freelander gone mad help anyone?

Hi this is my first post here, i've got:

Landrover freelander 1.8 petrol 2003 reg 5door

Basically my mum bought a new car in februrary and kept the freelander on the drive

I used to start it every few days just to check it was still alive

We took it for one drive in september before the tax ran out and ran ok

Last month or so:

When i first tried to start it wen to 1st position on ignition.. radio came on went to second position... all lights came on... went to 3rd position to start everything went off all electrics etc..

did this for about a week on every 1st start

the problem rectified itself but eventually battery went dead and has now been replaced.

the car was running on hardly any petrol and actually ran out of petrol while engine was running - engine stopped, filled the tank up with a gollons worth of petrol but then did repeat an allowed tank to completely empty.

After this a new patterns emerged: Crank, crank crank crank... splutter.. brief start 1/2 second, crank crank crank crank no start for about 20 mins.

Mechanic came out nd petrol was getting to the injector manifold no probs and pump makes electrical prime noise

he checked the filters and both were ok

also now 3 amber lights for hill decent control come on to!

so anyone any ideas haha? i'm absoloutley CLUELESS! any reposnce would be appreciated

cheers, mike

So to summarise:

1st prob - electrics failed when in start position on ignition - rectified itself
2nd - tank emptied twice - car still worked ok after
3rd - now start pattern: crank crank crank brief start crank crank crank no start for 20min+

Mechanic checked fuel pump - it primed & worked fine, checked filters, sparks and coil pack, also checked pipes leading petrol to engine and checked inline pipe to the injector manifold, petrol been delivered fine.

4th - still crank & start pattern + hill decent, traction & abs lights on.

hi

for the 3 lights do a search on here for the 'three amigos'

thanks ill have a look

It not starting could still be down to the electrics.
Did you replace the battery with a new one?
Have you cleaned all electrical connections (earths, startermotor etc.)
3 amigos - check the HDC switch on the gearstick first. A fault there can cause the lights to illuminate.
The ABS sensors could be minged up as its been stood for ages.

Yeah got a brand new battery

I haven't cleaned anything as im not to sure what's what i'm absoloutley clueless! All i did was clean the connectors to the battery

and just realised the brake drums had seized so just unseized them and 3 amigos have gone

just tried starting again and it's just not having it, it does the pattern of attempting to start then wont start after, but if i take the key out of the ignition for a min then try again it attempts to start again.. its gone madd!

thanks for responses!