Hi,

Was driving my 98 1.6 petrol weekend yesterday with no issues. Recently the only thing I did to the car was replace a headlight two days ago.

Today I tried to start it and it wouldnt turn over at all. Totally dead. No lights on the dash, or interior.

So I got my wifes punto and attempted a jump start. I would only turn over two or three times before dying again while running off her battery.When I disconnected the jump leads it was again totally dead.

Any ideas?
Thanks.

I am pretty sure the Punto and Marea take the same battery. I would take the battery off the Punto and put it on the Marea then try again. If the Marea battery has developed an internal short it could drag a jump start battery down enough to stop it working.

If that works leave the Punto battery on and get the charging system checked out if that is ok just buy a new battery and you should be ok.

Good luck

Excellent advice thanks. I tried the punto battery and it worked like a charm!

Pesky battery.

Winter is the time for them to let go. Sometimes the can be saved with a desulphating charger but if you dont have access to one its time to head to the motor factors for a new battery.

Hellcat said:

Pesky battery.

Winter is the time for them to let go. Sometimes the can be saved with a desulphating charger but if you dont have access to one its time to head to the motor factors for a new battery.

Click to expand...

Maybe I spoke too soon. So it worked with my wifes battery. I went and bought a new one and the car wont start with it. I put my wifes battery back in and now it still wont work.
It turns over but sounds like a person with dry cough.
I had a look at the plugs and the plug on the drivers side was really black and wet and had some grit on it. The rest were ok. I scrubbed it up with a wire brush but still no luck.

It sounds like you have two separate issues here.

Your initial post was that the engine would not turn over even with a jump start. I assume that the situation now is that the engine turns over but does not start.

Possible reasons for this are:

1. Crankshaft position sensor.
2. Problem on the ignition side, spark plugs, plug leads or coil pack.
3. Problem on the fuel injection.

I would check the crankshaft position sensor first as they do fail and cause non-starting problems, the ECU will not allow the engine to start until it gets a signal telling it where the crankshaft is in its cycle.

Good luck

Sounds like a duff alternator and possibly battery to me. Charge up the wife's battery and try starting the car if it starts and runs, then it's prob' the alternator.
While you got it running measure the voltage across the terminals, should be over 12v, I think nearer 14V??

lazy starter motor maybe..

Hello , this might sound like a silly suggestion but have you checked the fuel cut off switch under the seat , mine died a few weeks ago and turned over sounding like a dry cough.
Hope you get it sorted.

Joker

this is an electrical fault that started after an electrical repair so you probably have an earth leak somewhere; disconnect battery and fully charge it; renew spark plugs (never worth cleaning them); check all electrics turned off ; reconnect battery and try again; if it runs ok then check again for anything electric that is stuck on eg boot light and look for an earth leak.....