I've done a search, and can't find an answer to this or anyone with the same problem.

Sometimes when I try to start my Octy Vrs (51 plate, 60k miles), it, err, doesn't :confused:

The door locks pop up and down like mad, and there's a loud ticking from the oily bits under bonnet, but nothing happens. The symptom is exactly like I would expect from a virtually flat battery.

But ... if I hold the key turned to the 'Start' position for a few (5 - 10) seconds, the car almost invariably bursts into life.

It's not a flat battery, because sometimes it does it, sometimes it doesn't (even if I repeatedly turn the engine off and on again).

What I suspect may be to blame is the alarm, a Clifford Concept 550. This has been playing up occasionally (all sorts of odd behaviour, to the point that I've almost stopped using it). Does anyone else have an alarm like this?

It was fitted by the previous owner, so I don't have any details re the fitting, and I can't find a wiring diagram for it, so I don't know whether it has an immobiliser feature. I suspect that there may be a loose connection somewhere ....

Any ideas?

Sorry for the long explanation, I did try to keep it simple

Long shot but similar symptoms can be caused when the electrical conections behind the passenger side boot trim get wet. If you have a boot mounted CD player you will find the connections are more or less underneath it and may need to remove the CD changer to get at the connections. If they are damp wet or flooded then dry everything out by gentle use of a hair dryer and check to see if the screen wash pipe join is leaking/come apart. It is cunningly hidden inside the main wiring loom and has a nasty habit of coming apart without warning. In which case reinstate it and comprehensively tape it up so it stays fixed.

Hi Skim,

thanks for that, I'll take a look after the weekend ... if it ever stops raining