Last week my Octy vrs decided to get a big sluggish on startup until it finally gave up and wouldn't start up at all. I decided to replace the battery and to no avail. Got roadside recovery to come out and he was convinced the starter motor had gone. Replaced that today and got it home from the mechanic, went to start it up, started ok, then turned it off to start it again and nothing. All lights on the dash but won't turn the engine over.

Could this be an alternator fault. I'm spending money hand over fist and not getting much further! Any advice would be greatly received

How are your earthing points? There's key ones under the battery and under centre of scuttle panel. Check them for corrosion and clean up as necessary, also check wiring and fuses into that fuse box on top of the battery. I'd do that before buying more parts, if you need a working alternator I think I have one spare.

It would run without the alternator but the battery would lose charge.  Not like it would cut out after a few seconds though.  Earths etc as mentioned are a good start and fuses.

Defo sounds like an earth. Get 1 jump leed and put 1 end on battery and 1 end on body of car (somewhare thats not painted) and see what hapens

Thats the neggative of battery btw!!

Cheers guys, seems to make sense as the earth is a bit loose at the terminal. Thinking of replacing the lead before anything else

If the leads are wobbly on battery that won't help. I had similar problem with my saxo. Just jammed a piece of metal between connector and battery terminal, see if that works before replacing leads

Does the fuse box on top of the battery show signs of melting ? Furthest left is the earth I believe, Which caused me Issues.