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• BMW 3-Series E36 (1991 - 1998) - 98 2.5 alarm advice 9 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Hi, my car has been at the local garage waiting for a reconditioned propshaft, and my mechanic locked the car with the key rather than the keyfob, assuming this would lock the car without arming the alarm, as he was on holiday for a week. 3 weeks later, I unlocked the car and the alarm sounded, and the battery's fairly flat. Is there any way of locking the car without setting the alarm, or how can I disable it, as it just drains the battery when left for a few weeks.
• Vauxhall Omega (1994 - 2003) - 1996 2.5 Engine management light 24 May 2008 (Forum)
  Parked the car last night and set the alarm. Car was running normally. This morning the car wouldnt start. The engine management light and battery light stayed on after turning the key and after resetting the alarm. Starter operates normally.I have disconnected and reconnected the battery without success Can an alarm immobilizer cause any problems with the engine management system/light (car alarm locking appears to be operating normally).
• Honda CRV Radio Won't Turn Off 12 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  When this happens, nothing will disable it - and the volume/on-off control is inoperable, i.e. turning it does not alter the volume and depressing it does not turn off the power. The only solution is to disconnect the battery. When the battery is reconnected, and the radio code re-entered, it will work again for a period, and the fault will then recur. Has anyone encounetred this problem? Is it a fault with the radio, or is it in the car's electrics?
• 306 key fob programming HELP! 21 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  However it would work when inside the car after numerous attempts at this i even got the key working when outside the car for a while then this stopped. I tried disconnecting the battery to start again but no luck any ideas? thanks
• Peugeot 306 XRDT 1995 N model 16 Jun 2006 (Forum)
  My son has just bought the above model, drove it 30 miles home but battery was flat next morning. Tried different battery and jump starting but to no avail, lights flash (no alarm thank goodness)but car won't start, he thinks immobiliser has kicked in. Needless to say no handbook and key looks as if it had 'plip' buttons but rubber worn away.
• A Class open windows 11 Mar 2005 (Forum)
  Colleague at work has a 51 plate A class. She said it broke down at the weekend (initial diagnosis alternator, later revised to battery, which was replaced). Today she managed to lower 3 of the windows which then would not go back up again. We managed to lift the windows (hand on either side of the glass and depressing the up switch) and get them to stay up: is there some sort of re-set process that should have been followed after installation of new battery?
• Carpet Removal - Pug 306 1 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  Dear Backroomers, With all your extensive knowledge of all things motoring could you please provide some help on lifting the carpet up on a 306, I need to get a few wires down the length of the car and so far I am not clear on how to do it. Secondly my key fob is going through batteries a little too quickly. I bought two new lithium batteries for it on Saturday and by this morning they were both dead, I\'m guessing this isn\'t the normal standard! Any ideas on what the problem may be?
• merc c240 ticking 5 Aug 2002 (Forum)
  Loking for help on 98 c240 auto still with 1 months warranty from merc dealer 1: On turning ignition I get "ticking" rather like flat battery sound but no flat battery. On turning to second position engine fires first time 2: In neutral engine/belts run quietly but on engaging forward or reverse I get engine "squeal" again like fan belt squeal but on returning to neutral squeal diappears.
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  Sept 2011 Golf - flat battery problem 12 Apr 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I purchased a brand new Golf 1.4 TSI 5dr in Sept 2011 and have been very happy with it. When it was parked at home 2 days ago I noticed that both front...
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  What is a mild hybrid? 11 Mar 2024 (Ask HJ)
  What does 48v mild hybrid mean and what is it meant to do?
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  Why does my hybrid give better economy in the summer? 12 Apr 2023 (Ask HJ)
  My Yaris Hybrid can touch 80mpg in summer but drops down to about 60mpg in winter. Any reason for that?
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  Are there any new electric cars with petrol generators like the Vauxhall Ampera? 30 Mar 2023 (Ask HJ)
  Are there any new cars electric drive with petrol to charge the battery like the Vauxhall Ampera?
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  Why is my new MG5 suffering from condensation? 23 Mar 2023 (Ask HJ)
  I've just bought an MG5. The only problem is it’s bad with condensation but when I put the heater on it drains the battery. Can you help?
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  What trickle charger should I use for a mild hybrid? 17 Mar 2023 (Ask HJ)
  Can you suggest a suitable trickle charger for my mild hybrid Mercedes GLC 300? There seems to be a lot of choice.
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  Does the cold weather affect electric car range? 24 Jan 2023 (Ask HJ)
  Does extreme cold weather adversely affect EV range?
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  Do diesel hybrids have DPF problems? 19 Oct 2022 (Ask HJ)
  How do diesel hybrids cope with switching on and off, between diesel and battery, if they have a DPF fitted? Even a medium length drive might involve lots...
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  Why are PHEVs less efficient than normal hybrids? 16 Nov 2018 (Ask HJ)
  I have read your report about poor real life mpg for plug-in hybrids if not plugged in. Why are they less efficient than conventional hybrids if used in...
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  When is the Microlino coming to the UK? 21 Sep 2018 (Ask HJ)
  I have reserved a Microlino but not paid a deposit - I think it would be a good cheap local runaround for me as I don't walk too well. Do you have any...
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  Is the clicking noise when I turn my key indicative of a broken starter motor? 15 Aug 2017 (Ask HJ)
  When I turn the ignition key, the lights come on the dashboard but there's just a clicking noise and the engine doesn't turn. I've charged the battery...
• Nissan Almera - Nissan Almera - Strange Starting problem 6 Mar 2017 (Forum)
    Here is the crazy part, she bought a portable emergency start battery (plug it into your mains over night and then can jump start a car)... So i connected it to the battery and 10 seconds later i tried turning the key and it starts straight away.... left the car running for 10 minutes on 2,000 ish revs ... turned off the car and 2 seconds later tried turning the key again and just clicking noise.... connected the emergency jump battery again and it starts straight away.