1.1 desire problem

11th October 2013, 20:56

Right cut the long story short went to work early this morning car started fine drove half a mile to the cashpoint got out turned engine off etc. when getting back in the car it would not start I tried bump starting no joy. Ended up having to jump start it from a mates proton savvy. Continued my drive to work which is a few miles and the car drove like shit lumpy as anything jerky it idles that low that it feels like the car is going to die. I have a few suspicions either battery, alternator, spark plugs, ICv, all of which I've had no trouble with before this car normally runs smoothly and drives great. Anybody had similar issues? Thanks

12th October 2013, 03:27

When you say it wouldn't start I assume you mean it wouldn't turn over. If that was the case your battery is dead and needs replacing. The lumpy running was because the battery was on its last legs.

Alternatively your alternator may have stopped charging the battery but you'd have noticed the battery light below the speedo lit .

Try it with another battery, making sure the battery light goes out when the engine is running.

13th October 2013, 15:14

Start the car, while idling, open the bonnet and use a multimeter to measure the voltage between the positive and negative on the battery, if this is over 14.25v, then your alternator is working fine, if under, then you have a problem.

If over 14.25v (ish) then as above says, buy a new battery