URGENT! non starter

[stuartrobbie]

i use my van for work and leisure (i need it) and its late before a big weekend and the van wont start. sidelights work, radio works additional beacons cb etc work(extras wired straight to battery) but when the key is turned nothing happens. no lights in dash or anything.

it was working a-ok this afternoon i reversed it from drive to street. then tonight i went to go away in it and nothing.

the only thing i can think of is the battery light was on in dash, but it has been since i bought the bloody thing and passed an MOT with it on?

please anyone have any ideas? blown altenator?

[BigNeil]

have you checked your fuses ?

[stuartrobbie]

have you checked your fuses ?

yes checked everyone not sure how to check relays for blows though

[Luke]

flat battery try to jump start it

[BigNeil]

i am not sure either it is at this stage i would either phone the RAC or try a jump start. Although the latter would not necessarily fix the problem.

[stuartrobbie]

i am not sure either it is at this stage i would either phone the RAC or try a jump start. Although the latter would not necessarily fix the problem.

tried jumping it too, nothing, the battey shows 13v when using a multimeter and all the accessories work that are plugged into it.

[BigNeil]

what happens when you turn the ignition?

[stuartrobbie]

what happens when you turn the ignition?

nothing, its like im not turning key at all

[BigNeil]

what happens when you turn the ignition?

nothing, its like im not turning key at all

there does not appear to be many people here tonight,

so no lights on dashboard but electrical things working e.g. cb, radio, lights (external) 13v on battery

what about starter, no turn over ?
has anyone been under the bonnet and disconnected anything ?
could you put meter on starter motor.

[stuartrobbie]

the sidelights work but dip and full beam doesnt. its too dark and late to do anything now, its sitting way down the bottom of my road now too trying to jump start it.

the starter doesnt click or anything, took half the dash off and unplugged cleaned and re-plugged as many connections as i could. no one should have been under bonnet, it worked had it working about 2 hours before i realised there was a problem, when i reversed it out drive. so in the time its been sitting something happened

[andykay]

I would be checking the main wires to the battery as it sounds as though one is disconnected. Does it have two batteries fitted ?

Andy.

[stuartrobbie]

it has 2 batteries wired together (not the twin battery option)
i tried all the connections and it done nothing, surely if it was a dodgy connection the accessories wouldnt work?

im pickled

[andykay]

Accessories will work because they have a direct live connection and there own earth, it sounds like one of your batteries is not wired up or maybe the earth cable has detached its self

Andy.

[stuartrobbie]

i wiggled the connections at battery and tried key but never got down and dirty with them undoing them and stuff.ill have another arse about with it in morning, thanks for your help anyway.

[transitgeoff]

put a jump lead from the earth terminal on the battery to a clean paint free part of the body and then check dash lights, sounds like the earth lead fuse has blown, its where the batteries earth lead bolts to the floor,a good place to try the jump lead,the fuse is part of the lead