Fitted new cigarette lighter and now van won't start!

[millycat]

All other electrics seem to be working but the temp light is constantly flashing and when I turn the key nothing happens. The battery light also stays on. I don't know much about the electrical system so any advice would be much appreciated. I wired the new cig lighter directly to the battery with an online fuse. I moved the fusebox so I could get to the earth crown behind it. I can't see any loose wires at the back of the fusebox but there are so many wires it's difficult to tell. Feel totally out of my depth!

[gypo]

do you have an electronic after market fuel pump or the traditional manual one? could be you have blown a fuse if its electronic?
G

[millycat]

Thanks for the advice but the problem turned out to be nothing more complicated than a flat battery! When the van wouldn't start last night I tried to jump start it with no success. Turns out the jump leads were knackered. Tried jump start with new leads tonight and started first time. Happy days.

[kevtherev]

How old is the battery?

[millycat]

Not sure how old the battery is. It was in the van when we bought it last year.

[kevtherev]

if the battery is losing power it won't help things
Check it by measuring before bedtime ..should read no less than 12.6V
If it drops overnight below 12.6 it really needs changing soon

[Zoe]

May be daft question but how do I check the battery? I think mine us loosing charge!

[kevtherev]

You need a multi meter
or a volt meter and put the probes on the terminals then read off the voltage.