I recently rebuilt my TD Townace engine which involved disconecting the battery (as you do). After re connecting the battery i noticed a little red light on the steering collumn (alarm warning ??) flashing. Vehicle has alarm sensors and siren underneath but no obvious way of controling it. I began to hope that i had not inadvertently immobilised the thing but it started ok and now the light never operates. The vehicle also has a gizmo on the stem by which you can delay the switching off of the engine. (Why??!) Are these two devices (alarm and gizmo) standard?
Mark - (#622) Mark Adams, 22 Jul 01

Your gizmo is a "turbo timer", allowing you to lock the car running, whereby it'll turn itself off after a while, allowing the turbo to cool off.
More than likely, the flashing light was telling you the battery was disconnected, and that you needed to recode the remote for the alarm. No remote, No alarm function... - (#624) David Miller, 23 Jul 01

thanks Dave!
I had been using it to warm the engine up in the winter without having to leave the key in the ignition outside the house! I guess it's most beneficial at motorway stops where the turbo has been working hard.
Mark - (#633) mark adams, 24 Jul 01