300 TDI Electrical fault

driving home last night and dipped beam and dash lights were cutting out, looked like a bad earth, pulled over and turned the engine off and it would not start again, not even turning over

a green box in the passenger side well was making a sound like a relay constantly on and off, has a marking on it of ABS, but the AA recon its the alarm

more elctrical problems started when the box is connected like the dash ligts showing and only going off when side lights are put on, although no side lights are showing

disconnected one side of the green box and it started up, but no lights, dash, heater and radio

applied the handbrake so the red light appears on the dash and all springs into life, take the handbrake off and all shuts down apart from engine running

AA followed me home and when i get there, take the handbrake off and all is working, but no brake lights

alarm seems dead now, even though everything is connected

is this sounding like time to rip out the alarm and if so how easy is it to disconnect

With all that stuff happening it looks like a bad earth, at least earth points are easy to check.

figured it out

one of the electric leads to the tow bar had been disconnected and was earthing out, this caused the brake light bulbs to melt the casings and other bulbs on the rear were blown

the green box in the passenger side well is the alarm and when moved/tampered this will set the hazard lights off and cut the ignition - disconnect the box, connect and then put the key in the ignition and hazard lights stop - all ok to go

I think what you are describing may certainly appear or indeed be connected to the alarm, but it's the emergency engine off and hazards on feature if the vehicle is crashed.