Had this problem as you may remember..

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=15639&messageid=1122727238

Just been to pick the car up. "Auto electrician" said that it was my headunit!! WHoever had fitted it (before I bought the car may I add!! ) had pushed it into the slot so hard that it had literally crushed two wires together and created a permanent circuit!!
Now the bad news....

Because it is out of warranty by a few weeks I had to pay for the work done, despite the fact that the fault had been rearing its ugly head since I bought the car (when it WAS still under warranty)
Total cost of "Auto Electricians" very precious time: £280...

The only actual work he did was tape up two wires that were bare (I've checked!!)

Wish I'd checked that myself, would have been able to buy peter2704's B4RVO plates but now cant!! (sorry Peter)

Just thought I'd let you all know!!

If the fault was on the car when you bought it and not been happening while you have had it.

I would have thought they would have had to repair the car.

I would really seek to see what your rights are about this, as you bought the car not knowing their was a defect on it.

This should have nothing to do with the warrenty on the car

OUCH, that stings!

If it was doing that when you bought it then its their problem. Talk to the CAB and maybe think about the small claims court.

Apparently it has been happening all the time I've had it but because it has been used every day, the battery has not ad time to drain enough for there to be not enough power to start the car. I only found the fault because I've had 5 weeks holiday (I work in a school, love the hols!!)
Thought about small claims court but it would probably cost more than the repair itself.

According to a few friends who have dealt with the same garage, they are very crafty and have 'contacts' who always seem to get them out of any strife.

That'll teach me to use a backstreet garage!

From memory its something like £50 to file a claim in the small claims court.

Also talk to trading standards, it wasn't fit for sale.

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp
think its £75 to make a claim.

Hello Martin,

having read your post from a while back, I'm very surprised that the supposed short circuit could do that - as Tom said elsewhere, short circuits tend to show themselves up by blowing fuses, or burning wires and starting fires if the fuse has been bypassed. This sounds like it would have been a dead short (to earthed case of head unit), and would have blown the radio fuse. You'd have noticed that. Unless maybe it wasnt a short to earth, maybe feeding power from another (previously added) supply to the radio B+ and thus to the ignition B+, or else turning the head unit or amp on intermittently. Did you notice which wires were taped up ?.

I would keep an eye on this in case the battery goes flat on you again.. it may be something else (hopefully not though)

Owen.