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• VW Passat TD '95 - Starter Motor 1 Mar 2007 (Forum)
  I replaced the starter before Xmas with a brand new non OE from Europarts. Worked well for about a month, then armature span but starter didn't engage - had to disconnect battery to stop it spinning! This hasn't happened since, but since then motor appeasr to stick. I can hear solenoid clicking, but it suits itself when it wants to engage. Usually rocking while in gear will release and will start OK.
• ford focus won't start 20 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  Hi all, I have a problem with my '98 1.8 zetec focus, I went to start it the other day and instead of cranking, it just clicks rapidly for however long I hold the ignition on the crank position. I assumed this was a battery issue (I hadn't used the car for over a week, in which time we had very cold weather) so purchased a portable jump starter and tried starting with this attached but the same thing still happens.
• rover 620 sdi, alarm problems 21 Oct 2006 (Forum)
  It randomly goes off and Im not sure why. Ive had to disconnect the horn for now but its gonna kill the battery with the indicators. Ive tried locking the car by key so that the inetrior sensors are disabled but no change so I can rule out movement to the car which leaves me with an electrical pull somewhere.
• Vectra C - 2nd service 23 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  If so,what should I expect to be included in the service? Things I have considered are ; - Oil and Filter - Air Filter - Pollen Filter - Keyfob Batteries - The "usual" easy stuff washer fluid,wipers etc Should the fuel filter be changed? Dealer says "no" but service book refers to an "external" fuel filter on the Petrol engines? Brake Fluid change?
• Laptop Theft 14 Sep 2006 (Forum)
  They knew - but how? The computer was off - so no Bluetooth, no WiFi etc. The only thing I can think of is the battery for the clock - but surely that's a bit high tech for your average car thief? pete
• Urgent Focus engine mgnt light question? 5 Jul 2006 (Forum)
  He clearly did not reconnect one leade properly because the car ran on three cyls when started, he checked and found the loose plug lead and now it runs fine on four cyls however the engine managment light is on and the dealer want £50 to reset it. Will disconnnecting the battery reset it? Any other ideas? Many thanks.
• Micra-keyless key entry 12 Dec 2005 (Forum)
  A friend of mine has a new Micra on loan while his Disco is in for repair.It has a proximity fob which allows the doors to be opened by pushing a little rubber button on the door handle,the engine is started by turning a knob where the ign.lock would be.The question came up-how do you get in if the battery goes flat?Examination of the fob revealed a cap with a folding key hidden inside.Only thing is we cannot find a lock to put it in,surely it would have to be on a door to be of any use.Can a Micra owner shed light on this?
• Cylinder head overhaul needed? Pug 106 8 Dec 2005 (Forum)
  Hi all, hoping someone can advise me - my M Reg Peugeot 106 Diesel is almost impossible to start in cold weather, over the last couple of years the battery and glow plugs have been replaced more than once with no improvement. A local garage has now advised that a cylinder head overhaul is required at a cost of around £600, but I'm reluctant to spend so much on an old car.
• 2000 Volvo s80 jump starting 29 Nov 2005 (Forum)
  Cna somebody tell me how to jump start my volvo s80. The battery is in the trunk at the back of the car and not very easily accessible for jumping purposes. Someone tells me that there is a terminal in the engine compatment under the hood but i have tried to look for it and cant find it. if someone knows where this terminal is could u please kindly describe how it looks and where exactly it is.please try to simplify it as much s possible coz am not a car buff.. or if one has a diagram can send to lightshade99@yahoo.com cheers
• Vaux Cav '95 Alternator Bushes?? 8 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  Evening all, Twice this evening my battery light on the dash stayed on longer than normal after starting the car, it went out fully after a little while but it started to flicker gently on tickover. The belt isn't slack, left it an hour or so and started it a couple of times, light went out straight away but gently flickered until i revved the engine, it then went out completely.
