple as needing the fluid topping up with deionised water. I had exactly the same problem and it took a litre of water to top up the battery and I've had no issues since. Or the battery may be knackered and you need to replace it.

Or the problem may be the electrical wiring. Clean the connections as Dox suggests but also ensure the leads and earth straps are in good condition and not cracked or frayed.

[cara_essex]

Thanks Sticky, Dox & Neil...

If I want to check the electrical connections do I need to disconnect anything first as I dont fancy frazzling myself (if thats possible?!!)

Thanks!
Cara

[Dox]

Thanks Sticky, Dox & Neil...

If I want to check the electrical connections do I need to disconnect anything first as I dont fancy frazzling myself (if thats possible?!!)

Thanks!
Cara

Take the battery negative (-) off first, tuck it out of the way or wrap it in rag to protect the cars electics and reconnect it absolutelly last.

[cara_essex]

Well I bought a new battery this morning and my dad fitted it within minutes, car started fine except his mate interfered and pulled the HT lead off the ignition coil and told me to crank it like that and then it wouldnt start again atall so had to call RAC.....

Needed new ignition coil, £85 quid later the car started again. Only thing is it only had a new coil 9 months ago so I am gonna try to blag under warranty that it packed up, although likely thing is the interfering mate fried it???

So anyway problem seems solved and that'd better be it now as sick of spending money on what is meant to be a super reliable car and has been nothing but a pain in the ar$e the 10 months we've owned it.

Surely there cant be anything else, its had 2 x new coils, 1 x battery and 1x throttle body. Ouch!

Anyone know if its essential to change HT leads and spark plugs when a new coil is put in, as thats what instructions recommend although my regular mechanic said theres usually no need unless HT seems like its giving up (which it doesnt... yet)

Thanks
Cara x

[hapz1]

Hi Cara,

any luck on fixing this problem?

[hapz1]

oops guess u have...

did ur problem sound like mine....

when I try to start the car it starts as if the battery is on its last legs and nearly about to die but will start and other times the car won't even turn like the battery has gone and the clock would reset to 00:00 my audio system would also reset.

When the cars not starting I am still able to open windows at normal speed, switch lights on which suggests the battery is ok. I had a garage test the battery and they said it still has power and shouldnt be a problem.

with a little push start the car would be fine.Sometimes I could start the car in the morning just fine, switch it off and try starting it 2 mins later and its gone again. it's happened 3 times in as many days.
????????

[cara_essex]

Hi Hapz,

Mine sounds like it was a similar problem as in that the clock always reset, but I understand thats just something to do with the fact that because something in the car is struggling to work that it takes the power away from the not so important things such as the clock.

Unlike yours, mine always started (except when it was really foggy the other morning, but then did start once the fog had lifted!) it just made a funny crunch noise when cranking and from outside the car when turning the ignition key, you could actually hear the pause in the starting process.

I know you said your battery checked out to be fine, but it may be worth testing it again as mine was tested by my dad about 6 wks back and showed up ok, but then yesterday I took it into kwik fit for a free check and it showed up as knackered. Although the mechanic there did explain to me that it could actually have been the starter motor thats defective and therefore killed the battery as it was needing more power to get up and running!

If I were you, get the battery tested again, alot of places will do it for free as Ive heard a few people say first time their battery tested fine, then second time admitted it was knackered!

Do you know how old your battery is anyway? As it may be worth getting one anyhow if its a few years old and seeing if that solves the problem.

Hope this helps?
Let me know how you get on!

Cara

Ps. Maybe it could be the alternator? Someone on here should be able to give you more info if you put on a seperate post as theres lots of clever people on here, unfortunately Im not one of them!!