Dead ignition with a twist

[Graham Reddy]

Here's one for you all. Yesterday evening I stopped at the local shop,, hopped out and pressed lock on the key. Silence where there is normally the clunk of the doors locking. Came back with my sandwich and no response from the fob again. Unlocked it with the key, stuck it in the ignition and got bugger all response. No dash lights, no clicking solenoids. Spent the next four hours fault finding with no success. Checked what I could with a meter including the dash panel fuse and the solenoids under the bonnet. 12.9v in the battery and all leads tested as solid.

The dash was dead except for the open door light and the trip meter readout was there. Radio and tacho were both powered up. Couldn't get anything out of it so I went to bed ( it's a camper ). Woke up bright and early and was figuring out the fastest way to get a new ignition switch whilst drinking a cuppa and just thought I'd give it one more go. Dash lit up like a Christmas tree and it started and has been fine since then.

We are talking 2013 2.2 RWD. Jumbo 155. with a tacho.

Anyone got a clue why it suddenly came over all female last night and manned up this morning ? I'm working on it probably being the ignition switch as it's as sloppy as an MP's morals but welcome any input as my brain is doing the same thing today.e

[Altransit]

Only one battery?

[Graham Reddy]

Twin batteries, both agm in excellent health.

Immobiliser light was blinking throughout. It hasn't missed a beat since this morning. Not even a little glitch.

I've got a replacement awitch and barrel on the way just in case. It’ll come in handy at some point whatever caused this particular gremlin to appear and depart again. I was just wondering if it's my own personal gremlin or a mass market one.

[Graham Reddy]

Update. I've been driving since my first post without any repeat of this behaviour until last night. Got out, wouldn't lock, no ignition lights. This morning it started fine but failed again fortunately at the cafe. So I changed both the key barrel and ignition switch. SNAFU. So I thought I' d start at the battery to trace where the problem was. Slid the seat forward and got rid of some frustration on the earth leads, which I had checked thoroughly last time of course. Lights on.

So it's an earth somewhere connection in the battery box.

[Altransit]

Battery box earth is connected to the front offside seat box securing bolt, which is rather prone to corrosion. From that bolt the earth lead connects to both batteries in a single lead within the seat box.

[knobby1]

Update. I've been driving since my first post without any repeat of this behaviour until last night. Got out, wouldn't lock, no ignition lights. This morning it started fine but failed again fortunately at the cafe. So I changed both the key barrel and ignition switch. SNAFU. So I thought I' d start at the battery to trace where the problem was. Slid the seat forward and got rid of some frustration on the earth leads, which I had checked thoroughly last time of course. Lights on.

So it's an earth somewhere connection in the battery box.

Is the RCL receiver working..?? Little LED flashing when a FOB button is pushed..?? Earths under/behind the PCM ok..?? They're a common cause of grief due to corrosion.

Lord Knobrot (Smithy)

[tranmx2]

2012 the B - earth is located under the floor carpet to the left below the gear change.
Perhaps the new starter unit shall sort out some things.