Do estate cars have the same batteries?

[Richard A Thackeray]

Yeah, but the difference is, you had to. Now they hardly ever go wrong. Seems like progress to me...

(Tho' I would qualify that by saying I'm pleased neither of my vehicles have any kind of 'black box' in them - the moment you put a silicon chip in a vehicle, anything that does go wrong gets very expensive very quickly.)

Pros & Cons, as I see it
We don't really have mechanics anymore (yes, a generalisation, I know), as most items are sealed for life, & simply exchanged, not taken apart and repaired

Electronics aid better monitoring, & when the Lap-Top is plugged in to interrogate the ECUs, it can state where the fault is. No more 'trying to fault-find'/'back-track' to find the problem

Some items, that are electronic are silly, using my Octavia as an example for one which is VERY annoying;
- only the off-side rear fog-light is activated. it's a 21watt bulb that doubles as a tail-light, by means of running a reduced voltage through it
However, UK model ECU's do not allow the near-side fog-light to be activated, that's not right in my view


Towing lighting; for years & years, it was just spliced into the rear lighting of the vehicle, with an audible (or visual) warning for the trailer indicators
Nowadays, with all the CAn-Bus & multiplexed wiring, it's got to (generally) be a specific kit, & activated via TestBook (or whatever system)


Another one, that used to wind me up

Land Rover, when they went to electronic control/monitoring on the Td5 Defender, where did the place the (not very well sealed) ECU???
Under the drivers seat, with all the holes still unsealed in the seat-box, & this for a vehicle that was expected to be out in all conditions!!!

Granted it worked, & was reliable, but a fair few were removed onto the bulkhead (if a 90, or a Had-Top 110)

 

[gbb]

Ones with stop-start (conk out mode) often have a bigger battery as may ones with more extras like heated seats or other stuff that is a drain on the battery.

My merc has the battery in the boot. If it goes flat you have to unlock the front door with the key (only the front doors have a key hole) open the back doors, lower the back seats and climb in the boot, (removing all the stuff in it if full), take a little cover off the inside of the tailgate and release the tailgate. You can then get to the battery under the floor.

I do wonder how many of these stop start technology cars will need starter motors and even ring gears replacing early, possibly wiping out the savings made in fuel.

 

[gbb]

I do wonder how many of these stop start technology cars will need starter motors and even ring gears replacing early, possibly wiping out the savings made in fuel.

I was a bit premature...ive just been reading, apparently steps have been taken to mitigate the extra load the components take.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I was a bit premature...ive just been reading, apparently steps have been taken to mitigate the extra load the components take.

I prefer to be my own stop start. I've owned too many cars that didn't want to start after a stop to have one that shuts off when I'm waiting for a gap on a busy roundabout.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

The Germans do like to play games with us. On my Type 2 VW Camper the brake fluid reservoir was tucked under the front seat where it was almost impossible to fill it without pouring brake fluid all over the place....On my T25 Camper (often referred to as the Type 3 - but actually the Type 3 was a car) I searched high and low for the brake fluid reservoir and in the end had to give up and phone a friend (VW Specialist) It was hidden behind the speedometer binnacle!

 

[RichardB]

I prefer to be my own stop start. I've owned too many cars that didn't want to start after a stop to have one that shuts off when I'm waiting for a gap on a busy roundabout.

I was put right off stop-start when we were loaned a BMW Mini at work. Part of the security patrol was to check a building down a long dark lane in the middle of nowhere. About 2 am, pitch black, and no-one around for miles. I pulled up at the gate and the engine stopped, but I left the headlights on so I could see what I was doing (normally I would just leave the Land Rover idling). When I had completed the checks (2-3 minutes) I decided I needed a pee and turned to face a wall. I was half-way through my business when I heard the car engine start behind me. I looked around and the interior lighting was coming on slowly - and there was no-one there! I had about 5 seconds of proper terror until I realised what had happened (car senses voltage drop and switches engine on to protect battery). Then I laughed like an idiot.

Scarred me for life, though.

 

[screenman]

Anything that cuts down emmisions in traffic jams has got to be a good thing. Of course I would rather fewer cars on the roads though.

The first stop start I owned was back in 1986, it was on a 1985 Polo Bought from Derby auctions and sold nicely in London.

 

[Over The Hill]

I prefer to be my own stop start. I've owned too many cars that didn't want to start after a stop to have one that shuts off when I'm waiting for a gap on a busy roundabout.

Wifey has it on her 208 and seems to like it. I don't drive her car much and really hate it - I still get the feeling that the car has broken and I do not want to be relying on it starting again before I pull away. So you end up doing silly things to override it. I am sure it is just a way of getting it through the emissions test with zero reading for the tickover part of the test.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

The Germans do like to play games with us. On my Type 2 VW Camper the brake fluid reservoir was tucked under the front seat where it was almost impossible to fill it without pouring brake fluid all over the place....On my T25 Camper (often referred to as the Type 3 - but actually the Type 3 was a car) I searched high and low for the brake fluid reservoir and in the end had to give up and phone a friend (VW Specialist) It was hidden behind the speedometer binnacle!

Nice & easy on a Land Rover 101FC, for both clutch & brake master cylinders

Just realised, that one's got a Nokken winch too (oohhh!!!, rare - green topped lever)

From the outside, they look like this (they're actually shorter than a 'real Range Rover' - the first shape)
And, yes, I want one

 

[swee'pea99]

My first car - my mum's 21 year old Triumph Herald - had stop-start down to a T. Well, the first bit anyway.

 

[Profpointy]

Nice & easy on a Land Rover 101FC, for both clutch & brake master cylinders

Just realised, that one's got a Nokken winch too (oohhh!!!, rare - green topped lever)

From the outside, they look like this (they're actually shorter than a 'real Range Rover' - the first shape)
And, yes, I want one

I want one too. And a camper van one is perfectly sensible isn't ?

 

[Venod]

And, yes, I want one

Theres one parked up at the back of Fryston Village been there a few years not sure if its a runner. I have passed it when out on MTB.

 

[RichardB]

That's a rather nice GS. I want one with the ambulance body - they make brilliant camper vans. With the V8 they are a leeetle bit heavy on fuel, though.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I want one too. And a camper van one is perfectly sensible isn't ?

Indeed it is

Theres one parked up at the back of Fryston Village been there a few years not sure if its a runner. I have passed it when out on MTB.

That would be this one??
Photo-date states 22.01.2008

That's a rather nice GS. I want one with the ambulance body - they make brilliant camper vans. With the V8 they are a leeetle bit heavy on fuel, though.

There was a company (in Doncaster?) a few years ago, that converted them to coil-sprung chassis, with either Range Rover (or if available 110 axles), fitted power-steering, 5-speed gearboxes & Tdi engines
The chassis could have the spring-cups & radius arm mounts welded on, or they'd produce new chassis-rails (which are practically straight, not like a normal Landies) & weld in all the cross-members/mounts

 

[RichardB]

A mate of mine has this one. Slightly modified ...