zenith

iTrader: (3)

Went to drive home from work a couple of hours ago and had the following happen - unlocked it with the remote, got in, keys in, ignition on to half way to turn the radio on, coat off, seatbelt on. At this point the imobiliser kicks in and once i'd changed the disc in the head unit i tried to start the car with the button on the key fob and had complete loss of power.

The engine didn't turn over the lights on the dash, the clock, the radio even the odometer went off. The car won't respond to the key fob or the key in the ingnition.

Could this be a blown fuse? I've checked as many of the fuses as i can (in the dark, with a torch) but can't see anything obvious.

It's a 2003 Impreza STI.

Any help appreciated.

pflowers

Sounds like your battery has died, do you know someone with a jump start to see if you can get it going?

zenith

iTrader: (3)

That's what I feared. I've had problems with the battery in the past, but only because the alarm/tracker were draining it. I've got a jump start mobile battery that I'll have to try.

Pedroturbo

had this happen to me its 99.9% that you will need a new battery. The thing to remember is make sure the car is unlocked before you disconnect the old one

pflowers

Nothing to fear if your battery has failed, easy to fit, £60ish and good to go for several years.

super_ted

iTrader: (30)

The best way to check will be to get a multimeter on the battery to see whats going on.

simb 2

iTrader: (3)

If its not the battery, 1st check the 80amp fuse under the bonnet, can be a common overlooked prob on the Scoob.

Si

zenith

iTrader: (3)

Will do. I tried to check this with the torch but it was too difficult to tell whether or not it had blown. I'm half expecting this to be the issue as the head unit I have does seem to draw a lot of power from the battery, especially when the blue tooth is turned on which is why I expect it to have blown a fuse.

If not, then I guess new battery. Having never needed to buy one before, especially not for a performance car, would I be ok getting a pretty standard one or will I need a specialist one?

Anyone got any recomendations. The car isn't used for racing, so i'm not fussed about saving weight, it is used every day though.

Cheers.

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Your radio wont have enough pull amp wise to blow the main 80A fuse under the bonnet bud, it would take all the fuses out inline before it anyhow

If you had power listening to the radio sat in the car and everything has shut down when you tried to start it and you can't get any power, and find all the fuses are intact ( all this is assuming the battery is fine ) then you may have blown a fuse on the alarm if its an aftermarket item such as toad Clifford etc, they are normally up behind the glove box, and that's if it's alarm related

chopperman

Sounds like the main fuse to me. Unlikely a battery would die so suddenly.

b16msu265

iTrader: (6)

Just a quick one do u drive with or without your side lights on, when I got my 03 wrx 8 years ago there was not battery issues then I got my 04 Sti and notices if I had it turned half way then listen to some tunes for a bit then try to turn the car on after 10 mins or so then I would almost be dead, checked on Sn and your ment to drive with the side lights on so the alternator is always kicked in and charging the battery. Good luck but hope its all sorted now

zenith

iTrader: (3)

I've heard about that and with it being short days I find i'm driving with the lights on 75% of the time anyway, so I don't think that'll be anything to do with it. I'm going to have a good look at the fuses later and if I can't see any that have blown I'll have to try and jumpstarting it.

If the battery has died rather than it being flat and I jump it to start it will I have any problems when I drive it or is it best to just leave it and replace the battery before driving it?

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

It will be fine providing your alternator is Woking as it should, I'd stick the jump leads on it first before wasting ur time with the fuses as if you have not tried that yet I'd say that was the most obvious bet to try first, if it does fire in to life then battery is more than likely the culprit, by the way don't use wafer thin jump leads as if the battery is totally fooked then a little set of jump leads won't start it but should give you power to the dash and everything else as the thinner leads will just start to get very hot and melt under cranking load

zenith

iTrader: (3)

It's a proper jump start battery unit with power indicators so I don't think there should be a problem there. Will give it a go shortly. Thanks for your help.

zenith

iTrader: (3)

Unbelievable. A loose battery terminal connector!

The positive clip that fastens to the battery was corroded and wasn't fixed tight on the battery, moved it slightly and we have power again. Replacement clip and job done.

Thanks for the help chaps.

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

Happy days always nice when its something as simple as that

b16msu265

iTrader: (6)

thats pure jokes at least its alive again

super_ted

iTrader: (30)

Glad you have it sorted!