On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:09:58 +0100, "Alf"
wrote:

get him a Haynes manual too

Thanks for all the tips guys. I hope to be having a look and all of it
(I have DMMs & other testers at the ready).

I am also going to take the tin of red touch_up_paint I originally got
for the Sierra but now use on battery terminals for people ... ;-)

Also some red insulating tape to go round the main feed cables (as
they often aren't red these days I notice).

I find these can also help when do-gooders try to give them a jump
start (I saw such a melted example on a Corsa the other day when Dad
had tried to help Son) ;-(

Oh, and yes, the HBOL was also on the list of "must haves' to him
yesterday.

T i m

p.s. I bought my first car (a seized Fiat 850) for £5 when I was 14.
Using the HBOL, a Kamasa 1/2" sq dr socket set, a spattering of other
spanners and plenty of trial and error I removed the engine, stripped
it down, fitted new shells and Cords rings (couldn't afford a rebore,
I was at school!) and had my first play car. ;-)