Hey all

The problem is... when i get into my car, turn the key 2 clicks, all ignition lights come on... everything seems fine and dandy, until i turn the key further as to start the engine, and everything seems to die. Clocks, dash board lights, anything electrical seems to stop, plus engine doesnt even attempt to turn over. When i turn the key back.... everything comes back on. (however resetted.)

Its been happening for a few months now, but it was an intermittent thing and usually doesnt let me down, i used to be able to turn the key 2 or three times or so and eventually it would work fine again. so stupidly, carried on without getting it checked out, so its my own stupid mistake! (but when u usually work 14-15hours a day 6days a week... does get a lil difficult!)

Now it has got to the point where it happens everytime i turn the key.
Any ideas where i can even start to sort this out? Im still in the learning stage so to be honest some technical terms may have to be dumbed down.

Hope you can help. even by telling me the simplest of things to try. Any info will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks for looking!

how did the problem start? has it always been like the electrics cut out when you try to start?

only the biggest current draws should be restricted when the key is at the engine start point, like headlights, heater fan. thats just to maximisze the power to turn the starter. its tricky without seeing the car, but the fact the engine makes no attempt to turn over makes it sound like an immobiliser fault, but the fact the electrics are playing up makes it sound like a possible ecu problem.

i know of a rover that did something simmilar anyway and thats what it was traced to eventually

It may be nothing more than an earth fault.

Go out and buy some vaseline (it's for the baby, right?)

In the engine bay there are IIRC 4 or 5 earh straps. Undo these, scrape the surfaces clean, coat in vaseline, re-attach.

Worthwhile doing the same to the battery terminals, too.

Thankyou for ur reply's so far!!

mrcinquecento:
Its only been like this for the last 3-4 months. to be honest with you, i fort id bodged something up when i had installed the stereo. took it all out, put everything back the way it was and still the same thing. But im sure it was doing it a bit before hand as well, maybe once a fortnight!

Will try to check them both see i can bodge something... hehe!

fingers99:
Erm dont need go out buy some... got "my baby" some already ! But shall do that now to see if it will make a difference!

Erm, a little update tho as well... ive had a clicking/buzzing noise from the front left hand speaker. was going to open my hood, and it distracted me somewhat... its quite a loud buzzing, clicking started as soon as i put the key into the ignition barrell! (not that i needed to do that to open the bonnet )