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[Doctor Gollum]

Guide in the test section

[Terbs]

Sorry Al, I have to ask the question. Just read it to swmbo, soon as I said 'Never press the Eco button' , she nearly wet herself laughing !!!! Thats all we ever seem to press
The question obviously is....why

[Nick W]

I've read the blasted thing till I'm blue in the face, and I still can't work the heating system properly !!!

Here do

Leave in Auto with all the vents open. Adjust temperature to suit. If you need to clear the screen, close the dash vents and press the front screen button.
Never press the ECO button.

That's about it.

That's the whole point of climate control. Mine's set to 20degrees, and when the external temperature is between about 10 and 20 I usually just turn it off.


The new heater matrix I have on the bench would be better if I fitted it to the car though

[Doctor Gollum]

Sorry Al, I have to ask the question. Just read it to swmbo, soon as I said 'Never press the Eco button' , she nearly wet herself laughing !!!! Thats all we ever seem to press
The question obviously is....why

Eco on the display means that the airconditioning is switched off, rendering the entire system useless

[Marks DTM Calib]

Also noticed they advise to connect and disconnect Earth lead on a battery first or connect up to that first with leads. WTF? Earth first I would have thought - no?

Errr no, you connect the negative last and remove it first for safety reasons mainly.

If you disconnect the Positive first or fit it last then there is the potential for the spanner or socket being used to come into contact with a metallic part, which be default will at negative terminal potential.......

[TheBoy]

Yes, I've read it cover to cover. Before I bought one.

[Terbs]

Also noticed they advise to connect and disconnect Earth lead on a battery first or connect up to that first with leads. WTF? Earth first I would have thought - no?

Errr no, you connect the negative last and remove it first for safety reasons mainly.

If you disconnect the Positive first or fit it last then there is the potential for the spanner or socket being used to come into contact with a metallic part, which be default will at negative terminal potential.......

So, to be quite clear about this....if I use my starter pack, I should connect to the positive terminal first, then connect to an earthing point. Been doing it the other way round, as, if I remember correctly, doing it your way, creates loads of sparks !!!!

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Not sure if Ive ever read it cover to cover tbh. I have read the Bible cover to cover, more than once though. It didn't make me a good person I'm afraid. 

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

I'll bet it's riveting. Are you married or do you live alone, in a hut, far from civilisation? 

A bothy perhaps?

Are you going to vote for independence, Jock? 

Yeah if I can get my ginger ass out of my bothy to the voting booth lol!

I meant the Jock who lives in Teesside in Southern Scotland.

Ahem. Western Denmark.

[johnnydog]

Also noticed they advise to connect and disconnect Earth lead on a battery first or connect up to that first with leads. WTF? Earth first I would have thought - no?

Errr no, you connect the negative last and remove it first for safety reasons mainly.

If you disconnect the Positive first or fit it last then there is the potential for the spanner or socket being used to come into contact with a metallic part, which be default will at negative terminal potential.......

An old mechanic once told me to relate it like going to a party - arriving at the party (connecting the battery) you want positive people arriving first before negative people.
Leaving the party (disconnecting), you want negative people leaving first before positive people.
Very simple, but an easy way to ensure the correct connection and disconnection of the terminals 

[TheBoy]

This is all for -ve earth cars.  Other way round for (the now rare) +ve earth cars.

Ignoring the scathing comments from Mr DTM about earth

[Marks DTM Calib]

Also noticed they advise to connect and disconnect Earth lead on a battery first or connect up to that first with leads. WTF? Earth first I would have thought - no?

Errr no, you connect the negative last and remove it first for safety reasons mainly.

If you disconnect the Positive first or fit it last then there is the potential for the spanner or socket being used to come into contact with a metallic part, which be default will at negative terminal potential.......

So, to be quite clear about this....if I use my starter pack, I should connect to the positive terminal first, then connect to an earthing point. Been doing it the other way round, as, if I remember correctly, doing it your way, creates loads of sparks !!!!

There will always be some arcing when connecting a power supply (e.g. your starting pack) to a battery which has reduced voltage on it. In fact there will only be no arc if the two battery voltages and internal resistance are the same.....not much chance of that being the case.

The basis behind jump or boost starting and connecting the negative lead last to a major metallic object on the engine (e.g. the lifting eye) is so the arc is not near the battery......where there could be hydrogen present due to the state of the discharged battery..............and I have seen one blow up! (found it very amusing!)

Of course a vehicle does not have an earth (well it might do if you connect it via a large cable to a big earth spike which is hammered into the ground), it does have a ground/chassis connection or negative (or positive if stupidly old).

 

[Andy B]

The basis behind jump or boost starting and connecting the negative lead last to a major metallic object on the engine (e.g. the lifting eye) is so the arc is not near the battery......where there could be hydrogen present due to the state of the discharged battery..............and I have seen one blow up! (found it very amusing!)  ....

Can I do it the other way then on my Merc? 

[Lizzie Zoom]

Also noticed they advise to connect and disconnect Earth lead on a battery first or connect up to that first with leads. WTF? Earth first I would have thought - no?

Errr no, you connect the negative last and remove it first for safety reasons mainly.

If you disconnect the Positive first or fit it last then there is the potential for the spanner or socket being used to come into contact with a metallic part, which be default will at negative terminal potential.......

In my youth, working on a car of long ago, I did that............very interesting sparks, heat, and slight welding was the result!!

Indeed Negative must always come off first, unless it is a positively earthed car.

[Andy B]

...., unless it is a positively earthed car.

You'll start Mark off again ....