Continental boot lid problem - sleuthing required.
Discussion
Gen 2 Bentley Continental GTC Speed.
The car was working perfectly in every way, but as a precautionary measure I fitted a C-tek trickle charger via the cigarette lighter socket, because I wasn't using it. I used a regular C-tek because the Bentley magnetic one doesn't work. Bentley service said it would be fine.
The next time I went to open the car none of the electrics worked.
I called Bentley and they suggested charging the left battery. I used a different C-tek but it would not charge. In order that the boot light did not cause problems I carefully shut the boot lid on the charger cable. The charger cable is thin and it won't have stressed the boot lid or seal.
Then the boot would not open, even with the engine running.
I took the car into Bentley who said the boot control unit and left battery had failed. £1200 for a fix. I agreed.
After collection, the boot would not close on the button. It closed an couple of inches and sprung open again 9 times out of 10. The hinges were doing a weird shimmy as it tried to close.
The car went back into Bentley and they have reset the boot motor, but said that if it doesn't work I will need to buy a new one. I have pushed back on this. It now closes 8 times out of 10 but occasionally it closes half way and reopens.
I think that it is quite unusual for several components to fail simultaneously. I was sceptical about the control unit failing actually, I think it most likely that the C-tek caused the issue. However the price for a fix was not totally outlandish (for Bentley anyway).
So what has happened? I think they have done something to the boot in the process of trying to open it, but what?
The car was working perfectly in every way, but as a precautionary measure I fitted a C-tek trickle charger via the cigarette lighter socket, because I wasn't using it. I used a regular C-tek because the Bentley magnetic one doesn't work. Bentley service said it would be fine.
The next time I went to open the car none of the electrics worked.
I called Bentley and they suggested charging the left battery. I used a different C-tek but it would not charge. In order that the boot light did not cause problems I carefully shut the boot lid on the charger cable. The charger cable is thin and it won't have stressed the boot lid or seal.
Then the boot would not open, even with the engine running.
I took the car into Bentley who said the boot control unit and left battery had failed. £1200 for a fix. I agreed.
After collection, the boot would not close on the button. It closed an couple of inches and sprung open again 9 times out of 10. The hinges were doing a weird shimmy as it tried to close.
The car went back into Bentley and they have reset the boot motor, but said that if it doesn't work I will need to buy a new one. I have pushed back on this. It now closes 8 times out of 10 but occasionally it closes half way and reopens.
I think that it is quite unusual for several components to fail simultaneously. I was sceptical about the control unit failing actually, I think it most likely that the C-tek caused the issue. However the price for a fix was not totally outlandish (for Bentley anyway).
So what has happened? I think they have done something to the boot in the process of trying to open it, but what?
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