2006 1.8 Ford Focus engine and electrical issue?
My mum has a 2006 Ford Focus 1.8. Suddenly over the last few days, the engine won't start and nothing electrical works, not even the central locking. Would it be the alternator or something else? We have had problems with the car before when suddenly the dials on the dashboard would stop working temporarily while driving which could be related to it as well.
Sounds like a fusebox issue, or wiring loom.
Usually this would be a sign of a dead battery. The dead battery could be the result of an alternator problem, but more likely old age.
I know of one case where someone was having battery problems so they called the AMA. By the time the AMA tow truck got there to boost the battery, they opened the hood and discovered that the battery was completely missing. Someone had stole it.(!)
You're not very bright Callum. It would be that the BATTERY has gone flat. The BATTERY is what starts the car and supplies electricity to the electrical system when the car isn't running. The alternator is what supplies electricity to recharge the battery and operate the electrical system AFTER the car has started. This is very basic and very common knowledge that anyone who owns a car should understand.
The reason the battery went flat may be due to a failed alternator, or it could just be an old and worn out battery, or the battery may just have been insufficiently charged due to a lot of recent engine starts and short trips that didn't allow it to be fully charged by the alternator. Colder weather also makes the engine harder to turn over when starting, putting more stress on the battery, which is why batteries fail most often in the colder months.
What you do is get the battery charged and load tested. If it fails the test or won't recharge then replace it with a new one. Once the car can be started again, if the battery charge light remains illuminated on the dash board after the engine is running, get the alternator tested. Does that really seem like rocket science to you?
Whether the intermittent problem with the dials while driving is related, it is hard to say. If the battery charge light was also illuminating, possibly so. If not it may be an unrelated problem.
Total electrical death - start with the battery. Eliminate that as the problem and take it from there. Check the terminals are tight and clean. Is the battery charged? If not, will it accept and hold a charge? If not it could be dead. Batteries can last from 3-8 years. Look for the build date - it should be stamped on the battery somewhere. If it charges, batteries go flat if you drain them. Did you leave lights on etc. A short in one of the alternator phases (or dead alternator) can drain the battery when you turn off the engine. Get the electrics tested by a sparky before spending big bucks. They usually don't charge you for a quick diagnosis.
Get a jump. Car starts, get the battery charged and load tested. Get the charging system checked. Car does not start, get the car towed to a garage. Could be a bad ignition switch.
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