Turbo diesle Xantia wont start after battery disconnected.

[numnuts]

Hi all. I have a W reg turbo diesel Xantia. I recently had to replace the drivers door so disconnected the negative terminal, changed the door, replaced the wiring and window actuator (Nightmare). When I cam to start it later it wasnt having it. The needles on the dials go haywire and it just wont fire up or even turn over properly. It doesn't have a keypad, I didn't even think it had an immobiliser! I am not a mechanic, just a DIY'er with a manual. Before I call out an auto electrician, can anybody offer any advice please? Am in Tyldesley, gtr Manchester by the way. Thanks a lot. T

[KennyW]

Welcome to the forum numnuts, first for all the guys and girls what kind of diesel is it.

This may help us identify the problem/s

Has it had any previous starting issues in the past.

Kenny

[Peter.N.]

I the engine is not turning over properly check the battery connections and also the earth connection on the engine/gearbox, or it could be that your battery is flat/u/s.

Peter

[spider]

Perhaps the BSi is corrupted. Have you tried to reset it ?

[411514]

Sounds very much like said as either a bad battery or bad earth, first port of call should be to charge (or replace) the battery and check the engine earth as mentioned, dashboard dials playing up is a sure sign of poor current delivery

[numnuts]

Thanks for all the advice. It was the battery. Charged it up and it fired up fine! Have just started another post relating to a power window issue on the same car. Cheers all!

[CitroJim]

Excellent The dead give-away was the gauges going haywire. They always do that on a MK2 when battery volts are very low and in extreme cases the tacho needle can get stuck, buried in the red-line...

Yes, they do have an immobiliser. It's RF activated via a coded chip in the key blade...