Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

It looks like I spoke too soon!

The battery is flat as a pancake again. No interior lights on and the fob ariel disabled.

I will have to go through all the non ignition related fuses (when it's not so cold for standing about!) to see if I can find the voltage drain.

[Ray White]

The petrol cap is located behind a small door let into the side of the car. This is operated by a push button on the dashboard which (I presume) operates a solenoid that withdraws a pin from the catch. This switch is designed to work independently of the ignition.

Normally the push button will return automatically but for a while now I have had trouble with it getting stuck down... and it occurred to me that perhaps this could be the cause of my the battery going flat?

I have tried to lubricate the push button but it still sticks ...so I glued a knob onto it so I can pull it up manually.

[Bitumen Boy]

[Ray White]

I don't know if I have mentioned it ...but there would normally be a cord in the rear corner of the car that could be pulled to open the little door manually. Unfortunately this had long before my time come adrift leaving just a useless length of cord.

I removed arm fulls of interior trim to find the other end of the broken cord ...only to find that it passes through the cavity between the double skin of the body and is therefore inaccessible. It should be possible got get to the solenoid but that would mean much more trim removal; including carpets which on these cars is not easy.

[Bitumen Boy]

[Ray White]

When it comes to the P38 electrics I am frankly out of my depth.... I can, however now use the push button by pulling it up should it stick down.

Time will tell if the battery holds it's charge.

Fingers crossed.