Full charge - click click click and smell of rotten eggs

[VespaSkin]

Hi all
New Pug new problems

V reg 406 110 estate - b@stard thing....

Got jipped out of £620 for a very nice 406 from scumbay - alternator was shagged, guy put full charge in battery and said nowt so he could sell it "sold as seen" - changed it and all was well, then at weekend changed front discs - car was on axle stands for a couple of days flat on Monday morning so chucked 5 hours charge in it- started ok monday night, checked battery (12.6v) and new (scrappy) alternator (alternator end 14.6 - same at battery) parked up for day then this morning turned it over, nowt - no click of starter - nowt - hooked up the misses's passat for a jump - turned over but not start - whipped battery off and put on charge whilst at work

Got home - put battery back (now 13v in it) on and getting rapid clicking (like battery flat as opposed to starter motor stuck) all electrics in the car dim (as if battery flat) and, honestly, the smell of rotten eggs - clicking seems to be around the ABS pump/fusebox/throttle cable and from the relay plug where ECU is - smell of rotten eggs from abs/fusebox/battery - I know that smell but can't place it

Checked fuses - all ok, however, 2 weeks ago had to get AA as car just conked out like no fuel, turns out was the knock sensor no power - AA man bodged power to fuse for knock and this sorted it

The rotten egg smell I seem to associate with acid but I could be wrong....

Any ideas please - getting desperate

Thanks
Gaz

[HimBigChief]

Doh

[HimBigChief]

Swap the battery out of the missus passat and see if that helps. That'd be my first port of call - the battery. Sounds like the battery's knackered if it's not holding charge anyway.

[steve_earwig]

The only time I smelt rotten eggs around a battery was because it had ripped out of the bracket and was melting on an exhaust manifold (works van so what do I care?) From this distance I'd say proceed carefully, check for short circuits in case it's cooking but it might just be the battery's leaking (still be careful, it makes holes in stuff like clothes and hands...)

[VespaSkin]

Cheers - smell only there when ignition on and 'clicking' going on - is there a relay down near the abs/fusebox/battery that could go tits up and stop the car starting?

The live feed does seem to have one of those divvy push handle connectors that 'clip' on - not traditional bolt tightening jobbo - suppose the dick that sold me could have shagged the battery as I did 60 miles with no alternator charging it (though have done 500 since alternator fitted) - have noticed over last week a miniscule dip in engine speed when I switched headlights or fog lamps on....with a ever so slight dulling when switching rear heater on

[StevieboyTD]

Duff battery.

[VespaSkin]

Cheers lads

Whilst I'm here - stereo switches on when I get in the car - could it be wired to the interior lights for some bizzare reason? also - stays on when key removed - It's a non standard head unit - there is a plastic electrical connector (you know, plastic job with screws in top) connecting yellow to yellow and purply one to purple

[Doggy]

Defo duff battery.

Get it out of there before it starts a fire - seriously.

[VespaSkin]

Thanks to all of you - excellent site and info - top boys

[poddack]

Duff battery!

[omega]

got a spare battery here if you want to try it

[VespaSkin]

Got a new one cheers - put it on, 1st turn of the key - 13v off 14.7v ticking over - great advice lads... have more questions shortly

[FarmerPug]

a bad battery causes some unpleasent problems

[teamster1975]

The rotten egg smell I seem to associate with acid but I could be wrong....

The electrolyte in the battery is sulphuric acid. Dodgy bugger selling you the car like that!