hi,i need some help please...i have a tipo 1993 "L" & i was topping the washer bottle up when it started raining & the engine got wet..when i got back in car it would not start so i had to get a jump start which was fine....the next day the car started ok & i stopped twice for an hour & again the car started ok but when i got home i turned the key to switch engine off & i heard a noise like all the central locking makes when locking/unlocking & the car instantly lost all power & would not start again even with a jump...the battery is charging at the moment but i'm trying to figure out why the car lost all power when i turned the engine off...any help would be appreciated

Hi,
sounds like you've got some water where it doesn't belong..!!,
the starting could well be damp around the plug leads- distributor end of engine near battery,
the central locking type sounds are probably relays firing..as far as I recall the 1.4's didn't have great deal under the bonnet.. but mine wasn't Fuel injected.. is there a fusebox in the inner wing..?? that would be an obvious starting point,
a session with a hairdryer may be worthwhile if it looks at all damp..assuming it's not does somewhere too remote,
WD40 can shift the water/damp but tends to leave a residue that can cause poor contacts in time,
Charlie - Oxford

thanks for reply varesecrazy, it's in for MOT tomorrow if i can get it started so will ask garage to have a look & i have a new battery on hold just incase:bang:

UPDATE put the charged battery back into car & the car will still not start :bang:
just getting the central locking sound again followed by a high pitched squealing noise which stops when i open the door

Check all ground wires you can find.....
Battery, intake manifold and gearbox etc.etc.
Succes!

UPDATE 2: bought a new battery & still no power at all so the auto electrician is picking it up...time to leave it to the professionals

tipo93 said:

UPDATE 2: bought a new battery & still no power at all so the auto electrician is picking it up...time to leave it to the professionals

Click to expand...

sorry to hear that,
I hope it's something simple + quick = CHEAP..!!,

Happy New Year,
Charlie - Oxford

UPDATE 3: Car is now fixed,it was an earth wire which had corroded.....thanks to those that offered advice