need help for Fallout 2 (Page 1 of 2)

Here's a blast from the past. I've had this game for a while and am just getting around to it. Several problems/questions:

1) How do I refuel the car? I have both Small Energy Cells and Micro Fusion Cells, but can't seem to do anything with 'em. Is there another power source? Where do I get it? What do I do with it?

2) How do I attach the explosives to the pole in the rolling cart at the Military Base? I just seem to continually set the thing on the ground. Is it character location?

3) Is there actually an in-game time consideration, i.e., does action X need to occur by time frame Y, otherwise circumstance Z will occur? I've busted my *** to get the GECK in a timely manner, and still the baddies abducted my village and slapped the shaman around like a schoolgirl (not that there's anything wrong with that).

  Anyway, my thanks, and I could very well end up posting again.

Jeff