[MD WALES]

Can anyone help me.
My wife in her bmax automatic has had several breakdowns with the same concern. She starts car ok, immobiliser malfunction service comes up on info board, car seems ok but when driving goes into limp mode. She panics stops car and then it will not restart. Call breakdown service who find battery low voltage, boost battery car starts and then runs ok for several more months until issue repeats itself all over again, anyone have any ideas. NB She is a very low mileage user and also has a mobility scooter with hoist in the back of the car so every time it happens it is after she has used the hoist not before.

 

[Gremlin]

does sound like a low battery fault.
she should consider running the engine while using the hoist

or running a leisure battery somewhere in the boot an running it from that
unless the hoist could be powered from the scooter battery...

 

[cianpars]

How old is the car/battery? Might just need to replace it if it is a few years old.

 

[pegleg]

MD Wales,
I'm with Gremlin on this one.
As the car is getting very little use and possibly short journeys, the battery is not getting a sufficient charge.
Just starting the engine alone takes a huge amount of charge form the battery, several hundred amps! Plus I assume the hoist has a very large motor.
A new battery will only solve the problem short term. Have you got a battery charger? If not, it could be a wise investment. An overnight charge now and then and before using the car should cure your problem, and as Gremlin says, keep the engine running while using the hoist.