everything dead on my elan

[brissey11]

Hi everyone hope you can help me, went out this morning to start the car turned on ignition all dash lights ok turn key it clicked and everything went out no battery power to anything.The battery is fully charged and terminals not lose.Can anyone help me with some idea's please would be grateful.

[theelanman]

hi and welcome...
sorry your first post is a problem....
Id start by checking your earthing points.....

[ashm]

I don't suppose you somehow managed to activate the inertia switch?
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[theelanman]

I don't suppose you somehow managed to activate the inertia switch?
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ah yes.....I always forget about that switch.........

next to the battery under the rear bulk head....

[FredFlanagan]

Simple things first.....Fuse, fuse, fuse!!!....Why would turning the ignition key fire the inertia switch??

[theelanman]

Simple things first.....Fuse, fuse, fuse!!!....Why would turning the ignition key fire the inertia switch??

it wont...nowt to do with the key.....but it doesnt take much to knock the little button to get it to release.....

[brissey11]

Simple things first.....Fuse, fuse, fuse!!!....Why would turning the ignition key fire the inertia switch??

No it's not the switch try'ed that.Any idea where the fuse is as they are all over the car. I did fit my alternator after having it re-conditioned would the problem be there?. Thank you everyone for your fast response.

[theelanman]

my fuses are all in a box by the passengers left foot.......if youre in the UK that is

[ailwyn]

there are fuses and relays in the dash above the driver footwell, behind the instrument cluster, and I think in the battery compartment (though that might just be LHD cars).

If your battery is charged then I'd guess it's one of two things, either your starter is not working or the immobiliser is not disengaging. You'll have various fuses and relays to check, best get the manuals.. you'll probably need both the service and electrical manuals.

See the link at the top of the page.

[ailwyn]

If you've not been able to start the car since changing the alternator have you checked that no wiring has been disturbed?

[muley]

I would be inclined to try starting it using jump leads from another car - I would eliminate the battery completely before anything else.

I *think* the inertia switch just cuts off the fuel pump - the car will still turn over - but I'm open to correction.

Jim

[ashm]

If your battery is charged then I'd guess it's one of two things, either your starter is not working or the immobiliser is not disengaging

I think the most worrying thing is the total loss of power to everything... If only the starter motor had gone you'd at least get some dash lights before trying the ignition?
Even if the immobiliser was active, you'd still get some sort of dash lights, right? I think a decent immobiliser is supposed to cut off at least 3 different systems - usually fuel pump, spark and starter motor IIRC, although I might be remembering wrong!

Do the hazard lights work?

As the inertia switch is ok, what fuses could be blown by a dodgy starter motor or alternator? It's presumably a main supply circuit if there's no power to anything at all. I'd be tempted to disconnect the new alternator before trying any more diagnosis, though.

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[ailwyn]

first post, unless I misread, says dash lights ok.

[ailwyn]

I misread (several times)... thought there was some big fuse near the battery?

Could the inertia switch be fubar?

I go with Jim's suggestion of trying to jump start it...

[ashm]

first post, unless I misread, says dash lights ok.

Oh, I read it as: the dash lights were ok, then key turned -> click and now no power to anything. Shrug.
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[bobbrown]

smacks of a bad earth or the + terminal on the battery, I would check the battery posts to make sure they are clean not just tight.
The extra current drawn when the starter is engaged can cause this problem.
That is assuming you have no power to anything after you tried to start the car.

Bob

[ailwyn]

first post, unless I misread, says dash lights ok.

Oh, I read it as: the dash lights were ok, then key turned -> click and now no power to anything. Shrug.
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See my post directly after that one... I misread

[ashm]

first post, unless I misread, says dash lights ok.

Oh, I read it as: the dash lights were ok, then key turned -> click and now no power to anything. Shrug.
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See my post directly after that one... I misread

Haha, missed that, sorry!

[surfboardfiller]

If it's a fuse it will probably be a maxi fuze, they will be hidden behind the facia, check the Ignition and ECM fuzes first, as they are easy to see in the passenger foot well. Not much point in replacing them until you find the fault though.
Check you fitted the starter properly and anything else since it last ran. The starter is difficult to fit laying on your back under the car on a wet day.

[madbilly]

This sounds very similar to when I blew one of the fuses on my alarm/immobiliser. If your car is an NA/SE with an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser then the circuits won't be in the manual, you'll have to find the installation manual for the specific alarm/immobiliser you have. FYI here's my discussion on my problem in case it's some help.