Berlingo Diesel Multispace 2011 not starting

[BringMeSunshine]

Dear fellow members, my family Berlingo Multispace Diesel 1.6 is intermittently not starting. Stranded at nursery car park & as RAC did not turn up so got some friends to push start it which it did. Took it to local garage who checked it out, billed me for £80 & said to take it to Citroen. Have booked it to Citroen dealership repair for diagnostics check for next week (another £80) but i just fear they will not pinpoint what is wrong & start doing unnecessary expensive work. Had car from new for 11 years & love it, it is a wonderful work horse so reluctant to scrap it. Tried using spare key & it worked well for a week but not anymore. The other thing i can think off is filter fuel clogged. So i guess i can take it to be changed just to rule the issue out? Not mechanically minded at all but just hoping that someone may have some nugget of wisdom & advice me what to do in meantime. (Other than obviously take it to Citroen, which i will as last resort). 
Report from last garage: ‘ Check out the starting fault, found no power at starter motor, test battery all tested okay, check all fuses all okay, check output from central electronics to starter with plug unplugged sends signal every time. Suspect module having internal fault’
With thanks for any helpful advice….

[oilyrag]

A bit more detail that could be useful. Does the starter motor operate and turn the engine over when you turn the ignition key?
Or is it that the starter operates but the engine doesn't start?

[BringMeSunshine]

Starter operates but engine not turning over. If i turn key off & on again, it gets the wipers going, resets date & then battery sign comes on. Still has original battery but it tests ok. Starts ok when pushed downhill. If it gets going it runs fine & even starts fine on frequent same day drives. If left overnight, it doesn’t start.

[oilyrag]

Sounds like a possible duff battery?  The first try to start drops the volts so low that the car possibly sees it as the battery being disconnected. 
Simple things to do - remove battery leads and clean the terminals with something like wire wool, along with battery terminals. Follow the earth lead from the battery to where it meets the chassis or engine and remove the lead - simple spanner job - and clean the terminals.
If the battery is good then alternator may not be gharging it fully - needs a test meter to show around 15 volts at the battery when the engine is running.
Good luck!
My money is on the battery......see recent post about battery suppliers by Saskak.

[BringMeSunshine]

Will get a friend to try that, thank you!

Will post back

[saskak]

Will get a friend to try that, thank you!

Will post back

Still with the original 2011 battery, i.e. >10 years old?

What oilyrag has said. To rule out the alternator, start the car, put a multimeter on the battery posts and measure the voltage. On mine it is 14.3-14.4V. If the battery is >10years old, it will be more than suspect.

[Sol]

Also it should not drop below 11v while cranking or it will usually not start.

If it starts with a push, then the battery is likely to be the issue. Kwikfit can do a load test on the battery, proper old school shunt test which will show if a battery is actually good or just pretending. Volts is ok but Amps is King! A bad battery can measure 12v yet not be able to deliver the 200-300 Amps needed to spin a cold engine.

[BringMeSunshine]

A massive thank you to OILYRAG, SASKAK & ZION for your wisdom
Took my Berlingo to another garage who replaced the battery & the car now starts without problem every time. Happy & less stressed!

[Sol]

Great news!

[oilyrag]

Top stuff !      Sunshine was supplied.