Moderns pushing out 18 volts

[Welly]

Chatting to my mechanic earlier (whilst having my expensive oil change) and he was telling me that modern cars with 'smart' alternators are capable of dishing out 18 volts when at full load.........lots of customers have been hooked up via jump leads from moderns 'helping out' but actually sending 18 volts to your car when the donor vehicle 'sees' the load imposed on it. This has seen many ECU's burnt out already so be warned, don't get a jump from a new car as it could kill yours.

He pulled an airbag ECU out the bin to show me where a Focus had jumped a van in a car park last week and f*cked it up.

[steve_earwig]

Car won't start? Call out your authorised mechanic. Light bulb gone? Take it to your authorised workshop. Need a service? Ooo, no user.serviceable parts in there any more sir/madam, take it to your authorised workshop.

[Welly]

That's about the size of it, they may as well padlock your bonnet shut now. BMW don't think you need a dipstick anymore so you don't get one, instead you get a sensor cos that's better that is.....

[PeterN]

How come 18 volts doesn't destroy the electrics on the car?

Peter

[rwb]

Don't be silly. It's impossible for German cars to go wrong because if they did then they wouldn't make them that way.

[Doggy]

That's about the size of it, they may as well padlock your bonnet shut now. BMW don't think you need a dipstick anymore so you don't get one, instead you get a sensor cos that's better that is.....

Most of them seem to have a dipstick behind the wheel.......

[teamster1975]

That's about the size of it, they may as well padlock your bonnet shut now. BMW don't think you need a dipstick anymore so you don't get one, instead you get a sensor cos that's better that is.....

Most of them seem to have a dipstick behind the wheel.......

Ha, spot on! I've been toying with the idea of getting one of those portable jump starters, something like this...

Edit: Actually reading the reviews this one looks a better prospect!