I have a 1995 Cooper SPI, had a few recent problems with the car failing to start, which where sorted about two months ago by buying a new alternator and battery. It's been fine since. Recently left the car standing for three weeks whilst I was abroad. Came back and found it was struggling to turn over at ignition, this carried on for about two weeks until last monday it just failed to start and sounded like the battery had gone dead (making that sort of clicking noise when turning the key.). So I took the battery out and put it on a trickle charge for a day. When i came to put it back in, as soon as i connect the terminals up, the horn immidiatley sounds and stays on continuously. Whilst this is happening, if i try to start the car, the engine turns over fine, but wont start. I tried removing the fuse for the horn, which thankfully kept it quiet, but the engine still turns over ok, but wont start.
I'm completley baffled. A nice chap at a mini shop in warrington suggested that i had triped the cars immobiliser system and that if i pressed the key fob buttons four times it would reset the alarm system and cure the problem. Tried this, didnt work.
Another thing i noticed that im not sure if it's related or not, is that when the battery is connected, all the electrics seem to work fine, as in the external lights work, there's enough power getting through to turn the engine over. However the interior light doesnt come on.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appriciated as ive no clue how to get my mini working again
Many thanks,
Matt
