really weird!!

[w20adm]

Had a rather unpleasent evening today. As i backed my car out of the garage and turned onto the road the steering felt a bit stiff for a split second, it eased up so i carried on. Got to the end of the road and the steering went stiff again, then as i braked at the junction, the car just completely cut out. Nothing would respond, had no ignition or anything, with no warning what so ever. phoned the aa man, who told me the breakdown guy would be 60 minutes! Had no ignition so i couldn't use my hazard warning lights, just had to wave cars past me. Really pi*ed off about 40 minutes later, i began pressing random buttons on the radio to try and get something to happen, then out of the blue i heard an electronic buzzing, and everything started working again! Really weird. 10 minutes later the breakdown guy turned up, i told him what happened and he looked under the bonnet. Couldn't find any faults or warning codes with his laptop, or any warning lights on the dash. He told me the only thing that could cause everything to just shut down would be something to do with the battery connection. upon checking the battery we noticed this little bracket on the negative battery connector,



He didn't know what it was and neither did i, but he told me it shouldn't be there and the only problem he could see was if it was something to do with this.

Finally my question, can anybody shine any light on what the hell this thing is?? its really doing my head in as i'm really paranoid about the car now, i need this identifying as the culprit, to put my mind at rest.

[Pymzola]

Never seen one before but what I think it could be its a quick disconnect?

Twist it and it disconnects the live? Like a tap?

A said not sure it's a guess.

Could even be some thing they use at factory to connect the battery up as a safety thing just didn't remove it after?

[vxr-bandit]

Is the twisty bit metal? Never seen anything like it but as above could be a factory thing,

Very puzzling indeed,

Back to the fault tho, was this thing loose? Could have shorted against the bodywork? Something like that,

Is defo keep my eye on the car, incase this ain't the culprit tho mate, don't wanna be on the motorway and the car shutting down on you,
My old car did this right enough and I needed a new battery and alternator

[AstonVauxhall]

That's a quick disconnect battery connector.

They don't come with them from the factory, it's been put in afterwards.

It's a kind of alternative to using a trickle charger, plus I guess it has its uses as a anti-theft device. It just disconnects the 'battery' from the car. It's still in the car, but it won't flatten the battery when left for long periods as that tap disconnects it.

The signs of losing power steering when loaded and not being able to use hazards, points to a very very flat battery.

Was the tap on the top turned all the way to 'on'?

[w20adm]

That's a quick disconnect battery connector.

They don't come with them from the factory, it's been put in afterwards.

It's a kind of alternative to using a trickle charger, plus I guess it has its uses as a anti-theft device. It just disconnects the 'battery' from the car. It's still in the car, but it won't flatten the battery when left for long periods as that tap disconnects it.

The signs of losing power steering when loaded and not being able to use hazards, points to a very very flat battery.

Was the tap on the top turned all the way to 'on'?

I think it was tightened all the way to on. my battery is defo no where near flat as its my everyday car and if it was i'd get a warning light telling me. Is there any way this thing could short the battery out or something? say if it touches the body work?

[w20adm]

Is the twisty bit metal? Never seen anything like it but as above could be a factory thing,

Very puzzling indeed,

Back to the fault tho, was this thing loose? Could have shorted against the bodywork? Something like that,

Is defo keep my eye on the car, incase this ain't the culprit tho mate, don't wanna be on the motorway and the car shutting down on you,
My old car did this right enough and I needed a new battery and alternator

i'm paranoid as sin now about this, i hope this gadget is the culprit.

[Vxr Jase]

I think it was tightened all the way to on. my battery is defo no where near flat as its my everyday car and if it was i'd get a warning light telling me. Is there any way this thing could short the battery out or something? say if it touches the body work?

u wudnt get a warning light mate about the battery being flat...so it cud be on its way out fella

[w20adm]

u wudnt get a warning light mate about the battery being flat...so it cud be on its way out fella

oh right. But if thats the case why did it suddenly all come back on again? Really strange.

[Vxr Jase]

oh right. But if thats the case why did it suddenly all come back on again? Really strange.

these things are weird ad leave that thing off tho

[w20adm]

these things are weird ad leave that thing off tho

yeah mate, that things goin nowhere near my car again.

[Vxr Jase]

yeah mate, that things goin nowhere near my car again.

lol dont worry about driving car u have no codes or owt so am guessing as stated it be battery

[w20adm]

lol dont worry about driving car u have no codes or owt so am guessing as stated it be battery

yeah, i reckon a few days of it not happening again are what i need to rebuild my confidence lol

[Die_hard]

Have a quick check of your battery voltage when you get in the car first thing in the morning (via the hidden menu).

[w20adm]

Have a quick check of your battery voltage when you get in the car first thing in the morning (via the hidden menu).

ahh, never thought of that. cheers buddy.

[Andy Poulton]

It was called a 'DIS-CAR-NECT' made by RICHBROOK.

I still have a new [updated fused] version bubble wrapped in the garage.

I used to use them as an anti theft as you could disconnect it by turning or removing 'TAP' and if car was started fuse blew and immobilised it.

Cept if you did not have tap you just reconnected it to battery [mmm spanner needed!!]

I had trouble with mild corrosion in the contacts especially if damp wet or salty and despite silicon or Copper slip grease got a poor connection and battery went flat.

sound familiar

So removed it. Hope that helps