Didcotman

In conclusion, thanks to everyone who responded, got a new battery fitted and all is back to normal. The battery, believe it or not, is the original one that came with the car in 2005! I think it lasted well. It's surprising how easily the pillar on the retaining arm sheers off. :-) Still, the other bolt seems to hold the battery in place firmly enough and the only way it's going to jump out of the cradle is if I roll the car, and if I do, the battery falling out of the cradle will be the least of my worries.

I'm getting Yuasa 3019 on searches, a little over £100 online, or the AA will bring one and fit if for £155.

I never changed the bulb. I suppose if the battery is too low, maybe the console won't even power up, but nobody has suggested that that I can see? I guess I need recommendations for a good brand of battery (or ones to avoid...)

Thanks, I'm kinda thinking dead battery - but this dead? All of a sudden??? Not even any lamps glowing anywhere? Never seen a battery that dead. If I get AA out and they jump start it, where does that leave me? Buying a new battery and hoping that's fixed it? Thanks for the input, just a bit bummed out at the moment...

Went to start the car, puzzled that remote key didn't open it, so used key to get in the old-fashioned way. Put key into ignition and turned - nothing. No lights, no engine start, nothing at all in any position. No lights on the dashboard (except the airbag lamp). Absolutely and completely dead. Used it Saturday lunchtime to go and buy a new headlamp bulb, decided I needed to read up on how to change it. Went out to car on Sunday night and found it dead on the drive. Will call AA at some point, but want to understand the issues first, or maybe fix it myself. Any ideas? Can't find anything exactly like this in the forums. :-(

Thanks Peter, it was the answer that came up when I Googled the problem sitting in the car! And on reading it, I realised that's exactly what I did, jumped in, switched on straight into start without pausing. A couple of months ago I had the problem where it wouldn't come on and set the alarm going. I found out then that it was a low battery, it was the morning temps got down to -5C, so I took it on a long drive to charge the battery - with the alarm going all the time - disconnected the battery, etc. Maybe the battery is on the way out...

Brilliant, if I could give you a 1000 likes I would, that's exactly what mine did.