No Power to ignition

[smudge]

Hi,

working on headlight motor yesterday turned on ignition to give power to the light switch, spent 20 minutes checking reconditioned motor all is well there but I left the car over night the ignition in the on position
Today went to turn the car over found no power to the ignition checked to see if battery was flat but that's OK, lights work and all seems well on that side of things, any suggestions as to what I've buggered up
smudge

[Breed]

Hi Smudge

If you have a immobiliser fitted have you locked the car then unlocked it to reset it?

Bill

[smudge]

Thanks Bill,

tried that, still the instrument panel appears dead not even engine management light but thanks for your input

Smudge

[Breed]

If I had left my car on with the ignition and dash lights on overnight with I doubt there would be enough in the battery so I would still recharge or try another battery even if the lights came on.

Bill

[smudge]

put the battery on charge first thing this morning, just tried it but still no panel lights in fact nothing happens at all
Because there appears to be no power getting through I wonder if I've blown something but charging the battery was worth a shot,

thanks Bill

[smudge]

Is it possible that I've blown a fuse (not me the car ) & if so which one as there appears to be many &all over the place

Smudge

[Dico]

I know on older model cars it used to be said that you could burn the coil out by leaving the ignition on. I've no idea on the Elan tho. Fuse sounds most likely.

[theelanman]

didnt someone a couple of weeks/months ago blow one of the main fuses behind the dash?....
I'll see if I can find the post
cheers
G

[theelanman]

whilst im looking...
check the wiki for your fuse box locations.....

IIRC it was a fuse in the 'maxi box' that had blown

http://wikilec.9600.org/index.php/Fuses

[theelanman]

this was the thread but apparently the battery had blown....
but similar symtoms in the fact that the car was completely U/S
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=18499&p=242251&hilit=maxi+fuse#p242251

[smudge]

Thanks guys,

don't think its the battery as lights, horns, etc work OK. Might be a coil problem but as there's no power to the ignition switch I think it more likely to be a relay or fuse. I've looked at wikilec & I'm going to try to reach the 40a fuse behind the ash tray number 4 "known as the ignition switch fuse ". I'll let you know the out come,

Smudge

[Steve A]

I've had the same problem and it was the fuse behind the dash, I think I took the radio out to get to it

[smudge]

Thanks Steve,

certainly easier than trying to get the ash tray out and a reasonable view of the fuse box.
But sadly replaced fuses, some relays behind instrument panel & checked every fuse I could find but still no luck .
The only thing left is the immobilizer I have a Clifford virtual key system installed, usually when entering the car there is a ticking sound until the key is inserted, this still does the same but the fact that turning the key there's no fuel pump sound, no panel lights in fact dead . The strange thing is the horn, lights radio etc work fine, talk about frustrating
does anyone know anything about these virtual keys
smudge

[theelanman]

Thanks Steve,

certainly easier than trying to get the ash tray out and a reasonable view of the fuse box.
But sadly replaced fuses, some relays behind instrument panel & checked every fuse I could find but still no luck .
The only thing left is the immobilizer I have a Clifford virtual key system installed, usually when entering the car there is a ticking sound until the key is inserted, this still does the same but the fact that turning the key there's no fuel pump sound, no panel lights in fact dead . The strange thing is the horn, lights radio etc work fine, talk about frustrating
does anyone know anything about these virtual keys
smudge

mmm.....quite a few have had problems with after market alarms.........
think the only way out might be to call clifford or some other local alarm guy who might be able to diagnose the problem....
and will probably cost you a new alarm.....£350~or there abouts.....

certainly with some electrics working......but the main bits not........
has anything out of the ordinary been done recently?.....

[theelanman]

just as an aside......
have you checked the inertia switch?......
Im pretty sure that if it been activated then you should still have power so therefore its not that.....but i cant remember and its an easy check....its next to the battery

[wayne]

Hi Smudge, I'm not much of an electrician but had been looking at the wireing diagram for the fuel pump earlier and if you can no longer hear it when you turn the key then I think lotusnuts advice here is good info.

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=18372

I think the fuel pump is supposed to cut off after several seconds of turning the key.. I assume this info comes from the ECU?

an easy thing to swap if someone near you has one you can borrow to try it out? expensive to buy....

I have a spare here but i'm off on vacation for a week in the morning so have no chance to send it over to you, sorry

hope you manage to sort it out

[Steve A]

Maybe it's the alarms own fuse?
Thats the problem I had, I nearly called the company round to sort it out
but luckily I found it first, It was an inline fuse that was behind the radio,
if you can locate the alarm I woud think it would be close to it.
Good luck

[smudge]

Sorry not got back to you sooner but been at work & unable to get to computer or Elan. I certainly appreciate all your help.
Guess what as if by magic went to the car this morning dreading the prospect of major problems & it started first time The only explanation I can think of is Leaving the ignition on all night must have confused the immobilizer & not touching it over the last couple of days gave it time to right itself. So £25 later having replaced relays, fuses etc, I'm on the road again, cheers everyone for all suggestions & help, good to know theres always backup & advise when you need it,

smudge