Dead Astra Won't Start: Ignition Switch vs Battery Issues?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2011 Vauxhall Corsa (1.4L petrol). I have some experience working on cars, mainly basic maintenance stuff. The symptoms were exactly the same, totally dead when trying to start. Took it to my local mechanic, and it turned out to be a faulty wiring harness. Some wires had worn out and were causing the electrical system to fail. Cost me around 95€ to get it sorted, including labor. The mechanic replaced the damaged section, and it's been running fine since then. Before you jump to conclusions about the ignition switch, any warning signs before this happened? Have you checked if the battery is good? Which engine variant do you have? Let me know these details, and I might be able to help you narrow it down further!

Thanks for your response! My Astra has 16336 KM on the clock and was just serviced last month. Actually, now that you mention it, I did notice the key fob wasn't working properly for a few days before this happened, had to unlock the car manually. I already tried jump-starting it with another car, but no luck. The battery's pretty new, replaced it about 6 months ago. The weird thing is, there's absolutely no electrical response, no dash lights, no clicks, nothing at all when I turn the key. I checked all the obvious fuses too, and they seem fine. Given what you mentioned about the wiring harness, I'm starting to think it might be something similar. Would you recommend getting it towed to a garage, or is this something worth trying to diagnose at home first?

Hey again! After reading about your key fob issues and complete electrical silence, I'm even more convinced it's similar to what I experienced with my Corsa. So, after my wiring harness incident, I actually had another electrical problem last year that sounds exactly like what you're describing, total electrical death and key fob acting up beforehand. Turned out the main battery terminal connections were completely corroded, even though the battery itself was fine. Looked okay on the surface but was a mess underneath! Since you've got a newer battery, I'd definitely check those connections before getting it towed. Pop the hood and take a really good look at the battery terminals, sometimes there's corrosion hiding under those covers. If they're crusty or green, that could be your whole problem right there. I'd suggest: 1. Check those terminal connections first, clean them if needed 2. If that's not it, check the main ground strap from the battery to the chassis 3. If still nothing, then yeah, might be time for a tow From my experience, I'd say try these checks first, could save you a towing bill! But if you're not comfortable poking around electrical stuff, no shame in calling a pro. These Vauxhalls can be tricky with electrical gremlins sometimes! Let me know if you want me to explain the terminal cleaning process, learned that one the hard way!

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! Just checked the battery terminals as you suggested, and wow, you were spot on! The negative terminal was completely covered in greenish corrosion under the plastic cover. Can't believe I missed this during my initial checks. I've cleaned it up using an old toothbrush and some baking soda solution (found a YouTube tutorial), and guess what? The car started right up! Even the key fob is working properly again. You've just saved me a expensive towing bill and probably a hefty garage fee too. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, especially about checking under those terminal covers. I've learned my lesson about doing more thorough checks before assuming the worst. Thanks again for your help!