Not a good sign...

[Rashman]

Just put the heating on for the first time in quite a while.
Winter's coming guys...

Hibernation will be initiated soon.... soon time to hunker down..

Gonna have to squeeze in a couple more meets before they started chucking the poxy salt down.

 

[Meldrew2]

Just waiting for the first post about Winter Tyres…

 

[markjay]

And Shell V-Power is better than supermarket fuel

 

[whitenemesis]

Even in winter??

 

[sjmaxwell]

Especially in winter!

 

[Mike Walker]

C H on at home today...........

 

[Charles Morgan]

Just put the heating on for the first time in quite a while.

Garage?

 

[regbuser]

Harden up, are you men or mice?



Saying that I did place a candle on the table in the parlour




When there's ice on the inside of the windows I might light it

 

[rsvgreg]

Harden up, are you men or mice?



Saying that I did place a candle on the table in the parlour




When there's ice on the inside of the windows I might light it

You CLS owners are a hardy bunch

 

[regbuser]

We're on oil so always reticent to fire the system up....


.... heated seats and steering wheel are getting used now


Mea culpa

 

[lisa110rry]

This year has been wonderful. Due to OH's heart condition, in previous years we have had the c/h on 24 hours a day very nearly 12 months of the year. This year all heating has been off for months. Just as well. Due to the government deciding to give a small amount of money to recipients of 'some benefits' (Disability Living Allowance at higher rate not included) we have had a double whammy - not only have we lost the guarantee of being on the lowest rate offered by our supplier, but our taxes will be contributing to those who do receive the government money. Our cost is estimated (or was before this lovely summer) to have increased by 60%!

I wrote to our MP, she just waffled.

 

[the prince]

Had our woodburning stove on all day today. Only have Central Heating on in early morning and at night if needed. Got a big old house that drops in temperature fast. Only have thermostat at 18' though. Only on sunday it dropped to 14 in house overnight. Was a ground frost locally.

 

[jotter22]

Rash when the car goes away for winter what do you use to condition the battery? And how does it work?


Tony

 

[sjmaxwell]

I use a Halfords trickle charger, two weeks on and two weeks off as I don't like leaving a battery fully charged all the time

 

[jotter22]

The problem for me Steve is i dont have a garage! I was thinking about a solar panel conditioner but unsure how i would connect it?

Tony.

 

[prprandall51]

Gonna have to squeeze in a couple more meets before they started chucking the poxy salt down.

I was discussing salt with my friend the other day. He owns classic cars and never goes out in them during the "salt" time of year.

Anyway, I was able to report to him that I have owned my E Class (211, MY05) for just shy of ten years. It is used daily throughout the year and has never been garaged and never been washed (well, twice: once at 7 years and once this summer). Never cleaned under a wheel arch or done anything to protect the bodywork. Washing is a quick sponge-off and rinse (though the dealership give it a quick jet wash whenever they see the car).

The paintwork still gleams and there is not a spot of rust anywhere - not even around the wheel arch rims on the inside.

I am pretty impressed with MB built quality and bodywork.

 

[sjmaxwell]

Ah, Rash is like me and has power! My dad had one of those and found it to be useless in winter but there may be better, higher quality ones out there

 

[jotter22]

Looking at the AA one but not sure i would want to connect direct to this:
AA Solar Panel Car & Caravan Battery Charger plugs directly into the EOBD plug socket inside your vehicle (standard on most cars, petrol from 2001 and diesel from 2004.

Tony.

 

[Rashman]

Rash when the car goes away for winter what do you use to condition the battery? And how does it work?


Tony

Hey Tony,

Actually, I haven't used a trickle charger up to now.
I prefer to get the car out and take it round the block rather than leave it sitting. I wait for a dry day.

Believe me though, I don't like taking it round the block when there is salt on the roads but I stick to residential roads (slow speed roads so salt doesn't get buffeted around the car while moving) to get it warmed up and moving and then stick it back in the garage.

The longest I have ever left it sitting was about 4 or 5 weeks, when there was lots of snow around. Even getting it out of the garage (slightly sloped drive and sloped private road) was a liability so I had to leave it in the garage.

I have often thought about chargers but always preferred to get the car out and moving.

 

[the prince]

I use a Halfords trickle charger, two weeks on and two weeks off as I don't like leaving a battery fully charged all the time

Just bought a new charger as the old 6amp one was a bit limited. Got a Sealey 12 amp smart charger that switches off the current when the battery reaches full charge and kicks in again when the voltage drops. Strange thing is i've checked all 5 batteries on my cars and even a spare in the garage, with a volt meter. All of the batteries range between 11.4-11.8 in normal usable state. I checked with a local battery specialist and was told i should have around 12.7+ at standing charge. So all of my batteies are duds effectively. I've tried charging 4 of the batteries and none will reach 12 volts yet all are firing up the engine's without an issue. Even my Optmita RedTop is only taking in 11.75v but has dropped back to 11.55 after 3 days. Bemused!