Pulsing battery charge

Grumpy_chap

I had to use the Focus today and it worked, but I can't say much else.

The battery was flat because I'd foolishly left the parking light on - a daft mistake after the MOT.  Had to jump start.
The keyless start seems to have stopped working, which some would say is a blessing.  It starts with the crank handle though.

There was a red warning light on for a while.  Because the LCD display is gone I can't know what it was - it went out after a while so I am thinking it might well have been a "low battery charge".

Did a bit of a run and it drove as fine as it did before COVID, so I guess that's OK.  Then had to take some stuff round to Mum's and found the catch t open the boot is not working so had to load via the back doors

Suspect the non-functioning keyless start and faulty LCD might be linked.  Checked all the fuses, and no fault found.  Wondering whether actually just using the car might be the solution to that electrical gremlin - if not it will likely have to stay faulty as fault-finding the electrical stuff is never straightforward.

Grumpy_chap

The Focus seems to work as it should apart from the failed LCD display.

So, the Fiesta is now advertised for sale, which is reluctantly forced by the forthcoming expansion of ULEZ.

However, when driving for work, I have used the Fiesta, which means I can record start and end mileage correctly and claim mileage expenses.

I will now have to use the Focus.  However, with the failed LCD, there is no milometer display so start and end of day mileage is not available.
I can, of course, use an online tool and get an approximate answer.
I just wondered, as I used Google Maps on my phone for navigation, is there a way to record the total miles covered in a day?  That would then give actual rather than approximate mileage to claim expenses.

GrumpyDil

Just a thought but on my car I can get the mileage via an OBD2 reader. Not sure if the cheap ones can read the mileage but just a thought. 

Grumpy_chap

That seems like a good idea.
I wonder whether something like this would work:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-Scanner-Diagnostic-Adapter-Android/dp/B07CP632CL

If I could get that and plug it in and leave it, then all I need to do is take a screenshot of mileage at start of day and end of day - job done!

It would also mean I could read any error messages if the warning lamps illuminate - that any error messages cannot be read is a bigger concern to me than unable to read the mileage.

Would be a massive win if that will work - all for only a tenner

moto50

Many battery chargers will not charge a battery from completely flat. You will need to 'piggy-back' the battery with another 12v source, to fool the charger into thinking it isn't completely flat. When the pair reach a state of charge, then remove the piggy back and carry on charging the flat. Flat is anything reading below 11.5v