Strange electrical problem with my 306 GTI6

[davejp]

I've got an intermitent fault that is driving me mad!

Sometimes, when I switch off the ignition, the electrics go completely dead. No radio, no ignition lights, no interior lights - nothing.

If I leave the car for about 10 minutes or so everything starts working again!

I have to enter the security code on the radio and also set the clock. Things seem ok then for some time until it happens again. These "attacks" are getting more frequent. Initially I had a couple a year but I've had three in the last six weeks.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any guesses as to what may be causing the problem?

Thanks for any help.

Dave

[Shad]

Is your battery light on? Possibly an alternator problem. Or could be something silly like a cracked solder joint on the IG barrel.

[davejp]

When the fault occurs there are no lights anywhere! It only happens when I switch off. If it were a bad contact I'd expect the car to cut out at any time, especially with the roads around where I live!

When it's dead, I've tried knocking the key and twisting it but nothing seems to bring it back.

Dave

[Jiff Lemon]

Start at the battery; Check that the earths are clean and secure;
I've once seem something similar happen when the car was hot - Cold starts were perfect, but hot starts the system was completely dead. Problem was the battery (which went open circuit when it got hot).

[Donny John]

French crap

[davejp]

Originally Posted by Jiff Lemon

Start at the battery; Check that the earths are clean and secure;
I've once seem something similar happen when the car was hot - Cold starts were perfect, but hot starts the system was completely dead. Problem was the battery (which went open circuit when it got hot).

Thanks, I'll get the battery tested and the terminals cleaned off. Then we shall see how it goes

Cheers

Dave

[Roach]

I had something like this on my 306, not exactly the same but similar.

On turning on the ignition all Dials on the dash when to maximum, the clock and radio reset (lose memory), the dials then returned to 0 and power was lost. On another occasion the ignition was totaly dead when turning the key.

I found the screw cap on the negative terminal was loose. Since tigthening this Ive had neither problem reoccur.

[doll]

I would say take a look at the negative battery terminal cap. They fur up and prevent a decent connection, unscrew it and give it a clean up.

[davejp]

Thanks guys. General concensus seems to agree it's a battery related problem.

The problem is, it will possibly be weeks before I can say for sure if it's fixed!

Forgive me if I don't come back to say it's working OK!

I appreciate all the replies though (apart from Donny John's of course!)

Dave