Malfunction Indicator Light. Car won't start.

[Primera2.0SEGT]

Hi Guys,
Went to set of for work this morning and my car wouldn't start. It almost did and then died. I then tried it several times again but the engine just wouldn't kick in. It just whirred a bit. Electrics all seem fine (I think). Fuelled up fully. The Malfunction Indicator Light on the dash is illuminated. Does anyone have any ideas?
The car is a 98 Nissan Primera 2.0SE (UK).
I've looked in the little handbook that came with it and it suggests the fuel filter might have water in it. Now I did wash the car yesterday, but only by hand. NO pressure washer and NO car wash was involved, just a rather sedate run around with a sponge and a few buckets of water. Surely that can't be the cause... or can it?
Hope someone out there can shedd some light on it, i'm not the most technical of people.