Starting and electrical problem on a '97 X300 4.0

[fast cars]

Recently my Daimler Six 4.0 refuses to start from the key, instead a live needs to be given to a relay which engages the starter it she will run, the following have also stopped working at the same time;

Starter cranking from key (as above)
Wipers not working
NSF lights all nw
Speedo nw

All obvious fuses seem to be OK, can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks
D

[a8hex]

Most electrical problems I've come across are down to slightly low voltages. But this is totally different. I would have thought there was a connector giving you grief if this many things have dropped out at one go.

[sogood]

If you run a feed to the (ignition)relay to start it, that suggests that the ignition switch/barrel itself is possibly suspect. This might also explain why you are missing some electrical components. The ignition switch itself, is in effect, still closed and using the wire is hot wiring it, to start.

Maybe try some graphite grease on the ignition key and jiggle it about inside the ignition. Also, try turning the key to the start position, slowly, while keeping the key pressed up and then down, forward/ back, like as though you are rotating the key while turning it.

[fast cars]

Thank you very much for both bits of info and advice, I will check both and see what happens.

Cheers
D