electrical gremlns....

This has just happened for the second time.

Turn of the ignition after driving and the car looses all electrical power, clock display off, everything.

First time around popped bonnet and checked battery connection and everything came back on, so assumed that as the battery had been off, it was probably a loose terminal.

It happened again today, drove into town to the bank, turned of the ignition, totally dead. As soon as i pulled the bonnet release, power was restored.

I am guessing that there could be something shorting out, but have no idea where to look. Has anyone seem this issue before?

Thanks

Did you tighten the battery terminals when you checked them?

Also, If you have electrical multi meter check the resistance of the ground. From the negative battery terminal to an exposed metal part of the chassis/engine you should have a very low reading.

It sounds like yer losing the battery power/connection and you don't notice as the alternator is running and supplying power to everything when the engine is running. When switching oft the engine the alternator stops supplying power, then the problem shows.

You could also check the main power feed into the fuse box is secure. It's the big wires into the engine bay fuse box.

Alternator theory makes sense, but why would releasing the bonnet catch bring power back?

Vertuas said:

Alternator theory makes sense, but why would releasing the bonnet catch bring power back?

Click to expand...

Do you have a bonnet switch that may be faulty ?

A chaffed wire run along the slam panel by a 'enthusiastic DIYer' ?

Vertuas said:

Alternator theory makes sense, but why would releasing the bonnet catch bring power back?

Click to expand...

Vibration. Just a guess.

just wondering if in any way the bonnet is pressing down on the battery terminal

What it will not be is a short, a short = a blown fuse or a fire.
Loose battery terminals, dodgy battery, bad connections as mentioned by others, or just possibly the ignition switch.