Ford Zetec 1.8 Diesel 2002. Car Won't Switch On , Battery Fine

[B-HAVE]

I was due an Mot today. Alas, turned key in ignition, nothing - no lights, no noise, nothing. Checked battery - all fine. Rang garage - they have no clue.

I am stuck. I searched the internet but answer not found. The battery is newish and showing fine on tester. It seems like there is something that will not start the electrics.

Any clues?

[Gizmonster]

Without switching the ignition on, try switching something on like the hazard lights. If the don't come on, then at least it's not an ignition problem, it's a battery/connection problem .... possibly a loose/snapped wire, bad earth ... I'm no expert, but that's the route I'd be taking.

[razza]

I had exactly the same with a Ford Granada,turned out the computer had shut down,not saying your problem is the same though.

[Iggle Piggle]

Can you flash the main beam to test battery, hold it for a few seconds and see if the lights dim... what battery tester are you using? Pop open the bonnet and give the battery wires a little wiggle, do the connections move?
If no lights show on the dash, it's unlikely to be an immobiliser fault.

[Tigh]

A good friend of mine also had a Ford that played up intermittently like this. After his many failed attempts to find the problem, I had a look at it for him, and found the battery earth lead (where it connects to the body of the car) was very slack. I took it off, sanded the spot where it connects and refitted the connection very tightly. He never had another spot of bother with that car. It's worth a try...

[Graham-W]

My first reaction was the same as Tigh.
Try connecting a jump lead from the negative side of the battery to somewhere on the engine. If that works it's as Tigh says, the earth strap from engine to chassis.

[Graham-W]

Also, if it's a computer problem, disconnect one terminal of the battery, wait a couple of minutes, then re-connect. That should re-boot the computer if that's what the problem was. You'll need your radio code of course.

[ToraToraTora]

oddly enough I had this a couple of weeks ago, it was caused by the negative earth getting detached from the body. Just worked loose somehow. It's worth checking anyway. On the negative terminal on your battery follow the lead and it should be firmly bolted to a bulk head. (assuming your car is negative earth of course)