3.9 v8 battery good but no ignition lights

hello , i started the motor ok [with jump leads] and thought i d turn the fan on to blow out any damp as the car s been standing for a few weeks,the engine stopped and all lights have gone out .all the fuses are ok .do you have any ideas? thanks very much.

Battery not charging so only enough juice to run engine from a jumpstart, anymore like fan and it empties the battery?

Just an idea

fett said:

Battery not charging so only enough juice to run engine from a jumpstart, anymore like fan and it empties the battery?

Just an idea

Click to expand...

I reckon you'r on the money there fett.
jacarter, get the hydrometer outa ya home brew kit an check the flattery, an if it's ok, have you looked at the fuseable links condition.

If yer battery turns out to be ok, check the main battery lead to the underbonnet fuse box for corrosion on/near the clamp. I had an intermittent fault the same as yours that drove me nearly insane for months and eventually found this corrosion, took the lead off, soaked it in a hot bicarb of soda solution (dissolves the corrosion) and never had the problem again.

fett said:

Battery not charging so only enough juice to run engine from a jumpstart, anymore like fan and it empties the battery?

Just an idea

Click to expand...

thank s and hello ,the battery is ok but was a bit low on so i put the leads on to get it to wizz over,it started straight away the suspension levelled itself out .then i started clicking things on to see what was working .i forgot to say that last year i had a f ing mouse living in the heater fan it stored a load of acorns in there so when i switched the fan or ac on a load of smoke came out and the fan stopped also the horn and hazard lights . i took the dash apart thinking it could be a chewed wire no luck. so i bodged just the fan itself off the fag lighter which seemed to work ok last winter .i think i may have blown a relay ? only the clock and for some reason the headlights v dim seem to work now. i bought a cd manual off famous four but it never worked and they wont take it back so any ideas of what electrical components i should check would be very grateful. jack normandy france

Sounds like a potential nightmare!

Start with checking all the earth points; main battery to chassis, the small collection of earth wires mounted on the inner wheel arch behind the battery (under expansion tank), engine block to body and up to bonnet (rear right facing engine). Make sure they are all clean and giving a good connection.

Check the main wiring to the starter motor as well.

It might also be worth getting your alternator tested/refurbed.