Total Electric Failure Help!!

[roj62]

Hi

Weve just come back from an event - had to unload the van outside the house and then went to move it to where we park it - turned the key and nothing. no electrics at all. no lights, hazards radio, nothing working at all.

We had the lights on for a bit on the way back but no heater or radio so id be amazed if its a power drain.

Were new to this so any help would REALLY be appreciated. We are due to go on a big trip on Monday but thanks to the muppet who was supposed to have serviced our fridge and get it running on the gas that probably won't happen - add this problem and we are screwed unless we can solve it.

Cheers

[Plasticman]

Would suspect a visual at the battery to confirm one or other lead has worked loose /off, first.
mike

[roj62]

Sorry we had to push the van round the corner and then i had to deal with the kids so didn't have time to look there, however last time i did they were on pretty damn solid. Ill check in the morning but id be amazed if one of them has worked loose.

[Plasticman]

Nowt to be sorry asbout, I dont know westies but in the absense of anyone else posting I would say that if you have NO power at all to anything then I dont see how a battery can get that low? so which is why I said a lead must have come adrift or main earth or do you have a emg kill switch . . if you have a meter then measure the battery.
Mike

[roj62]

I had totally discounted it being the battery cos it didn't make sense. just after id unloaded half the van i'd had to move it forward a foot so we could get into the back and it started fine. anyway with the issue burning a hole in my head i went down to look at it with a head torch and got into the battery compartment. As soon as i opened it the electrics came on. one terminal is a bit loose but not off and the other one was fine.

I remember having similar problems years ago with my old Mk1 Escort and a big dod of vaseline on the terminal was the cure for a bad connection.

Cheers for stating the obvious as thats always the last place i look

[Plasticman]

Good, where is your battery, under seat or in back, ? make sure nothing is/can touch the live terminal
mike

[roj62]

its behind the front passenger seat. There is a plastic cover over the liver terminal and then a metal cover and finally the carpet. the kids might have spilled some water over it and there was a bit of rain - don't know if that could have caused it to short out

[Plasticman]

I'd check the metal lid cant come in contact though I doubt that would have caused it to loosen,when I had mine I had those quick disconnect battery clamps and I left a peice of rubber sheet over the top of battery to be doubly safe.
M

[andisnewsyncro]

Loose is loose. Have you got a lot of corossion on the terminal? everything needs to be nice & tight. Give it a good clean and then re-clamp & make sure it's well insuated

[kevtherev]

Loose is loose. Have you got a lot of corossion on the terminal? everything needs to be nice & tight. Give it a good clean and then re-clamp & make sure it's well insuated

and vaseline up the terminals, stops the corrosion/green fur

[CycloneMike]

When you check the battery terminals, make sure you check the other end of the earth strap where it attaches to the body.
Don't just look and assume it is ok because it is inside the van (like I did). Take it apart and clean it then put it back together. The threads on mine were corroded and caused all kinds of intermittent trouble. Quickest way to test this is to use a jump lead between the battery terminal and a good earth on the chassis.

Regards,
Mike.