Geoff, I will apologize to the whole forum for my misinformation. I find no shame in admitting when I am wrong.
To clarify my earlier post, there is substitute for caliber in guns, cubic inches in cars and amperage/voltage in a Ford. Being a Chevy man it is easy to forget the trials of being a Ford owner. Your statement is very well put:
"except on Fords, where nothing works but animal sacrifices in conjunction with certain ritualised chants in the key of G and due notice to the relative positions of the stars at precisely 1035 GMT on even days of the week"...
I very well remember hiding a 12V battery in an ammo box in the back of my carrier for those frequent occasions when the Ford Syndrome set in. Has anyone successfully started a hot Ford with a crank?
Cheers,
Barry