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• 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.
• 
  Is a first generation Honda Insight a good buy? 4 Sep 2019 (Ask HJ)
  What are your views on a 2001 Honda Insight? I am very keen on them for aesthetics and economy, cheap tax. Are there things I should ask the owner about?...
• 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.
• BMW 523i E39 - What stopped my car?! 5 Feb 2024 (Forum)
  Car wouldn't start, seemed to be no power at pump. removed the relay in the boot and tried jumping + to gnd but no pump running. Took a feed direct from the battery to gnd on relay socket and pump ran no problem. Tried to start car with relay removed and ran for a few seconds till fuel ran out, Checked both relay fuses and no problem found. Plugged relay back in and car now runs like a dream.
• Ford fiesta. - Thoughts?low mileage, 2k in 2 years. Is this good? 4 Sep 2023 (Forum)
  I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on purchasing a 45k miles fiesta that has only done 2k in the last two years  I always buy low mileage but know under use can be as bad as overuse . Things I was going to check , battery, flat spots on tyres. , blocked water runs and rust - tail gate etc. , oil change regardless of mileage. Fluids in general.  I once bought a low mileages pristine sports car and the turbos blew within a week as the oil channels were blocked through lack of use.
• Any - Can 'jump starting' cause damage? If so, what? 14 Aug 2023 (Forum)
  Came across this comment in another thread..... ..... but as with full EV’s or any car for that matter 12v battery failure can stop proceedings for a very short spell and cost you a mighty £80-£150 or so to cure. Hardly a disaster, as long as you don’t try to jump start them, this can cause problems.....
• The EV cloak 14 Jul 2023 (Forum)
  ocid=msedgntp&cvid=168f36746ea34b92b8a92c1e72d0cce5&ei=44">Desperate electric car owners turn to thermal cloak to help boost battery range (msn.com)  Question is who is going to use it.  Fancy dressing and undressing your car in all weathers just to travel a few extra miles and where do you keep it or do you take it with you.
• Ford Focus mk2 2004 1.6 petrol - Flashing lights, juddering wipers, clicking relays 10 Nov 2022 (Forum)
  Started car again and drove a short distance with no problems, turned off and it was mayhem again. Have disconnected the battery and left it until the morning to have a closer look. Must be lots of Focus owners on here so any suggestions welcome. Thanks.    
• Honda - many models 2002 upwards - Clock Failure affects wide range of older Hondas 7 Jan 2022 (Forum)
  Started car and noted the clock was at the wrong time. First thoughts were a rechargeable battery in the Centre dashboard had failed. Googled "Honda CRV failing clock" only to find it was not just my car but Hondas & Acuras all over the world were having issues. The problem seems to be file systems somewhere in the world have exceeded the limits of the numbering limit in systems.
• Huawei car 6 Jan 2022 (Forum)
    ICE cars had so much different characteristics for engine, vibration, sound, handling etc. EVs are just boxes on wheels with motors. Some batteries are better than others. It is difficult to get excited over fridge or washing machines. EVs are turning cars into kitchen white goods. For phones nobody cares what model you have. All people care about operating system - whether you are Android or iOS camp because it is OS which affects overall user experience of the phone.
• Ford fiesta - Alternator whining 22 Dec 2021 (Forum)
    I replaced the original one because it wasn't charging anymore and replaced it with a Remanufactured one from a local company. This one worked and charged the battery but had a whining noise most noticeable at idle. I sent it back and got a replacement which made the excat same noise. I then got a 2nd hand original Ford one and the whining noise had gone but the 2nd hand one was on its last legs.
• Renault Grand Scenic 1.5dci automatic 2011 - Automatic gearbox ECU problem 28 Jul 2021 (Forum)
  The car powers up but we can’t get it to start because it thinks it’s in gear because of the ECU fault. Have tried 2 different batteries and same problem. How could I fix it and how much would it cost roughly? Would a delphi ds150 be able to clear the issue? Cheers
• 30,000 gallons of Water to put out Tesla S Fire 26 Apr 2021 (Forum)
  Raises many questions regarding Teslas  "autopilot" and autonomous cars in general AND lithium batteries in cars.
• 2010 Vauxhall astra 1.7 cdti - 2010 astra BCM issues? Remote locking doesn't wor 6 Apr 2021 (Forum)
  Hi al I have a 2010 Vauxhall Astra, 1.7 cdti I am aware that it has a BCM from a different Astra which has been changed over at some point in its history. The remote central locking from the key doesn’t work. Our local Timpsons say the battery sends a signal to the car and can’t quite understand why it won’t work. Is this likely to be linked to having a different BCM? Will a central locking receiver be needed or will it simply need a new programmed key?
• any - Electric 11 Oct 2020 (Forum)
  ocid=msedgntp  I noticed in this report they did not include the cost of having to replace the battery pack ( several thousand pounds ), or the cost of having to get a charging point installed at home ( about £ 300 after you have claimed back money from the gov ), if you cant afford the 6/7 hour wait in the services to charge it up should you run out of juice, or the B&B if the charge takes linger and you do not want to sleep in the car while it is charging.
• 2007 Renault Scenic - Removing the alarm sounder on a Scenic 1 May 2020 (Forum)
  He isn't using the car at present as he is in a vulnerable group and isn't going out .His regular garage is closed. I have charged the battery and taken the car a spin on a couple of occasions, everything else is fine. It's just this bloomin alarm! He lives in a good area and doesn't really need a car alarm. Can we simply remove the sounder?