tptb dragoon

Power (the lack of)

"Speed, I need more speed" is the cry from Bart and Lisa Simpson in the "Hit and Run" game on the PS2. Ages ago I bought this car which, it has to be said, has shed loads of speed. 420bhp in a fibreglass car has to be fast really. I don't bring this to your attention to show off, in fact it's the opposite. It's embarrassing really as, although being proud to be one of the minority of garage owners that have a car in it, that is where it normally stays.

And the main reason it stays there is that I don't use it much. Blinding logic! However, in a case of use or lose it, the battery will go flat even if the car sits in the garage without the alarm on. This is a pain as the car has a flash feature - electric doors. So I can't get in the car to open the bonnet. In fact I normally leave the bonnet undone as this is a regular occurrence. At speed the bonnet flaps away a little but as it opens from the windscreen forward, like all sensible bonnets (E type Jags and other real cars do this - sorry that's all car snobbery bollocks), it's not a safety issue. However, I had the bonnet locked down.

When you have a flat battery on my car, the answer is to take the rear number plate off. Of course. You then insert a screwdriver and push a lever which opens the, normally electrically operated, boot. You pull back the panneling and pull the lever that manually opens the driver's door. You rush to catch the door before it scrapes against the garage wall and squeeze in and unlock the bonnet.

So, last weekend, I went through the above routine and I charged the car overnight but it wouldn't quite start. So I charged it again. I noticed that the electric doors still were'nt working a day or so later but assumed that the car was really flat and so I left the driver's door ajar.

This morning I took off the battery charger, clambered in and it started first time. I'll record the engine noise one of these days (sad, I know) as it's wonderful. With a big smile on my face I left the car to warm up and got out and shut the door. I went round the back and put the number plate back on admidst the twin exhaust fumes, shut the boot, told the family that it started etc..

So, armed with RAC callout number and my mobile phone, essential kit for all British Sport Car owners as reliability is not a strong point, I went out to the car to take it for a battery charging, life enhancing spin. The driver's door wouldn't open. The passenger door wouldn't open. The boot wouldn't open. There was a one inch gap where the driver's window was open and I reckon I could just get a stick in to press the red "off" button to stop the engine (keyless iginition). I decided not to and took the number plate off etc.. Bugger.

So I checked the fuses and they were fine. Fortunately, it's apparently a common problem, and the service man I rang talked me through the finding and resetting of a control unit. 50 years of technology and we still switch things off and on to get them to work.

Having written this I am now going to pop down to the garage...fingers crossed!

Posted by grahame at January 24, 2004 10:55 AM | TrackBack