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• Fire Suppression 8 Jun 2002 (Forum)
  I've had a fire extinguisher in the car for years, but the only times I've used it was twice on other people's cars, both times nipping the blaze in the bud before it spread from the engine compartment to the rest of the car (One case was a petrol leak, the other a shorted battery which melted and ignited the wiring loom.) However, in both cases I ended up £25 or so out of pocket, since I didn't think either before or after the event to ask if the owner would reimburse me for a replacement extinguisher.
• Cold Mornings Revisited 28 Dec 2001 (Forum)
  It defies my attempts to clear it by remisting very quickly, rendering my first few hundred yards an accident waiting to happen Could Darcy tell us more about his step fathers fan heater on the back shelf. How was it powered. Do I risk cracking the screen by using a battery powered hair dryer. Has anyone a favourite de icer? Thanks in advance
• Vehicle theft 28 Aug 2001 (Forum)
  My brother in law and family have just returned from holiday and while in Italy somebody broke into their big american mobile home.Believe me it has every type of of alarm fitted .What the culprits did we think is connect a high powered battery to the vehicle the wrong way round and blow half the electrics to bits so disarming the alarm .They did not try to drive it away as i think it would to easily spotted.They noticed all the italian and french vehicles had left there windows and doors open with something of little value easily visible.The police blamed illegal Albanians immigrants.Its the same the world over.
• New voltage for cars 24 Aug 2001 (Forum)
  Since then I've been wondering what will happen to caravan and other trailer electrics. Caravans have quite complex 12 volt systems for lighting, battery charging, and fridges etc. and there are probably other trailers that derive power from the host vehicle. British cars use the 12N and 12S trailer sockets and the Germans have developed a 13 pin DIN standard, but I wonder what will happen when we have to marry new to old.
• Citroen Saxo VTR 2000 W Reg - Major electrical issue(s) 18 Jan 2012 (Forum)
  So I guess I want some advice really on how to go about fixing this below is what I have already done to try and remedy the issue: Replaced the battery and checked the connections are tight on the battery.(2 week ago) Tapped the top of the relays with a spanner to loosen any sticking relays (September) Done the column fix, joined the two brown cables using a crimped link.
• Skoda Superb Estate 2018 - Fault with three doors on my Skoda Superb 26 Mar 2021 (Forum)
  Firstly, a couple of days after taking delivery of the car, the alarm went off and the battery went flat. A new battery was fitted by a Skoda/VW Group breakdown technician, who then spent about half an hour resetting things inside the car. Also, the boot lights were not working, but the technician managed to get these working by tapping them.
• Not all electric cars are equal 1 Mar 2021 (Forum)
  I know the VW isn't in the same category as the other two, but the test was more about 'early adopters' rather than direct competitors.  But I was perplexed as to why the Polestar, which has a slightly bigger battery than the Tesla (78kWh vs 75kWh) has a range some 60 miles shorter. During the article it was mentioned that it was because of Tesla's much more extensive experience with battery management. I'm sure that certainly plays a part, but looking at the specs page, another glaring candidate for the difference became apparent.
• ford galaxy 2.3 ghia t reg - galaxy won't start. going crazy and need help 11 Dec 2019 (Forum)
  Relay 30 kept coming up so i ordered one and replaced it. charged the battery up after it being dead for 2 monthes. The fuel pump now makes a sound but still not turning over. Theres power to the starter motor and i gave the coil a little knock but still nothing. Tried jump starting and no turning over.
• Peugeot 407 diesel 2.0 - Just bought 2H diesel -- thick white smoke 6 May 2014 (Forum)
  Today, the same thing happened. I phoned him again. He says again this is common with diesels, and suggests I change the battery! I know nothing about diesels having never owned one. But white smoke has nothing to do with a weak battery, does it? Can someone confirm this before I talk to him (or write to him) again?
• Nissan Patrol GR SE (1998) 2.8Td - Warm start problems on a Diesel Turbo 3 Aug 2012 (Forum)
    However I have to keep calling out the AA to help me start. The battery has been tested by 3 different mechanics and is fine. Once the motor is properly cooled down it starts fine...providing I haven't emptied the battery   by then, trying to start!
• Fiat Punto ELX - Punto steering problem fixed! 23 Sep 2010 (Forum)
  When it works, it works fine. I had tried all of the suggestions such as connections, fuses, new battery, battery connections, made sure the alternator was charging OK, earth connections, cleaned out the steering ECU, no improvement. Picked up on a couple of posts on different forums where people had solved the problem by re-soldering some of the joints on a circuit board inside the steering motor, so eventually took the plunge and had a look.
