Walked into the garage yesterday to fire my baby up. (Don't like to leave it alone for too many days. 5 since starting and driving, this time) Inserted key, turned, and no start. Okay, everything sounded psuedo-normal for a cold start on a somewhat cold day. Turn again. No start. Turn again, and I don't like to grind it for that 10 sec mark. Not even close. Usually, she fires right up. No dice. Getting pissed. Try again. No workee. Flooded perhaps? Pedal down full, turn key. Nothing. Wait a while.... One beer, two beers, three beers, who's counting... Prayers said, attempt again. Ladies and gents, the sound wasn't normal. Sounded as if nothing was engaging, and just the starter was whining. Getting scared. Strong battery, try again. Didn't even sound like she was trying to turn over. Just that high starter sound, ya' know? Getting bad scared. Went to my Wrangler and thanked her for running, because I just haven't reached the acceptance phase, yet. If anyone, and I mean anyone, has any words of wisdom, please yell! I baby my baby and this is just damn peculiar, not to mention wrong. Thanks for any help. -Gary https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...O_DIR#>/11.gif

get a body bag and a priest.

Mine wont start either....... but then again it is on my buddies basketball court in his backyard, covered with bout 8" of snow and has a dead battery https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/blink.png .



I dont really know what to tell you.... so you say that the starter doesnt even sound like it is spinning the flywheel????

If it sounds like the starter isn't engaging then the starter might be bad. Does it sound normal when you try to turn it over? If it isn't turing over then matbe you should check for spark. Did anyone have access to your car and palay a game by disconnecting the plug wires?

gotta be more descriptive a to the sound.



Is the ONLY sound you hear the starter motor going at a high speed, with no other engine sounds whatsoever?



If so, im not sure what type of starter is on the 3rd gen, but I've seen on fords where the overrunning clutch on the starter doesn't push the starter oout to engage the flywheel there-by only spinning the starter not evern attempting to crank the engine.



Maybe just your starter pooped on you like it does on fords?



kevin.

if the engine is spinning but sounds like there is no compression, i think you have a flooded engine.

Do you know if you have a bad water o-ring?? sometimes letting it sit for many days, the water sips inside the engine. if you couldn't get it to start with the padel down crank trick.

Try taking out the spark plugs, crank the engine and clean out the inside, and put a set of new plugs in. That should do it.

Thanks for all the words. I do appreciate it. Got home and attempted to start again. Negs on the response. As far as starter noise, I'll try and emulate. Please keep in mind, that before, approx. 5 days ago, she would fire right up with minimal effort. You know, on a good vehicle start, you get the great turn over and it engages. Yeah, vrooom, vrooom, vrooom to zoom, zoom, zoom. Well, on my girl, on key turn, I get sort of like a...here goes....a high...whiny reearrrrrrrrrr. Nothing, and I mean nothing is engaging. Don't make me do that again. It's too painful. Plugs? Starter? What would ring or seal failure symptoms be? Thanks for the words, could use some more. Anger....building. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/angry.png

just check and see if the engine is spinning when you crank the starter. if it does, the starter is good.

i think engine is not making compression due to the flooded situation, thats why its spinning fast and whines, since there is no resistance.

if it is almost like a circular saw-like sound, your starter might not be fully engaging, and or the teeth might be worn out.....double check the battery and alternator for charging.....however, to me, and having had FD starter issues as well, you should take it off and check it out.....it does not take any more that 30 minutes....jack that puppy up, and disconnect the negative battery cable.....undo the solenoid, and take the 2 bolts off the main brace....i believe that they are 12 or 14 mm....



GOOD LUCK



LOU

LMFAO

Alright. Just walked in from the garage. Another attempt. I don't even want to speculate, so I'll just throw out the facts. It sounds like there is movement in the motor. The starter is working it, I believe. It just doesn't have that.....uummmph, ya' know...that solid engagement on a good start. If it were flooded, and the plugs were totally fouled, what kind of symptoms would I see? Thanks all. -Gary

if you are by yourself, you can make sure if the starter works or not, just open the hood and put a mirror there and see when you crank if the engine spins. i think it is.



you will see wet or damp plug tip when you take them out.

just take them out, its not much work. crank the engine with the spark plug out, put a fresh set back in, and it should be fine.

Onboost. Going to give it a shot, man. I thank you for the assist, even if it doesn't do the trick....but, I for damn sure, hope it does. Was checking out plug location. Mighty tighty work area, but I'll break both wrists before I pay the local Mazda dealer $85+ an hour to do what I'm fairly sure I can accomplish. Take it easy and I'll let you know tomorrow what happens. If anybody else has any thoughts, please feel free to fire them this way. I'm a crazeee loose FD cannon right now, and I'm livin' in a mad real world. Later all, from Scott AFB, in IL. -Gary

maybe try to get it rollin and pop start it https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...IR#>/dunno.gif that always worked for me

yea that is a good idea too, pull/push start the car will work usually.

change the plpugs from the underside......it is 10x easier than trying from above.....



is the battery any good.......is it spinning over, and does not have the oomph because the fuel pump is not priming or working right????





your symptoms are vague, and hard to tell.....good luck....



louis

What's going on with this? Have you gotten any further with it? If you need some help, hit me up on AIM: Pcola FD.