I've been having an unusual issue with my fathers 164.
Basically he has a late 1997 164 2.0 Twin Spark Super, he's owned since a few months old! Its been ran fairly regular most of it's life, and is in very good condition. Serviced regularly and always maintained well. In the last 7 years or so however, it has only been ran approx. 6 months a year (winter season) and then stored away.
Anyway, up until very recently, it has always ran perfectly with no issues. When the car was stored, the battery was disconnected, and when the time came to recommission her to the road, all it took was the battery to be reconnected (battery has been replaced a few times over the years) and she would fire up with no issues!
She had been running perfectly, and back in regular use, then on one evening, parked her up in the garage for the night, then the next morning went to go start her to go out, and she refused to start! 
Engine would crank/turn over, but she would not fire up! The most strange part about it all, is that the dashboard/instrument cluster, and AC/Climate control unit area, does NOT light up at all....however electricity does reach all of the other areas....ie power windows, all lights work etc etc.
The first thing that came to mind was it must be a fuse?! And a fuse was found that had blown, it is the one in the very far top right of the fuse box in RHD drivers foot well and is labeled as "Factory Security Devices". The car did NOT have a factory alarm only the key code immobiliser, however an aftermarket alarm system was fitted pretty much a few weeks after my father bought her, but a few years back was completely removed and isolated properly by the same auto-electrician, and is definitely not the issue. However this fuse keeps on blowing, as soon as you replace it, and turn the ignition key on, it blows. The thing is about this fuse, is that I am pretty certain this fuse was always obsolete and never in use in the past....but that being said, why would it be there and more to the point popping all the time if not in use?
I've tried replacing the fuel pump relay, as with the current issue, you can not hear the fuel pump priming when you turn the key and though it could be related, but no result....but the main baffling point is the dash not powering up....it appears as though current is not reaching the entire car when turning the key(the key barrel has been ruled out and tested by auto-electricians) and so it has come to a point now, that we genuinely don't know what to do.....its too good to scrap, and it really is in good condition and my father still loves her dearly and does not want to get rid of her.....I don't think it's an immobiliser issues, as the CODE light always went out and never stayed on in all time she has been used.
For those of you who have remained awake throughout my tale of woe, I applaud and thank you!
And it is to those especially I ask if anybody has any idea what the issue could be? I have tried searching for similar symptoms, but can not seem to find any references to other owners who have experienced the same problem?Even if anyone were to know of any specialist nearby to be able to call out or recover the vehicle to? We are based in West Yorkshire UK, it would be greatly appreciated....I really would like this resolving because its such a shame....
Many thanks in advance
CS
And neither does the climate control unit in the centre. No power or function at all....yet when the ignition is turned on, all the interior and exterior lights work, the power windows etc and the engine will crank/turn over when the key is turned....
