I have an 87 N/A that wont start. I have had a problem with the car for a while now and installed a fuel cut off switch for occasions when it gets flooded. Twice now I have moved my car from the garage to the street and shut it off and it wouldnt start after. The first time I took it to the Mazda dealer and they got it running (they installed new battery, spark plugs and told me that they had to drag it around the lot to get it running.) Well that was 2 months ago. I looked at the plugs and they were fine. Now when I crank the key it doesnt sound like the engine is trying to turn over all I get is a whizzing sound like the starter is turning but not the engine. I dont want to take the car back to the dealer every 2 months and am about to just dump the car. Can anybody give me any suggestions before I do that?

Thanks

 

sounds like you're REALLY flooded if it's making that "no friction" funky starter sound. How old are the injectors? Pull the upper plugs & see if they're wet...

 

not sure how old the injecters are. I pulled the plugs and they werent bad or wet. I am going to try to unflood it with atf tonight.

 

Don't move it when its cold and just shut it off right away. My 88 GTU did the same thing when I moved it cold and shut it off in less than a minute. We got it started after replacing the plugs and just kept trying to start it

 

If your plugs aren't wet it could be something else entirely...you don't smell gas on the plugs or when you're trying to start it?

 

This sounds to me like the starter isn't functioning properly. When the solenoid gets power, it is supposed to kick out the plunger so the gear in the starter engages the flywheel teeth. When the plunger doesn't move, the starter will spin but not engage the flywheel. With no resistance it spins pretty damn fast, hence the whizzing noise. I'd get under the car and hit it with a rubber mallet a couple times, then see if the starter engages the flywheel when you crank the key. A permanent fix is to take out the starter, clean it, and check all the connectors in the solenoid and starter motor. If you don't know how, then you can use it as a core when you go buy a new (well, reman, but good as new) starter.

 

P{ush sytarting either means the start isn';t turning enough to get it running or something internal like injectors flooding or bad engine/compression

 

heck, just see if your pulleys/ belts are turning through the windshield with the starter crankin', or have someone be your "eyes", or use a mirror

 

hmm, when I turn the key all the pulleys and fans spin but the engine doesnt even try to turn over. Any suggestions?

 

OK different terminology here.

It is turning over because the fans and pulleys won't move unless the engine turns over as well.

Your probably not spinning it enough to get running(bad starter/connection) or your not getting spark or fuel.

 

Ok, Good News (for me, I think) I got the car running. I pulled my engine fuze and spark plugs and inserted some atf in the bottom plug holes and a couple days later after some trying it finally started and it smoked like hell and it is still smoking. My question is I have smoke coming from somewhere inside the engine compartment and under the car from the exhaust right in the middle of the car. Does this mean I have an exhaust leak and something wrong with the engine. I cant tell where the smoke from the engine is coming from somewhere behind and under the engine.

 

Ok, Good News (for me, I think) I got the car running. I pulled my engine fuze and spark plugs and inserted some atf in the bottom plug holes and a couple days later after some trying it finally started and it smoked like hell and it is still smoking. My question is I have smoke coming from somewhere inside the engine compartment and under the car from the exhaust right in the middle of the car. Does this mean I have an exhaust leak and something wrong with the engine. I cant tell where the smoke from the engine is coming from somewhere behind and under the engine.

 

If you must start it just to move it a few feet, let it idle for a couple minutes so it starts to warm up.
Then it's less likely to flood.