Ask Honest John

Most recently answered batteries questions
I'm thinking of buying a second hand hybrid, can you please can you tell me at what mileage I should be worrying about renewing the battery pack, and the cost?
I bought a used Mazda MX5 three months ago from a dealer. The car had just 65 miles on clock and was just a couple of months old. The franchised dealer told me it was a former demo car. Since then it has...
I bought a new Ford S Max six months ago and the car has suffered a flat battery on 10 occasions. As a result, it has been in the dealership for repairs on seven occasions, with a total of 80 days off...
Recently I've not been using my car very much. I last used it on Sunday and all was fine, but on Tuesday I went to move it and the battery seemed flat (the wing mirrors also didn't open as usual when I...
I bought this car with 13,000 miles on the clock, 9 months after 1st registration. It has now done just over 15,000. It took me a little while to realise that the Autostop was not working and I asked the...
Twice in two weeks my wife's 2007 Vauxhall Corsa has refused to start. It makes a ticking noise but nothing more. The car eventually starts after a five minute delay. The battery is OK and the garage...
My brand new Toyota Auris hybrid Icon has flattened its 12v battery twice in the first 300 miles, after being left locked (with nothing left on) in a garage for three days after runs of over 100 miles....
Recently my wife’s six-year old KIA Picanto would not start, so we called the AA. The patrolman who turned up diagnosed a dead battery. He said that he had a replacement in his van and would we like him...
I keep a 10-year-old Rover 45 garaged abroad. I have fitted a simple battery isolator, and even after five months away it still starts first time on reconnection. The only problem is that I have been unable...
The AutoStop/Start on my 2009 BMW 120 M Sport stopped operating on a journey from Bromley, Kent to Cornwall. On return from holiday, 500 miles later, I booked the car into my BMW dealer. I was told my...