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Showing 41 - 50 results (out of a total of 128) found for "battery" in Ask Us Anything

How to keep my diesel in good condition?

As an over 70 and therefore required to stay indoors indefinitely, how can I maintain my diesel car in good condition when it may not be driven for a very long time?

Brendan McElroy

Apr 2020 Filed under: diesel

Expert answer

Hi Brendan,

It's a tough situation for you. We hope you have family and friends to keep in touch with and make sure all your needs are met.

Don't worry about your car. If it's not doing any mileage, then there's no worry about the DPF (diesel particulate filter) or other major diesel components clogging up from low-mileage, low-temperature use. Even if you want to start up your car every few days and let it run for 15- to 20 minutes to keep the battery charged up, that won't have a major effect, not so long as, when we are free to drive where we want again, you take it for a good long run at some decent motorway speeds.

Other than that, keep an eye on the tyre pressures and fluid levels, watching out for leaks under the car. Also, don't park under a tree if you can help it, as it could lead to paint corrosion. 


Should my Polo's stop-start be working cold?

The stop-start system on my 2019 1.0-litre petrol Polo is enabled with a stone cold engine: if I drive 100 yards after a overnight stop the stop-start is enabled. This can't be logical as the diesels all have to reach temperature before enabling it. Spoke to Volkswagen, but can't get a straight answer. I have also driven other petrol Polos and they are exactly the same.

John M (Cork)

Feb 2020 Filed under: electrics

Expert answer

Hi John,

There's a lot less going on in the exhaust aftertreatment of a modern petrol engine than the equivalent diesel so I suspect the diesel needs the warm-up more. It may also be due to the extra strain on the starter and battery due to the high compression of the diesel engine. When the oil is cold, the friction may be higher, causing a higher strain again. 

Either way, it's nothing to worry about.


What's up with my Fabia's stop-start?

I bought a Skoda Fabia and the stop-start doesn't work, plus it says low volt battery. I've been back to the dealer and he hasn't got a clue.

Please help

Sue Williams (Craven Arms )

Jan 2020 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Sue,

Sounds to us that the battery could be in poor condition. Lots of cars develop issues with their stop-start systems. We get so many questions about it that we wrote a feature about it all - Why won't my car's stop-start system work?


My new L200's stop-start is erratic...

Hi,

I have a new Mitsubishi L200 series 6 Barbarian. Done less than 500 miles, mixed driving. The auto stop-start is totally unreliable. Green light comes on first start, goes out, may occasionally flash whilst driving. Over a 40-mile trip the stop-start functioned only once. Worked less than half a dozen times since purchase. Dealer says no fault or error codes.

Any ideas?

Dave Lewis (Portsmouth)

Jan 2020 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Dave,

I'm surprised to hear that from a new truck where the battery will be in good condition, but stop-start systems regularly don't work as people expect. The system measures loads of variables before deciding whether the engine will be stopped, including the temperature of the engine and even the outside temperature. If it's cold weather, it may not work at all. If you're using items that are a big electrical drain, it may not operate. 

Read our Why won't my car's stop-start system work? feature


Are EV range figures based on 100% battery?

Hi,

All the articles I read say that electric car batteries should only be charged to 80/85 per cent. Are the published range figures based on 100 per cent or 80 per cent charging?

Thanks, Philip

PS: For me, electric cars will only become realistic when they have a real world range of 600km.

Philip Donegan (Ballina)

Jan 2020 Filed under: electric cars

Expert answer

Hi Philip,

Well, Tesla already sells a Model S long range that will go for a claimed 610km...

Yes, the maximum range figures are quoted at 100 per cent charge, but the 80-85 per cent charge only really matters when you’re fast-charging. Using high-speed charge for the final 15-20 per cent can, in theory, affect the battery chemistry and cause faster degradation. To get to 100 per cent charge, you’re better slow-charging from a domestic source (preferably a 7.4kW wallbox) overnight. The slower the charge, the better it is for overall battery health and longevity. 


Where to go to get an EV home charger?

Hi,

Any advice/recommendations for EV home chargers? I’ve ordered an EV and have no clue where to start when choosing what size/type home charger to install.

Any help appreciated.

Many thanks.

