Hey everyone so my car has recently started to have some issues starting when turning the key in the motion to start the engine it will sometimes fail to start properly and basically stall on the first attempt after this happens second attempt works everytime other times it works perfectly so I'm alittle stumped.

Could this be a battery issue or I remember reading stuff in previous posts by other users about something to do with the key ignition having issues.

Any advice would be great.

Cheers

Jason

My money is on battery. How old is it?

The 380 is particularly voltage sensitive. The cranking may pull the system voltage down below that required to run the ECU and other electrics.

Just because it cranks, doesn't mean the battery is okay.

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103173

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72061

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79987

If you have some heavy duty jumper leads, next time it plays up, try jump starting. If it starts fine, you will know your battery is cactus.

And if it is confirmed as battery, don't buy cheap ****. Century 75D23R is a good quality, long lasting lead acid which can be found for around the $150 mark. AGM batteries are also popular, but you're looking at around $300 at least.

Do you have two keys? Try the other key to see if it is an immobiliser issue?

My money is on battery. How old is it?

The 380 is particularly voltage sensitive. The cranking may pull the system voltage down below that required to run the ECU and other electrics.

Just because it cranks, doesn't mean the battery is okay.

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103173

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72061

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79987

If you have some heavy duty jumper leads, next time it plays up, try jump starting. If it starts fine, you will know your battery is cactus.

And if it is confirmed as battery, don't buy cheap ****. Century 75D23R is a good quality, long lasting lead acid which can be found for around the $150 mark. AGM batteries are also popular, but you're looking at around $300 at least.

Do you have two keys? Try the other key to see if it is an immobiliser issue?

Thanks for all the info I just went out and checked the battery and the date on there is the 24/02/2011 so its nearly 4 years old is this generally around the time for a change?.

I definitely wont buy the cheap ones are the ones racq provide any good? it seems as though that was the previous one looking at the labels.

Stay away from the cheap crap. Just get a Century 75D23R, they're quality batteries and it will last if you maintain it. I got mine in Bursons in Nambour. I rang them at 9am and they had it in store before midday. Far better price than other parts / accessories outlets too.

Oh, and somebody correct me if i'm wrong, but i think the RACQ batteries are the same Chinese ones the RACV uses. I'd hate to see what they'd charge for the equivalent of a 75D23R.

Have you tried jump starting it when it plays up?

While I'm pretty sure that's the fault, don't want you burning $150 if it's something else.

I don't know what RACQ batteries are like. I'd imagine not the best quality available.

Great advice blockhead I'll do that 2 votes for the battery is good enough for me and I think you're correct about the racq batteries From what I'm hearing the racq batteries are low-mid range nothing really special about them..
Flyboy I don't have a spare car so cant really jump start it at the moment. It's all good I have a feeling your correct about the battery.

But just an update on the situation I've been monitoring it this week and literally it only fails to start first time in the morning and Its 50/50 some days it just barely manages to start others it couldn't do it. But thing is I drive my car alot during the day and never happens again after that so seems like the alternator is charging the battery during the day and keeping it at a comfortable level. Where as at night its not being driven for 8-10hrs + it discharges and fails to start in the morning.

I'm going to invest in the battery it wont hurt to try it out. Ill keep you posted :)

Leave it out overnight, and then put your hand on the alternator in the morning before starting it.

If the alternator is warm, then one of the diodes may be breaking down and causing the battery to drain overnight.

If the alternator is stone cold, the battery is losing charge internally overnight and needs to be replaced.

Leave it out overnight, and then put your hand on the alternator in the morning before starting it.

If the alternator is warm, then one of the diodes may be breaking down and causing the battery to drain overnight.

If the alternator is stone cold, the battery is losing charge internally overnight and needs to be replaced.

Great advice thanks Ill give it ago starting tonight and see what I find

Yep, alternator or battery.

Or parasitic drain.

Disconnect one of the battery leads, and with everything off, put a multimeter set to current between the battery post and disconnected cable.
If something is draining power, you will soon know. (Doesn't rule out the alternator as a likely suspect though.)

It is then a matter of pulling fuses one at a time until the power drain goes away, and doing some troubleshooting on the circuits controlled by that fuse.

Good luck!

So just an update after nearly a month later I checked my alternator the day after put my hand onto it first thing in the morning before I started her up was nice a cold so good news and ever since then the car hasn't had any starting issues so either I have a magic touch or my car just loves me too much. My plan anyways is to change the battery next service which is under a 1000km's away and that will be for my major 100,000 one so might as well do it all in one go :).