P38 strange one !

Hi All,
I picked my 2.5 dhse up from its usual Sat night parking spot at the Rugby club this morning. The key opened it without probs but when I tried to start it, there was nothing , no lights! absolute zilch. Thinking it was a completely flat battery I opened the door to start checking things and it then lit up like a Christmas tree. It started perfectly but I then found the radio was asking for a code. Do these things shut down like that if they are tampered with perhaps ? There were no obvious signs of any attempted break in and nothing missing. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas, cheers in advance.

No this isn't the usual symptoms, a complete intermittent loss of power like that could be the fuse box burning out (pull the lid off the under-bonnet fusebox and give it a goof sniff to burning smells) loose or corroded battery connections/cables. look at all of them carefully.

The only thing that confuses me is you said you opened it with the key - do you mean actual use of the key or using the remote fob bit?

Has the clock lost any time?

Hi the clock hasn't lost any time and I opened it with remote switch. It was in P when I tred to start and it's peeing down now so I'll check the fuse box in the morning. Thanks for the advice. ps it ran sweet as a nut to Birmingham and back from Wigan.

I'd suggest diagnostics.

Maybe the ignition switch, but diagnostics first asap

gfromleeds said:

Has the clock lost any time?

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Alien abduction?

donp38 said:

I'd suggest diagnostics.

Maybe the ignition switch, but diagnostics first asap

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Diagnostics is unlikely to show a burnt fuse box.

OXO said:

Alien abduction?

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Was thinking if loose battery conection clock would stop and show how long if was down for by how behind the clock is

Fuse 1 operates all the dash and instrument pack lighting....could be loose, but wouldn't prevent starting as far as i know!

burnt fuse box....fair point.

Mine won't start in Park, have to move to Neutral.

Rachelkgr said:

Mine won't start in Park, have to move to Neutral.

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Not normal, should start in P & N

Rachelkgr said:

Mine won't start in Park, have to move to Neutral.

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Sounds like a little adjustment needed.

Rachelkgr said:

Mine won't start in Park, have to move to Neutral.

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And presumably you no longer have a "P" in your instrument pack. as in Prndl. sorry could not resist that.

Finally sorted the mysterious lack of juice. It reappeared after a trip to Chester zoo with the grand kids . It wouldn't start or flicker after dropping them off and being stood for 1 minute outside the daughters. A piece of copper tubing wrapped around the terminals allows me to tighten up the leads a little better now. Thanks for the hints on what to look for. Happy New Year all.

Datatek said:

Sounds like a little adjustment needed.

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Yes, I have that clicky P/R.... R/P thing going on. I think it is either the electron switch below or the cable. Don't like climbing under the car on my own. So have left it.

Rachelkgr said:

Yes, I have that clicky P/R.... R/P thing going on. I think it is either the electron switch below or the cable. Don't like climbing under the car on my own. So have left it.

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I'm to far away to offer to accompany you on a trip under your car. Happy New Year and I hope you don't have so many repairs to undertake in 2014

tomcat59alan said:

I'm to far away to offer to accompany you on a trip under your car. Happy New Year and I hope you don't have so many repairs to undertake in 2014

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LOL Thanks!! Happy New Year to you too.

It seems there are no P38 owners in Kent!!! If there are, they are quiet on this site!! :whoosh:

Rachelkgr said:

LOL Thanks!! Happy New Year to you too.

It seems there are no P38 owners in Kent!!! If there are, they are quiet on this site!! :whoosh:

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Perhaps they don't like Wimin

Lol must be it! :cheer2: