MattSuffolk

Thanks for the replies, I will try what has been suggested and report back

Hi all, I have a 2001 1.0 Lupo with a very strange electrical problem, It is an intermittent fault (always handy). When the ignition is turned on, the dash warning lights will not come on (in fact the clock and odometer go off) and the starter will not engage, as if there has been total electrical failure, everything is basically dead. Switching the key off it remains in the 'dead' state, repeated turning on and off of the ignition will eventually clear the fault, it will then start and run fine as if nothing ever happened. It doesn't happen every time, it can go days without an issue or it can do it 3/4 times in a day. Having probed it with a multi-meter I have managed to shed some more light on it, when it is in the 'dead' state the voltage at the fag lighter (easiest place to measure it) shows only 6v (or thereabouts), but measuring directly at the battery it is still 12v. Also, if I measure across the negative post of the battery to the positive of the fag lighter, 12v, this leads me to think the issue is on the earth side somewhere (the meter shows a 6v ish reading when measuring -ve of battery to -ve of fag lighter). I have changed the alternator, tried a different battery, tried a different ignition switch, checked and cleaned the main battery earth lead (to body and engine), checked the 3 main earth points in front of the gear lever, checked the +ve cables at the battery, alternator, starter and the bus bar to the right of the pedals. I am now totally lost, the fact that it seems so 'switchable', it either it works or it doesn't, makes me think that it is a component causing the fault rather than a poor connection. Has anyone heard of anything similar before, and ideas what I should be looking for?? I have tried many searches with no luck! Many thanks Matt