riby

Hi all who replied, thank you. I tried TerFar's tip, parked on a quiet side road, not mud, but could only get into 1st gear, will have another try but I reckon that it's 2nd gear that I really want when stuck on mud? I tried to move it to 2nd via the '+ ' sign on D/S but no luck.

Automatic gears, this has happened twice now, get stuck in mud on farm track and wheels just skid, is there a way to lock it into 'first gear ' to get some traction? I had to get the car pushed out. When I had manual, it was easier, I just started off in 2nd gear and eased clutch out gently and off I went, but auto just spins the wheels. Of course, the more you accelerate the deeper in the mud you get! Looked in manual but don't understand the advice. Can anyone give me a simple, easy to understand set of instructions here please? Thanks

OK, thanks again, will get a solar charger of at least 4w power - there's lots on Amazon. Looks like you just plug it into the cig. lighter socket and leave the solar panel on the dashboard or parcel shelf and away you go? But they all have clamps coloured red and black, to go on the battery terminals - presumably if I do the cig lighter way these will not be used? I'm a bit confused here. Also, my car has a button stop start ignition, not a key one, does this make any difference to the charger I should be getting? Looked on some of the reviews on Amazon but couldn't find out about this point.

Thanks everyone for the replies and good advice, think I'll just start it up every week and leave it to run for 5 mins or so, and move it a few feet each time. Drive is on a slight slope so might just leave it in 'P' all the time with handbrake on - or to stop brakes locking could chock wheels and leave handbrake off and still in 'P'.

Hi all, I've no need to use my car in the Coronavirus lockdown, but thought I better start it every now and again to keep battery from going flat. Its a MK 3 fabia 67 plate, automatic, parked on the driveway,my question is should I let the engine tick over for say five minutes every week, and is leaving it in Park with handbrake on the way to run it, or should I put it into neutral whilst I run it this way? Stay well everyone.

thanks for the replies, I was going to give the emergency start a go with the failed key battery,..only to find it now works, maybe just got out of line in the key fob. In any case now bought a new battery.

Hi all, new member here, recently bought 67 plate Fabia automatic, push button start. still under warranty. Firstly, trying to unlock car, found key was dead, so used spare. Replaced battery in key but now worried in case it goes again - and if I'm not at home no access to spare. Looked at the emergency fix and that is to manually open door and hold key by starter, which should start even if key battery dead. My questions are - has anyone done this emergency start procedure and does it work? And, how long would you expect the key battery to last? Lastly, does the key battery give any warning if it is about to expire, all I've noticed is a red light when you press it. Decided to keep a spare battery in the car and another at home. Thanks.

Recently bought Fabia SE L TSI 110 auto 67 plate, very comfy and a step up from my last one - have had five Fabias since 1999, all been vg, I am a new member to this forum