Went out to the daughter's car the other night to get something (56 plated 1.2 - 8 valve) and noticed in the dark that the radio panel lights (not the display, just the backlights in each of the buttons) were permanently on at about half brightness!

Car started OK, but I assume this is an additional drain on the battery? Does anyone else's do that? (standard radio).

Nope, it's not normal. Never heard of this problem, probably something's wrong with the radio.

Thanks for that. I had my suspicions. This is actually the second radio that car has had! The first one just packed up - lit up OK, but no sound came out. This is one from a scrapper. I've invesigated further and the lights flicker a bit sometimes as I get out of the car. I think I can hear the tick of a relay behind the dash, to the right of the steering column when it does it. I also have a problem with the rear fog light not working (only 5 volts at the bulb holder) AND I have a "chuntering" noise from the electric power steering on a right hand lock. I'm starting to wonder if these might all be related???!

About the radio I think it's not related to anything else on the car. It's just faulty.

5v at the bulb holder..hmm I'm pretty sure somebody posted tbe same problem, try to search on the forum maybe you will find the thread.

Can you explain more the noise on the steering wheel?

Thanks, I'll have a search when I get a minute. The steering is difficult to describe in words. It's fine on a left lock but when turning right (really only noticeable when turning the wheel either stationary ot moving very slowly), it feels like the assistance motor is "hunting" backwards and forwards very rapidly. Almost as if it doesn't know whether to assist or not. If you imagine the sort of feeling through the column that you would get with a seized strut top bearing, where the road spring winds up a bit because of the sticking bearing and then suddenly jumps, then winds up a bit more and jumps again - and so on. however, this happens much faster (several times a second) and the strut bearings are fine. If I hold the spring while the steering wheel is being turned, I can't feel anything. The noise is only really possible to hear (and feel) from inside the car.