What have I done to my Ford Fiesta's electrics, as it now won't start?

I was trying to get the part number of the alternator on my 54-plate Ford Fiesta 1.4-litre petrol model, and I had to take the live feed off because the number was underneath it. I touched the spanner to the bodywork and got a big spark, and now the car won't start. It will start with a small push and drives fine, and all the dash lights work fine. I have checked the fuses inside the car and all was fine there. Any ideas please?

Asked on 28 July 2010 by tonyboy

Answered by Alan Ross
It would appear that you have caused a short circuit somewhere in the starter circuit. I'm assuming that the starter does not turn over at all. Does the starter click at all when you turn the ignition key? You will need to check out all the wiring related to the starter circuit to see where the fault lies. I'm sure that you now know that you should always disconnect the battery before attempting to work on any electrics
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