'01 diesel - won't start

[plasterman]

Hi all I'm new here. Serious problem with my dad's Focus:

2001 Focus 1.8 Zetec Diesel

My dad's story is, he turned the engine off, and something clicked. He tried to turn it back on again, and at the 2nd click the interior light came and, flashing, and all the lights started flashing on the dashboard. The door locks, including the boot, all start clicking and theres a clicking from the engine.

The engine will not start and the door locks are doing ten to the dozen until you try and start the car again, then they stop.

Any ideas?

Hope someone can help!

[Rikos]

Hello and welcome to the club

As it's the lights and door locks it definately sounds like an elctrical fault.

[mintalkin]

check the main battery terminals are clean and tight.

[boxerboi]

it sounds like its the battery or the alternator, charge your battery and see what happens then? i had this problem with my fiesta, and had to change the battery, you could try jump start the car and if it keeps going it wont be the alternator, which means your battery just isnt holding the charge, so you might need a new one, unless you just need to clean the terminals.