300 tdi Defender electrical problem

Hi everybody, I have answered the occasional post, but this is my first post. I have an odd problem if anyone can help... my 300 tdi 110 which has started perfectly and has a new battery fitted after same fault at this years Newbury sortout, started perfectly this morning going to work, came home perfectly (2 miles)... just gone out to it and it is totally and absolutely dead. Put in the ignition key and turn it... nothing, no interior lights.. no other electrics. It is as though the battery is totally dead or terminal come off but it hasn't.. any ideas. It is a 2006 ROW spec 300tdi with no electronics on the engine, no immobiliser, and no electronics on the vehicle. Any ideas please... I thought I knew most things about Defenders but this one has totally thrown me.

Welcome to the forum? When was the last time you checked and cleaned the earth connections from the battery to the gearbox / chassis?

Marmaduke said:

Welcome to the forum? When was the last time you checked and cleaned the earth connections from the battery to the gearbox / chassis?

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+1 - not much else it can be other than an earth fault - and sadly, the earth straps do fail every so often

Marmaduke said:

Welcome to the forum? When was the last time you checked and cleaned the earth connections from the battery to the gearbox / chassis?

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Never... so that is the first place I will go... I sorted it last time by connecting the main system to the secondary battery and it worked... thank you for the lead - I have been thinking far to complicated ideas!!!

Paintman said:

Never... so that is the first place I will go... I sorted it last time by connecting the main system to the secondary battery and it worked... thank you for the lead - I have been thinking far to complicated ideas!!!

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You can always connect a jump lead from the negative terminal directly to the starter motor to see if that helps