dave_evans

1991 n/a vert
about 117k miles

car was running fine on my way to a friends house, went to go out somewhere and the car won't start at all. won't crank, doesn't do anything. i doubt it's the battery because everything is working except starting the car.
lately it has been starting sort of sloppy, but i figured it's because it's been really cold out, it's actually about 25 degrees out right now.

maybe she's flooded? or could it be the starter maybe? i hope it's not an apex seal, i'm sure it isn't though.

somebody help!

marshall13B

iTrader: (5)

When you turn the key to start the car, what do you hear?

If you hear it turning but just wont fire up, that can be many things. But possibly flooded. Pull the fuse that runs the power to your fuel pump, turn it over a couple times. Then put the fuse back in and it should fire up (or just try push starting it). I took out my rear interior so I just disconect the plug thats back there, start the car then jump out and plug in the fuel pump before the car dies.

If you hear a click, and it doesn't even try (and you say you have power to everything else) it may be your starter.

Don't panic and call it an apex seal right away, Read your 2nd Gen FAQ, that's what it's there for. Read your FSM http://www.teamfc3s.org/main/factory...ual/1986_1988/ it can help you A LOT. Post video if you can.

dave_evans

I don't hear a thing! Literally, it doesn't do anything at all. I had the same problem with my old car. It started up kinda sloppy for a few days, like sluggish but would start and eventually didn't do anything and I wound up stranded at a shopping center in the pouring rain lol.
I did try the de-flood process with the EGI fuse and whatnot and it did the same thing, nothing. No clicks, no turns, nothing. I have power, so I know it can't be the battery or the alt because the voltage meter is normal when the car is off which I always check before starting the car fully. Like I said, its also been very cold lately in the 20s so I'm sure that doesn't help. I gotta get a tow so I can get the car back to my house so I'm not working on it in an appartment complex parking lot haha.
I know it can't be a seal now, I had none of the warning signs. I just automatically assume "**** IT WON'T START ITS A SEAL I TELL YOU!" cause the mileage is around 117k haha

duno1818

sounds like the starter to me

Rob XX 7

iTrader: (8)

what is sloppy starting? what do you mean?

Rollogic

iTrader: (1)

When you have tried to start it before (sloppy starting) does it just keep clicking a few times first and then finally fire up?

Might be the ignition switch under your steering column that's screwed into your key tumbler. Try pushing on the contacts of the ignition switch while trying to start it. It starts after doing that - that's your problem.

If that's the problem:
http://mazdatrix.com/86-92Electrical-Chassis.htm

dave_evans

Sloppy, like it would start up slow and sound like it was gonna die but would start anyway

dave_evans

It would start normal, just kinda slow. I'll check that out though!

FelixIsGod29X

iTrader: (50)

Try pop starting it in 2nd gear. If it starts then its probably your starter.

elmayimbe4eva27

iTrader: (2)

If its starting slow then your battery is low which would then mean your alternator is doing a bad job at charging it, or your alternator is fine and your battery needs to be changed. I live in NY as well, and you're right it has been very cold lately. Either way take them both (battery/alternator) to your local autozone (or whatever you're equivalent is) and have them test it for you, or test it yourself if you can manage; no offense.

dave_evans

Haha right? Its been freezing lately haha so when it wouldn't start I was barely able to look at it for more than 15 minutes at a time since it was like 10 o'clock at night. But yeah I might switch batteries with my old car, either way I'm still gonna try and push start it just to get it home and then install a new starter.

dave_evans

That's what I was gonna do, I just gotta have one of my dumb *** friends that drives to help me out when they're not working but of course they're all too busy getting high when they're not working so.. maybe I'll just have my mom help me haha. But once I get it to my house one way or another I'm gonna get the new starter and install it myself thanks to the teamfc3s files, its actually a lot easier than I thought. The last time a starter was changed on any of my cars it was done shitty and now the teeth grind and take a few tries to start. So hopefully with those files I can easily do it myself lol

satch

iTrader: (1)

With key to start the Black/Blue wire at the Starter Cut Relay should have voltage. If you have a factory alarm and it isn't getting in the way of the car starting then the Black/Green wire at the Starter Cut Relay should also have voltage w/key to start. If this doesn't occur then the car cannot start. If both wires do as they are supposed to then the Black/Red wire coming from the Starter Interlock Switch that feeds the starter solenoid should also have voltage w/key to start and the clutch depressed. The Starter Cut Relay is located next to the Main Relay and the Starter Interlock Switch is located on top of the clutch pedal.

dave_evans

*update*

Just got the car home finally with a push start
Turned it off, but I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to start it again and it started right up. Could it be the cold weather ******* with the starter?

Rotary_Junkie

^^^^^^^same symptons here. it seems the cold weather floods my car like crazy

WannaFD

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like its either the starter or possibly your ignition switch, but most likely the starter

LunchboxCritter

iTrader: (9)

The cold weather is really hard on batteries. If your battery is not in tip top shape the cold weather will let you know.

Hard starts are hard on your starter, and are also hard on your alternator because you are using it charge a dead/near dead battery.

marshall13B

iTrader: (5)

Take your battery in to get tested. They charge it for around 3 hours and then test it, if it fails - Recommend new battery. Do your dome lights or ANYTHING electrical come on? If not, it's your battery. If they do. Yank your starter out and take it in to get tested. Take your alternator out and get it tested too.

dave_evans

Yeah, everything electrical works well and I don't really have any problems with the battery and I don't believe the alternator has a problem either. The starter has been weird, it will pretty much start when it wants to as long as the car temp is good. I'm getting a new starter today and will install it tomorrow and if nothing changes I'll replace the igniton switch haha. Push starting the car every morning is getting annoying and doing a number on my legs haha

Rotary_Junkie

just wonderring....change the starter? did it fix ur problem?

rotary_bünta

iTrader: (3)

i had a start problem that was similar, all my lights worked too but the according to the autozone who test my battery said that the batter had no amps in it? so i needed a new battery so i would assume that would have been caused by the alternator not charging correctly. popped in the new battery and started right up.

dave_evans

Yeah, I changed the starter and everything works fine now. Sometimes it grinds though and cranks slowly, so I'm gonna try and change the battery since its had the same one forever haha