non-starter !!

[sps]

the car is 2004 vw 1.9tdi bora with a pd engine.

it has 90k miles from new on original factory fitted varta battery.

went to start the car,the engine turns over but will not fire.

sounds like the engine turns but a little slower than it should.

glow plug light on dash comes on and off as it should after ii turn the key  and before trying to start the engine.

no fault codes showing on vag.com.

battery voltage with tester shows 12.3 volts.

the in-tank fuel pump buzzes normally for a few seconds on turning the key on ( intank pump was replaced a few thousand miles ago).

my impression is partially discharged battery or dying battery.

am i right?

can i charge the battery from a mains charger with battery still hooked up inside the engine bay-(that is without removing the cables?.

any precautions while doing the charging?

[Steve_PD]

Sounds like a dead battery, Mine was showing 12.odd volts but wouldn't start the car.
Try and jump start it. If it starts its the battery.
You can charge it using a mains but Id budget for a battery as well as it will give up at some stage or struggle on the cold winter mornings.

You can charge it with it all connected up.

[sps]

thanks  for your quick response

i read the haynes manual and it confirms that if a battery shows 12.4 volts or less,it could be partially discharged.

so in the light of day,i will open the caps on the cells,have a look down athe water levels first,the charge in car with mains charger.

[sps]

checked the cell water levels,2 were low -so topped them up with distilled water.
voltage was 12.1 meaning it was in ay discharged state.
so charged it up with mains battery cahger and after 3 hrts it was 13.3 volts-so charged up.
the moment of thruth was car started up first kick
the next test will be if it hold sthe charge overnight.
if it doesn,t it will be time to buy new bosch S4008 spec battery from eurocarpatrs with the 25% forum discount.

[sps]

Update,i checked the voltage this morning-it was 12.42 volts,so it appears to have held its charge overnight.
Car started first kick.Drove it to work.
But i don't want to get stranded and given the battery is 7.5 yrs old from new,i am going to replace it with a Bosch S4008 battery.This is a higher spec than what i will be replacing,are there any problems using a higher spec battery?

[Agreeable Slick]

Nope.

[sps]

update,
car started ok after yet another coldish night and appears to be holding its charge -so purchase of new battery is on hold for now.

[sps]

the car started for first time after charging the original varta battery and has done so without any problems for a week,the magic eye is showing green which means fully charged.
i have however fitted a new bosch S4008 battery as a precaution for winter motoring. i reset the clock and synchronised the electric windows after fitting the new battery.