Diesel lost all electrical power

frankgoldstar · 28th October 2018, 14:18

I went to my 55 plate CDTI this morning and shoved the key in and turned.
Nothing, no lights, no IPK. Pish. My initial thoughts were the battery must have commited suicide at the first breathe of winter. I cam back ith a meter, spring the bonnet and the battery had around 12.5V. Ok, so maybe not the battery.
And thinking back, the car had opened on the fob. I got in the car and tuned the key again. No problem, lights and action. Car starts normally.

I went out briefly and locally to pick up a paper and everything seemed, fine, apart from the engine cutting out when I turned round. Again, the car started from this right away.

Feeling not quite sure of the car, but hey, it is working, so do not invent problems. My wife and I then went to the local supermarket with no hint of a problem. I got some stuff and decided to put it in the boot. Nothing, the fon does not work at all. I opened the drivers door with the key and tried it in the ignition. Helf turn, nothing, full turn, nothing. The central locking is dead, the fob does nothing, the internal boot release is dead etc. No sign of power.
Walk back home with a glowering other half, who I had assured of the car's fitness and type this missive.

Any clues for me from assembled founts of knowledge?

Best wishes, Frank

macafee2 · 28th October 2018, 14:21

on idea really but have you checked the large fuses in the engine bay fuse box?

macafee2

marinabrian · 28th October 2018, 14:21

Duff ignition switch? or a loose battery terminal......check the latter first

Brian

frankgoldstar · 28th October 2018, 14:34

Many thanks for the replies guys. I would normally have done the battery terminal, fuses and loose wires before posting.

However, as the car is in a supermarket car park a mile away, once I had schlepped home with the shopping, I thought, before I go out again to do the basics, I would ask, just in case there was some esoteric Rover thing that I did not know about.

Like one of those apparently endless rows of relays that most of you guys know backwards, but are a mystery to us lesser dyed in the wool owners.

Back to basics then, and limp back to the car cursing. What is the betting it is the battery terminals? I know they seemed tight by hand, but I have fallen for that before!

Best wishes, Frank

stevestrat · 28th October 2018, 14:58

Take some wire wool or light sandpaper with you and give the battery terminals and connectors a scuff up/clean then retighten.

frankgoldstar · 28th October 2018, 16:06

Once again, thanks to you wonderful people who posted to help me.

As you all expected, while there was no visible corrosion and the battery terminals were tight to finger pressure, they were the culprit.

The terminals did move when I tapped them with an 8" adjustable. And the posts and terminals were quite black.

A quick application of elbow grease and everything was fine, tap firmly home and tighten.

This failure does signal that I need to remove digit from orifice with loud plop, and do the standard jobs before winter's icy grip descends.

Best wishes, Frank

marinabrian · 28th October 2018, 16:42

Nice to hear it was a simple fix.

I carry one of these in the glovebox, not for mine but for the benefit of others

LINK

A smear of Vaseline or LM grease on the posts will help prevent further problems

Brian

macafee2 · 28th October 2018, 17:06

I have found the clamps just don't get tight enough. I have cut a strip of copper or similar, may even be a coke can and wrapped it around the battery terminal post and then put the clamp over the top. Seems to be much tighter

macafee2

Arctic · 28th October 2018, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by macafee2

I have found the clamps just don't get tight enough. I have cut a strip of copper or similar, may even be a coke can and wrapped it around the battery terminal post and then put the clamp over the top. Seems to be much tighter

macafee2

HI Ian.
Did you try doing this below

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=239567

Dorset Bob · 31st October 2018, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by marinabrian

Nice to hear it was a simple fix.

I carry one of these in the glovebox, not for mine but for the benefit of others

LINK

A smear of Vaseline or LM grease on the posts will help prevent further problems

Brian

Thanks Brian, quite a handy terminal and post cleaner.
I have just ordered one up.

28th October 2018, 14:18	#1
frankgoldstar Avid contributor Rover 75 Conny Saloon Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 144 Thanks: 16 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Diesel lost all electrical power I went to my 55 plate CDTI this morning and shoved the key in and turned. Nothing, no lights, no IPK. Pish. My initial thoughts were the battery must have commited suicide at the first breathe of winter. I cam back ith a meter, spring the bonnet and the battery had around 12.5V. Ok, so maybe not the battery. And thinking back, the car had opened on the fob. I got in the car and tuned the key again. No problem, lights and action. Car starts normally. I went out briefly and locally to pick up a paper and everything seemed, fine, apart from the engine cutting out when I turned round. Again, the car started from this right away. Feeling not quite sure of the car, but hey, it is working, so do not invent problems. My wife and I then went to the local supermarket with no hint of a problem. I got some stuff and decided to put it in the boot. Nothing, the fon does not work at all. I opened the drivers door with the key and tried it in the ignition. Helf turn, nothing, full turn, nothing. The central locking is dead, the fob does nothing, the internal boot release is dead etc. No sign of power. Walk back home with a glowering other half, who I had assured of the car's fitness and type this missive. Any clues for me from assembled founts of knowledge? Best wishes, Frank

28th October 2018, 14:34	#4
frankgoldstar Avid contributor Rover 75 Conny Saloon Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 144 Thanks: 16 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Loss of electrical power Many thanks for the replies guys. I would normally have done the battery terminal, fuses and loose wires before posting. However, as the car is in a supermarket car park a mile away, once I had schlepped home with the shopping, I thought, before I go out again to do the basics, I would ask, just in case there was some esoteric Rover thing that I did not know about. Like one of those apparently endless rows of relays that most of you guys know backwards, but are a mystery to us lesser dyed in the wool owners. Back to basics then, and limp back to the car cursing. What is the betting it is the battery terminals? I know they seemed tight by hand, but I have fallen for that before! Best wishes, Frank

28th October 2018, 14:58	#5
stevestrat This is my second home ZT260 #243 (resting) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Prestonpans Posts: 22,464 Thanks: 650 Thanked 4,624 Times in 3,358 Posts	Take some wire wool or light sandpaper with you and give the battery terminals and connectors a scuff up/clean then retighten. __________________ Steve T4 Location Map

28th October 2018, 16:06	#6
frankgoldstar Avid contributor Rover 75 Conny Saloon Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 144 Thanks: 16 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Fixed - basics 1, plonker 0 Once again, thanks to you wonderful people who posted to help me. As you all expected, while there was no visible corrosion and the battery terminals were tight to finger pressure, they were the culprit. The terminals did move when I tapped them with an 8" adjustable. And the posts and terminals were quite black. A quick application of elbow grease and everything was fine, tap firmly home and tighten. This failure does signal that I need to remove digit from orifice with loud plop, and do the standard jobs before winter's icy grip descends. Best wishes, Frank

28th October 2018, 14:21	#2
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,912 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	on idea really but have you checked the large fuses in the engine bay fuse box? macafee2

28th October 2018, 14:21	#3
marinabrian MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 20,151 Thanks: 3,565 Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts	Duff ignition switch? or a loose battery terminal......check the latter first Brian

28th October 2018, 16:42	#7
marinabrian MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 20,151 Thanks: 3,565 Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts	Nice to hear it was a simple fix. I carry one of these in the glovebox, not for mine but for the benefit of others LINK A smear of Vaseline or LM grease on the posts will help prevent further problems Brian

28th October 2018, 17:06	#8
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,912 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	I have found the clamps just don't get tight enough. I have cut a strip of copper or similar, may even be a coke can and wrapped it around the battery terminal post and then put the clamp over the top. Seems to be much tighter macafee2