• Diesel GlowPlugs - Vauxhall Cavalier 2 Dec 2004 (Forum)
  There is only 0.9ohms of resistance between the feed side of the glowplug, and the grounded part which screws into the engine. Is that normal? I removed the plugs and tested them on a battery connected onto the feed thread (12V) and to the mounting screw (0V). They lit up lovely! The common rail is NOT touching any part of the engine. Please help! New to diesels and not sure on the characteristics of glow plugs.
• Golf2 doesnt like wet weather 24 Jun 2004 (Forum)
  My Golf Mk2,Driver 1.6,Greg-is getting harder to start from cold in wet weather.It splutters,backfires,and sometimes the battery go`s flat from the turning over.Ive tried spraying wd4o on the leads,coil and distributor,which sometimes makes a difference,but I usually have to hold the starter on with throttle right down;when it eventually starts,it splutters for a few miles before running smoothly.It starts and runs fine in dry weather,so,any ideas what the problem is?
• Rewiring Hazard lights on Clio 172 2 Dec 2003 (Forum)
  Currently the hazard warning lights only work with the ignition on. To pass it\'s MOT it needs to be rewired so the hazard lights are connected to the battery instead. How long should this take a competent auto electrician? Also, where would the wiring diagram be located? Is it in the engine bay anywhere or the car manual? (I haven\'t had time to check).
• Escort. Not used for 2 years won't start 26 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  89 1.4 Petrol Escort. Lying idle outside for nearly 2 years. Now unable to start it. Battery charged up: ok Spark plugs & distributor crudded up, cleaned: ok Engine cranks over put doesn't catch. Can smell petrol so may have flooded? What other things to check? Would the carb have got crudded up too?
• Peugeot 306- No Central Locking? 1 Sep 2003 (Forum)
  I went to lock the car with the remote control on the key this morning, and nothing happened. The battery is fine. When I try and lock the doors manually with the key the central locking doesn’t work either. What is more puzzling is that when I enter the car the interior courtesy lights flash! The car starts but I have no idea how to stop the flashing lights and engage the central locking again.
• Fiat Radio Code 15 Aug 2003 (Forum)
  I bought the car from Auto Italia in Kingston two years ago and the radio code was never in the Fiat pack which contained everything else - warranty etc. The battery needed replacing some months ago and I'm at the stage where I can't stand my own singing any more. Please tell me what I should do - I don't want to have to sent it away if possible. Many thanks Tracy
• carlton diesel charging problem 28 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  I own a 1993 carlton diesel turbo estate recently the rev counter stopped working at the same time the alternator seems to have stopped charging the battery. The charge light does not come on when with the rest of the ignition lights so i dont know whether its a faulty alternator or a wiring fault has any one else come across the same set of problems and are they related Can anyone help As the haynes workshop manual doesn't cover the diesel car.
• Peugeot 306 wiring fault, wire BB2 19 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  I have a 1996 306 D turbo and am having problems with the heater blower and heated rear window not working. There is a wire labled BB2 which runs from the positive control unit next to the battery to the ignition switch. When I measure the voltage at the ignition switch end (Before it actually goes htrough the ignition switch) it is low, indicating a break in the wire somewhere. Can anybody tell me where this wire BB2 is routed so I can try and find the fault.
• Omega Fuses/Relays 15 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  The circuit diagram shows the relay (K97) - but not the location. There are masses of relays and a few fuses in a box next to the battery - but none of the relays or fuses are identified - which leads me to the wider question: Does anyone have a list or layout of which relays and fuses are located where? I've had a quick look in the archive but can't see anything obvious.
• Noddy Cars 14 Oct 2001 (Forum)
  i'm sure that those of us who only have a car to potter around town of us would not object to a battery-powered (or other low power/eco) vehicle. But why do the manufacturers assume that we want these cars to look 'wacky'? Look at that Fiat monstrosity the ECOBASIC - what deranged mind thought that one up?