Recent content by jasonh

  1. J

    Tactrix Openport 2.0 (aliexpress)

    If you buy the cloned Tactrix lead, and your computer has an internet connection, Windows will automatically update the driver. The new driver (written by Tactrix) will spot that the unit you have is a clone and brick it. It's unrecoverable and your new lead is now completely useless. You have...
  2. J

    Borg and Beck Air Filters.

    You'd be buying aftermarket quality parts rather than OEM quality parts. Borg and Beck are owned by First Line, and I wouldn't normally choose First Line parts for any car I was working on....however I've recently been working on a car on a budget and have fitted quite a few Borg and Beck...
  3. J

    De-sulphating batteries

    De-sulphating batteries on the car scares me. The voltages are too high for many ECU's - their protection circuits should be kicking in. If that happens then they'll be clamping the voltages and hindering the de-sulphation. The technical support department of a battery charger company told me...
  4. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    Let me try and explain in a different way. When you start a car with a flat battery either from another vehicle or from another car battery there will always be a voltage spike upon disconnection. The magnitude of the spike will depend on a number of factors. The spikes happen because you are...
  5. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    That is absolutely correct. Jump start with jump leads = risk. Jump start with a Lithium jump pack = safe.
  6. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    Here's a timely post, make of it what you will. I'd say they did have a key problem now they have a dead FRM module due to the jump start. Mini Cooper key issues from hell
  7. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    Do you actually have any electronics qualifications though - if you did you should understand.
  8. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    I have personally seen a number of dead modules on cars after they have been jump started, mostly on BMW's, definitely glowplug controllers and Bluetooth MULFs. I have also read the fault codes on those vehicles and seen a number of "over voltage" codes from other surviving modules. I have...
  9. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    There's more. To explain for anyone who's not clear there's an SAE standard on this you can buy: J1113/11_202303: Immunity to Conducted Transients on Power Leads - SAE International And an an ISO standard you can buy ISO7637-2: ISO 7637-2:2011 But here's a simple extract from Texas...
  10. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    Let me clarify a bit further: The problem primarily arises when you use a running second car to start the car with the flat battery. This always was the recommended way to jump start a car. Why because it gives maximum power and ensures you don't also kill the battery in the good vehicle. If...
  11. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    You are wrong; it definitely is the case. If you use two cars you have two alternators running flat out to pump charge into the flat battery. Alternators in modern cars are controlled by databuses so they can control their output. An alternator on an E350 is 180A and 2.4kW. When you disconnect...
  12. J

    Stupid battery/jump start question...

    Whilst pretty much any running car will be able to perform the jump start the problem is "load dump". When you separate the two vehicles electrically the change in load with running alternators creates a huge voltage spike (for both cars). In the old days that was no problem, no fancy...
  13. J

    I have ML270 AUTO which is only doing 12mpg. I have had the EGR cleaned and a system check. Will a Star diagnostics check show what the problem is.

    Yes diagnostics should help. Something is definitely not right. But you need someone who really knows what they are doing. Generic diagnostics should pick up engine related faults but maybe not your problem. Find a Mercedes specialist nearby, not a main dealer. As DSM10000 has suggested if the...
  14. J

    She lied to me (about range remaining)

    The Lexus RX has something odd like this going on too. There is no empty on the fuel gauge, just R, which I presume means Reserve. It provides a "Cruising Range" figure which I think takes you to R. If you work out how much fuel is in the tank at R it's 12.5 litres/ 2.75 gallons, so at 30mpg...
  15. J

    E63 AMGS Engine Seizure

    If you have legal insurance, with your home insurance for example, I'd give them a call. In cases like this they can be very helpful.
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