Your non-diagnostic vehicle-related problems solved
GENERAL
Q In my household we have my 2014 Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI, plus two Citigo’s (a 2012 and a 2013, both 1-litre MPi) plus a 2011 Skoda Fabia 1.6 TDI. Can you recommend a battery booster/ engine starter device that would start these engines if any have a battery failure?
Your advice is much appreciated.
A I would certainly recommend using one of the newer smaller lithium packs as these are far more convenient to carry and use. Most do also include the safety features that prevent the polarity being incorrectly reversed. They also often come with a USB port meaning they can be used to power up a dead phone or other accessory.
The power of the unit will be dictated by the largest of your vehicles and this would be the 2.0 TDI Skoda. So, a pack such as the Ring RPPL300 at under £75 would be a good option.
Other packs to consider are the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A 12V for around £110, the Laser 7405 Jump Starter which has a power output of up to 700A at around £116, or the Clarke JSM350 Multifunction Micro Jumpstart/Portable Device Charger Power Pack which a peak current 500A – and also has a light – for around £106.
All the above are rated as sufficient to easily spin over the 2.0 diesel engine in your Skoda if needed.
FORD FIESTA
Q I have a 2008 Ford Fiesta 1.25 which is a 2007 Mk6 model. When I purchased the vehicle just under five years ago the mileage was around 43,000 miles and it has now covered a total of 59,000 miles. When purchased, I put a set of FoMoCo spark plugs in and I have not taken them out since. The engine has run fine. Then it started to get sluggish, so I cleaned the valve body and took out the spark plugs. Three were fine but number one looked as if it had been hit by something. The gap was closed down to about 0.3mm. The electrode is still solid and not cracked, I put another set of spark plugs in and the engine is back to normal.
My concern is why did this happen?
