When you say you checked the integrity of the earth cables where did you look?
The main cable which could prevent engine cranking if corroded is attached to the clutch bellhousing, to check this properly the battery and battery tray have to be removed. The blue corrosion creeps up the cable underneath the plastic insulation where it's invisible.

There is another cable running from battery earth to a chassis member on the nearside of the engine bay which is also prone to corrosion.

If you want to check the lazy man's way, get two jump starter cables, attach one from battery earth to a suitable position on the engine, the other lead from battery negative to a suitable chassis point. By doing this you are effectively bypassing both earth cables. If the car now behaves normally just buy and fit a new earth cable, if not you will need a diagnostic check to investigate further.

You could also unbolt the ECU and check the three plug connections for corrosion, this is also a common problem area, the ECU is fitted in a bad location up against the offside inner wing and is susceptible to dampness.

Benny.

 

start with the simples check the battery and alternator, take off clean and inspect the following

battery terminals
earth terminals
earth strap
starter wires
alternator wires

 

Excellent advice trust me, many thanks, straight to the point

 

I`ll 2nd the above advice,got to be a faulty earth??
The main earth cable from battery to gearbox is easy to check,but the earth cable from gearbox to chassis rail is not so easy to see.
I`ve had quite a few that have snapped in two!! If you replace it make sure its longer,the originals are too short.

 

I'll 3rd that.

 

Hi all thanks for the info.

BennyBall I tried the lazy method of earthing the car with a jump lead but no luck :S

Okay so I'm struggling to locate the the earth cable connected to the chassis rail. I can see the one trailing from the battery to the gearbox. Anyone have a picture?

Just as an extra bit of info I tried to jump start her car with mine and it started no problem.... Is this because her car is earthing through mine? (does that even work?)

 

Hi all thanks for the info.

Okay so I'm struggling to locate the the earth cable connected to the chassis rail. I can see the one trailing from the battery to the gearbox. Anyone have a picture?

If I remember correctly its under the battery tray? With everything in place its hidden.

 

The other car you jump started from your own battery would have been successful even if the earth leads on your own car were faulty, provided you attached the jump cables directly to the battery posts on both cars. The earth lead attachment to the chassis member in the engine bay is difficult to see and even more so to photograph, just to the rear of the ABS modulator, but see if this one helps.....

Benny.

 

Ah okay. Right I'll have another look a that tomorrow then. If not, I may get roadside assistance out as my missus has full coverage for "roadside repair" so they may fix it... I'm terrible at anything car based...

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll see what I can do tomorrow when it's light.

 

There is also an earth lead in footwell a pillar area for the dash harness

 

Thanks for that Windy, which side on the A post, driver or passenger?...I'm going to check mine tomorrow, I've already got my other two well-greased but forgot about this one!

Benny.

 

okay, I've found the dash earth connection, passenger nearside, it's about one foot back from the A post attached to the inner sill, wires are green/yellow, mine is dry and clean so no worries, I'll grease it up in daylight.

To find it just peel back the carpet away from the sill.

Benny.

 

A slight correction to my previous post.....there are earth loop connectors on BOTH inner sills, nearside and offside, just peel back the carpet to check the green/yellow cables.

There are also two other earth loop connectors behind each headlamp, again you can see the green/yellow cables, all worth checking.

Benny.

 

Hi all, apologies for the delay! So after a long and arduous search, it turned out to be the alternator! What a nightmare...