Just bought a 20L petrol Mondeo which has a Duratec HE engine. Everything was fine until the other night when approaching a set of traffic lights and the engine cut out. When I tried re-starting it I just got that clicking sound you get when either the battery is dead or the solenoid on the starter has given out. The battery is brand new and is fully charged so got a tow and bump started it with no problems. It ran for about 30 seconds then cut out again and it wouldn't start with a tow and the dashboard electrics went haywire with all the dials and warning lights coming on and going off. Then the whole dash just shut down then the speedo and rev counter going to max. I know a wee bit about cars but this I've never seen before.Anyone got any suggestions as to what's going on here? Cheers.

Have you checked the terminals and the earth straps are all secure?

Have you checked the terminals and the earth straps are all secure?

check for moisture in the fuse box within the engine bay next to the battery box.

Have you checked the terminals and the earth straps are all secure?

Spent all day yesterday checking earthing points were clean and secure but still no joy.

check for moisture in the fuse box within the engine bay next to the battery box.

Checked the fuse box and it's bone dry.

Finally and at last after hours on the internet and a bit of lateral thinking, my car is sorted. Turned out it was two things in the end. First off it was the wrong type of battery in the car. I had an ordinary lead one when it should've been a calcium one. Seemingly the charging system eventually destroys an ordinary lead battery over time. Anyway got a calcium battery and installed it. Everything was fine for a day or so then back to same old problem. Car would start, run for a couple of mins then instrument panel goes haywire, then goes blank and the car starts spluttering and smoking from exhaust (really bad). Then dies and won't even turn over let alone start. It seems that when the battery voltage falls below 11 volts it won't even attempt to start the car. Solution was a new alternator. It was the only thing it could have been since the battery was brand new. The car had been running on the stored power in the battery and it lasted two days. Now everything is fine. Car running well. Hope this helps someone at some point.