Iobhán Smith (Ennis)

Jan 2020 Filed under: electric cars

Expert answer

Hi Iobhán,

If you’ve bought a new electric car, talk to the dealer from whom you bought it. All of the major electric car brands have their own charging recommendations and can usually offer you a supply and fitting service. If it’s a second hand one, talk to the guys at ESB e-cars as a first port of call — lots of knowledgable people there and they’re very helpful. As a rule of thumb you’ll need to be able to run a charger with a power output of at least 7.4kW or you’ll not be able to fully charge the car overnight, especially if it’s one of the new big-battery models. 


Do I have to fix the stop-start system?

Hi, my auto stop-start stopped working and a symbol keeps on flashing on the dashboard. Will it damage my car if I don’t get it fixed right away? I’ve a Nissan Note.

Sandra Clarkson (Dundee)

Dec 2019 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Sandra,

It shouldn't cause any damage, but it could indicate a weakness in your battery or electrical system, so it's best to have it looked at when you can. 

Read our Why won't my car's stop-start system work? feature for more information


Mercedes stop-start issue has started...

Hi

I drive a 2014 Mercedes E 220 model saloon and it has start-stop technology, but recently it's just switching the engine on and off at the traffic lights; it's doing this quite often so I have to turn it off. I have heating on as per usual and I have never had this problem before.

Tahir Aurangzaib (OLDHAM)

Nov 2019 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Tahir,

The first thing we'd check is the condition of the battery. It sounds like the system is turning off the engine as normal, but then sensing that it needs to go back on right away. That's unusual, to be honest, as most systems just won't turn the engine off if an issue is detected. I'd advise you bring the car to a good mechanic or auto-electrician to have it looked over.

Our feature, Why won't my car's stop-start system work?, is worth a read as well.


Which fuel to get for lots of commuting?

Hello,

I have a 1.4-litre 171 hatchback Volkswagen Polo with manual transmission and a diesel engine. I drive approx 100km a day five days a week for work, and the car currently has a mileage of approx 116,000km on the clock. Given that diesel and petrol cars are currently being phased out of the market, what's the best car for me to invest in, going forward given that I drive long distance and also do a lot of driving in cities? Is hybrid or electric the best option for long distance commuting and city driving?

Thanks

Anne O'Sullivan (Cork)

Oct 2019 Filed under: choosing new car

Expert answer

Hi Anne,

Is that a 100km round trip every day? Or 100km each way? Either way, you could potentially get away with a fully-electric car, assuming that you can charge at home and charge again at work. Either way, though, you’ll have to spend big and go for one of the latest electric cars with a  50kWh or 62kWh  battery, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric or the new Renault Zoe. What could well be an easier (and much cheaper) option would be to go for a hybrid. There’s only one hybrid-engined car in the Polo-size class at the moment, and that’s the Toyota Yaris. The current version is pretty good, but there is an  all-new one coming next year, so you might be best off waiting for that to appear. By then, the new Honda Jazz, also a hybrid, should be available. Or, you could keep it a lot simpler and go for a new Polo with the excellent 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It'll be tough to beat your diesel Polo for outright economy, though.


Lot of electric car questions for you...

Is there a map of the electric charging points available to the public in Ireland? Is there an app for this? Which brands sell electric cars that can be charged at home at night-rate electricity charges? Is the battery capacity of electric cars much improved and what range can you expect now as 2019 ends?

Sharon Jackson (Kiltegan)

Oct 2019 Filed under: electric cars

Expert answer

Hi Sharon,

OK, let’s deal with these questions one-by-one. There are a number of apps available that can give you the locations, availability and in-or-out-of-service condition of charging points. The ESB provides that through its e-Cars app, and there’s a very good independent one called Zapp Map, which also covers the whole of the UK if you’re planning any longer journeys.

All current electric cars (pretty much all brands will have at least one on sale by the end of next year, but for the moment the big players are Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Mercedes, Nissan, Renault, Tesla and Volkswagen) can be charged at home overnight on cheap rate electricity. The crucial question there is not the car, but your electricity provider and the tariff plan that you’re on.

Finally, battery capacity has been hugely improved in the past few years and, although that does come with a cost penalty, the average useable range of an electric car has gone up dramatically. Generally speaking you should expect to get at least 250-300km from most mainstream models now, with as much as 450km available from some of the more expensive cars.


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