• Jaguar S-Type - Mystery Engine Seizure 23 Aug 2010 (Forum)
  Subsequent efforts to start the car resulted in a very sluggish attempt to turn the engine, hence my initial thoughts that it was the battery which is five years old and in the car since I bought it. After attempts to jump start and purchase of a new battery I then believed the problem was the starter but the garage said no and after keeping the car for five days to 'investigate' has now told me he thinks the crankshaft is seized.
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - Should dealer repair faults? 27 Mar 2009 (Forum)
  Hi, I wonder if anyone can offer any advice on this: I test drove a used (2001) Ford Focus (Automatic) earlier this week, which was for sale at a local independent garage - it was advertised as having "remote central locking" on AutoTrader... When I test drove the car, the keyfob was missing a battery so the remote part of the central locking didn't work. It appeared to work fine when locking/opening the doors with the key though, so I presumed buying a new battery for the fob would suffice. After the test drive, I negotiated a price with the dealer and agreed to buy - without warranty.
• Citroen Saxo (1997 - 2003) - 00 1.2 ignition key stuck in barrel, citreon saxo 11 Feb 2009 (Forum)
  Hi, I've been driving my saxo for about 2-3 months never had any problems, today i arrived at work and the key wouldnt turn or come out, i took it to the local garage and they said they dont deal with this sort of job but give me a number of a guy that deals with locks/igntions, he is away on holiday so not much luck atm, i called the AA, stalled the car as i waited and he couldnt get it out either so he started it back up from the bonnet, thats when i went to the garage and they told me to try contact the guy above and told me to take it home, stall it and disconnect the wires under the sterring wheel so the batterys dont drain, the key is stuck in position 2 or whichiver , as the battery was still on. ive been told because its not in position 1 it is going to be hard to get it out, can anyone explain alittle further how and why it is harder and if theres anything i can resort to get it in position one or any ideas at all?
• Renewable Energy and Cars. feeble renewable... 25 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  No chance of a `green` pure electric car then, when all of the wind farms combined will not even be able to power the nations electric kettles. A disappointment (but no surprise looking into it) Regards and yes, I chose the 20 LED battery torch
• Basic auto electrical theory 22 Mar 2002 (Forum)
  This can > be verified repeatedly through empirical testing. For example, if one > places a copper bar across the terminals of a battery, prodigious > quantities of smoke are liberated and the battery shortly ceases to > function. In addition, if one observes smoke escaping from an electrical > component such as a Lucas voltage regulator, it will also be observed > that the component no longer functions.
• 2008 Ford Focus Mk2.5 Titanium 1.8 Duratec Petrol - 08 Ford Focus 1.8 Weird Revs/Idle No Codes But S 4 Sep 2020 (Forum)
  Managed to get home and take it to an independent. He changed the battery (was only pulling 5V) to a Bosch S4 one. Tested the Alternator wiring as far as he could up to the main loom and there are no breaks. The alternator's 3-pin plug is getting a signal to and from the ECU too apparently.
• Smart Forfour - Merc/smart failure to resolve. Please Advise. 10 Mar 2014 (Forum)
  When I spoke to .... your service team leader, he states that it needed a new battery and disputed my objection of being perfectly fit for duty and less than 2 years old. After charging over night he rang to say the battery was perfectly ok and there was no need to change it. (Even though he was originally insistent and wanting to charge £181.00).
• Peugeot 106 - Peugeot 106 - Preheating / cold starting problem 7 Dec 2010 (Forum)
    Now the cold weather has set in again and starting has become difficult without draining the battery so I thought I ought to do something about it! My question is regarding how to proceed on my diagnostic journey, thus far I have changed: the battery - no benefit the glow-plugs (albeit only the three I can) to beru ones - no change I have tested the voltage on the glow-plugs and they do indeed receive power (between 10 and 12 volts), unfortunately I do not have a heavy ammeter so cannot easily test the current.
• I am a recovery service, I am 12 Feb 2008 (Forum)
  It takes only a minute to realise that the jump leads that have been sitting in the AX boot for over a year are useless, dangerous even. The plastic insulation of one clip bubbles, melts on to the battery and then smokes vigorously. I return home for the jump leads from my car. While the AX is running at a brisk tickover, I look in the battery cells. The plates are scarcely damp. Even the manufacturer's sticker from 2004 is covering two of the cells so I doubt they have ever been topped up.