JT74

I was sitting in the car with the AC on, and it suddenly began to idle rough. Then the engine died. I don't think it overheated because I hadn't had it turned on for very long.

I did get it to start one more time after that and turned it right back off because the idle was so bad. Then I tried it a couple hours later and nothing. It's trying to turn over so it's not the battery. I even had someone try to jump me just in case with no luck. It just won't start. At all.

Any ideas what this could be, from best case scenario to worst? The check engine light would come on on from time to time but it was usually off. It always ran fine. It has gas and oil. Someone suggested changing the spark plugs?

R.S.LOGAN

I would get your battery tested / checked or charged . Also the alternator output checked .When you try jump starting a car you must have decent leads and a good connection on both vehicles . A lot of times when people try jump starts they have one or both of these faults and then , naturally assume that it is not the battery at fault .I wish I had a pound / dollar for the number of times I've had this on breakdown callouts and for the owner to say " What did you do , I tried a jump start " usually with Mickey Mouse leads .

JT74

The thing is it was already running before it died. And I can hear the starter working when I turn the key, even more aggressively when it was hooked to someone's battery, but the engine won't start. Usually when my battery's dead I don't hear the starter working, just faint clicking or total silence. The power windows and radio still work fine also.

Bert

When you turn the key to run, do you hear the fuel pump come on for a few seconds? It should do it every time the key is turned on. If it does, check for spark at one of the plugs.

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Bert