Car (or bike) Chat!

[JohnJo]

Oh yes, see on at the front and one to the left hand side. Didn't realise the power electronics were liquid cooled. Out of warranty I expect cars like this could be a real liability. Wonder what it would cost to replace the batteries and associated electronics in the event of a major fault. Knowing Toyota though I imagine it's very well built and electrically protected. That engine bay is immaculate in its execution, how they design that is beyond me.

[Marco]

No problem, just plug your laptop in and a couple of clicks will get you some bloke at the other side of the world, who has the correct feeler gauge

You like a nice 'feeler gauge' don't you, Steven? Would you like Ronnie, my motor mechanic, in his greasy tented-overalls, to come and 'service' you with his feeler gauge? Mmm, eh... I bet you would, you dirty boy. I've seen your browsing history... Never mind Car Rescue, you want something else 'rescued', don't you? All that fluid built up in your tank, I bet... You want big Ronnie to drain your tank with his pump-head plunger, don't you, mmm, eh...? You need a good drilling, don't you? You dirty, dirty boy...

And you've had more than a few 'tappets' loose for years

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Ah, Ronnie, he's not rotated my wheels for some time, he's been busy re-upholstering the sheep in Snowdonia, reckons some deviant has rubbed their rear seats threadbare. But when he calls to ask if I want an interim service, I'll say "I do Ron Ron Ron, I do Ron Ron"

Seriously Marco, you shouldn't have had that cold beer on an empty stomach.

[Marco]

Have you ever watched a programme called 'Fonejacker'?

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

https://youtu.be/oLayJmeBZZ0

[Marco]

Lol, dat's da one... One of the funniest series ever!!

Well, what I wrote earlier about 'Ronnie', should be read in the style of Donald Donaldson:





Marco.

[dave2010]

Does an interior light left on in a car normally run the battery down overnight?

Today I had to break into my car, setting off the alarm, as the remote keys didn't work. The garage I spoke to suggested that an interior light had been left on, but I wouldn't expect that to run the battery down overnight.

The problem with the car seems to be due to a badly fitting rear boot lid in a Toyota Prius - the catch doesn't always work well. However, I still wouldn't have expected a problem within 12 hours - so is the 12V starter battery also now at end of life?

[JohnJo]

Does an interior light left on in a car normally run the battery down overnight?

Today I had to break into my car, setting off the alarm, as the remote keys didn't work. The garage I spoke to suggested that an interior light had been left on, but I wouldn't expect that to run the battery down overnight.

The problem with the car seems to be due to a badly fitting rear boot lid in a Toyota Prius - the catch doesn't always work well. However, I still wouldn't have expected a problem within 12 hours - so is the 12V starter battery also now at end of life?

If it was only a single 5 watt boot lamp it shouldn't have flattened a good battery but if all the interior lights were on it's possible.

I'd say if your battery is more than 4 or 5 years old it's probably down on performance by a noticeable amount as these types of cars use the stop-start system all the time which reduces battery life.

If you'd done a few short journeys or used the start-stop system a lot just prior to leaving the boot light on all night it may just have been the last straw on the camel's back.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

A car battery is usually fairly quickly charged via the cars alternator - (it could be improved upon greatly by using large capacitors and inductors ) and should charge up in about 40 mins of driving, or
if unable to start at all then, by using a car battery charger - you need to disconnect the positive lead of the battery, normally connecting to the car whilst charging with a external charger ,
and leave charging for approximately 15 hrs. Ideally the car battery should be removed whilst externally charging .

Your boot may also have a lamp that is On as a result of the boot not shutting. Two such lamps left on for 10 hrs would begin to challenge ability to reliably start the next day,
being approximately 1.5 amps of current draw -per hour over 10 hrs duration

[struth]

just wonder if any perimeter lights might have been on too. but is suggests if that was the case that one small bulb did it your battery must have been nearly gone. might have been some other tho, so worth recharging battery carefully and then testing it