Why do I need to disconnect the battery when using my new trickle charger?

The instructions that came with the 6/12v 740/4355 automatic battery charger I bought from Argos yesterday say “disconnect the battery from the vehicle before charging to avoid possible damage to the alternator”....

How can I work out the residual value of an electric car with leased batteries, like my Renault Fluence?

I've just bought (not yet collected) one of the 'pre-launch' (January 2012) Renault Fluence ZE cars that have been offloaded into the dealer network and seem to have appeared in numbers in the last couple...

Do I really need to disconnect my battery before charging it?

The instructions that came with the battery charger I bought from Argos yesterday say 'disconnect the battery from the vehicle before charging, to avoid possible damage to the alternator'. That could have...

How should we store a SORN'd Volkswagen Golf for a year?

Our son and his wife are going to Australia for a year. They have an 2011 petrol Golf Match which they will store in our garage whilst they are away but I will not be able to drive it as they will have...

Why will an unlocked Jaguar XF drain the battery faster than when it is locked?

I have a Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel and keep it in a locked garage with the car unlocked. The service manager at my local Jaguar dealer told me there is less drain on the battery if the car is locked rather...

Is a faulty battery preventing the stop-start feature from working on my BMW 118d?

I have a December 2007 BMW 118d ED with stop-start and the other associated bells and whistles. This feature has not worked for about nine months. My BMW dealer thinks it might be a poor battery, and suggests...

The major electrical fault with our Renault Scenic was just down to a faulty battery.

Regarding the letter from WR of Grays in, we had a similar problem with our Scenic. I took it to our local Renault agent, who, after four visits and two components changed, charged me £575. The problem...

Does the warranty cover a failed battery in my Toyota Prius?

In March this year I bought a 2008 Toyota Prius from a main dealer who gave a 12-month warranty. In April and subsequently in May, the small 12 volt battery failed, requiring assistance to get into the...

What could be causing the battery in my Mercedes-Benz V220 to discharge completely?

I have a 2003 Mercedes-Benz V220 CDi. It has developed some kind of electrical fault that two Mercedes garages have failed to solve. Basically the battery discharges if left unused for a period of time...

Warning lights when the car isn't started?

I've never owned a Volkswagen before so not sure how they work but I noticed yesterday when I put my key in the ignition in position 2, I was just listening to the stereo and noticed two yellow symbols...