What vehicle problems are to come?

When this lockdown is eased what will be the most common initial vehicles fault?

  • Flat battery?

  • Flat tyre(s)?

  • Seized brakes?

  • Dead / Degraded fuel?

  • Other (your suggestions)?

Results are only viewable after voting.
Dorset Diver

Dorset Diver

Joined
Dec 23, 2014
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Location
South Somerset
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34,546
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Carthago C-Line I 50
Exp
Since 2009
When (if) this lockdown is eased and people try to start using their vehicles again what will be the most common cause of those vehicles not being fit for service?
 
I’ve taken my startebattery out as it was already too flat to start the engine.

I charged it up at home and have been monitoring the voltage daily, with no load. Over 10 days it has gone from 13.04 to 12.74 Volts. Is this normal or is my battery goosed?

I think tyres will be OK, brakes will be rusty, fuel will be OK (although I am considering dumping the fuel in my plane - Tesco unleaded).
 
G-RMPS said:
I’ve taken my startebattery out as it was already too flat to start the engine.

I charged it up at home and have been monitoring the voltage daily, with no load. Over 10 days it has gone from 13.04 to 12.74 Volts. Is this normal or is my battery goosed?

I think tyres will be OK, brakes will be rusty, fuel will be OK (although I am considering dumping the fuel in my plane - Tesco unleaded).
Click to expand...
I'm only a lightweight in the flying dept but wouldn't your plane be better with the tanks full to stop condensation?
 
G-RMPS said:
I charged it up at home and have been monitoring the voltage daily, with no load. Over 10 days it has gone from 13.04 to 12.74 Volts. Is this normal or is my battery goosed?
Click to expand...
That's normal, don't worry too much
13.04v is a little low for a newly charged battery but is only the charge voltage.
After a while the true voltage will show as yours has.

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The Wino said:
I'm only a lightweight in the flying dept but wouldn't your plane be better with the tanks full to stop condensation?
Click to expand...
Yes, but car petrol is more volatile than aviation fuel so the lighter fractions evaporate over time, I think. I’m not suggesting emptying the fuel now. If the plane remains unused for a good period I’ll put the fuel in a car, and replace with fresh stuff.
 
G-RMPS said:
Yes, but car petrol is more volatile than aviation fuel so the lighter fractions evaporate over time, I think. I’m not suggesting emptying the fuel now. If the plane remains unused for a good period I’ll put the fuel in a car, and replace with fresh stuff.
Click to expand...
Yes I was thinking of filling it now then draining and refilling before flying. If your car runs on petrol just the job. At the gliding club all the tugs are kept full because of condensation the problem being if theres a hangar fire they all go up together!
They're all on avgas though.
 
If you’re concerned about ‘diesel bug’ best thing to do obviously is keep the tank full, but if that’s not possible I used ‘Starbrite Bio Diesel’ additive on boats for many years and it works well.
 
My vote would be all of the above, with flat battery & seized rear brake cylinders (older Ducato models) at the top of the list.
 
Captain Pants said:
My vote would be all of the above, with flat battery & seized rear brake cylinders (older Ducato models) at the top of the list.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reminder must go out and move it backwards and forwards then chock it with the brakes off

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G-RMPS said:
I’ve taken my startebattery out as it was already too flat to start the engine.

I charged it up at home and have been monitoring the voltage daily, with no load. Over 10 days it has gone from 13.04 to 12.74 Volts. Is this normal or is my battery goosed?

I think tyres will be OK, brakes will be rusty, fuel will be OK (although I am considering dumping the fuel in my plane - Tesco unleaded).
Click to expand...
Sounds perfect for an engine cranking battery. BUT when a real load is put on it like the heavy job of starting an engine it may fall off a cliff. Ideally you want to put it fully charged on engine, attach multimeter and watch voltage drop as cranking - down to 10 volts whilst actually spinning is acceptable (but someone might correct me on that).
 
Move it 6” forward everyday by the end of the week you will have moved it 42” then next week move it back 6” a day after a week you will be back home with no flat spots.
 
Mines plugged in to a ctek battery management charger, I hard wired it in (y)
 
To stop the tyres getting flat spots I am about to jack the front end off the ground then run at full revs in top gear, centrifugal force should even the tyres out. What could go wrong.:pinocchio:
 
I might buy shares in the comformatic clutch component factory, it’s going to get messy for some wallets out there :eek:

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Two flat batteries is my concern, its currently in storage with parked with the handbrake off.

Nothing we can do now, will worry when we are all let out
 
I imagine that a great many of the general motoring community will be caught out and the rescue services will be very busy.
 
Thankfully fitted a solar panel and battery master just before the lock down.
Which should top up both batteries.

I'll find out in 3-4 months time if it was a good investment !
 
It’s at times like this I value my iNet system for remote monitoring as the van is in storage.
Showing 14.2v in full sun which is about the norm, but will drop back to about 13.7 when the clouds roll in. I’m split charging 70/30 for leisure & van battery respectively so, although I can’t see the van voltage would expect it to be fully charged at those values.

316BEB24-5D51-446B-8F00-62E35A24D50A.jpeg
 
The biggest problem will be that we can’t go anywhere because the roads will be full of bloody motorhomes! :giggle:

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Captain Pants said:
It’s at times like this I value my iNet system for remote monitoring as the van is in storage.
Showing 14.2v in full sun which is about the norm, but will drop back to about 13.7 when the clouds roll in. I’m split charging 70/30 for leisure & van battery respectively so, although I can’t see the van voltage would expect it to be fully charged at those values.

View attachment 376135
Click to expand...

Hmm that’s interesting, my Inet only shows this.

BA800189-C533-4673-BA06-C352AEFA3223.jpeg
 
irnbru said:
Hmm that’s interesting, my Inet only shows this.

View attachment 376151
Click to expand...
Sorry, can’t help you with that one. The report I posted is the default on mine, haven’t changed any settings. My device is the Combi(E) with CP Plus control panel. Have you updated the App recently, you should be running version 4.7.0. Maybe run setup again?
 
Last edited:
After my van blew in Sept 2018, it sat until Feb 2020.

The big end had blown, but it was running when I switched it off.

As my dads road (where it had sat for 17 months) was so steep and I didn't think the recovery truck would get to it easily, I decided to try and get it to the bottom of the road.

I charged the battery and checked the tyres (tyres were fine). Turned the key and it started. Rolled it back and forward a few feet to check brakes and fine. Reversed it off the drive and drove it down the road. Not even a flat spot on tyres.

Was a little surprised to say the least :)
 
Captain Pants said:
Sorry, can’t help you with that one. The report I posted is the default on mine, haven’t changed any settings. My device is the Combi(E) with CP Plus control panel. Have you updated the App recently, you should be running version 4.7.0. Maybe run setup again?
Click to expand...

Thx for reply. I was thinking it might be because the app needs updated which I can’t do since no access to the van. Also thinking the van must be undercover or the solar should’ve knocked motorhome 12.5v up.

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