Xander

Ok so I'm at the mall doin some shopping and I go to leave and the car goes to start as normal..normal sound from starter..then the sound changes to just kinbd of a "wind" still sounds like a starter but a different pitch...car won't start..I put gas in it bc the needle was low and still nothing..I went to jump start it and it wouldn't work but for a second all the lights went out and the steering wheel went "limp" it would turn from right to left without the wheels actually turning..at that point I just gave up and now I'm writing on here...last time I had it serviced mazda said it was due for a battery..could this be it? Starter? If so why would steering wheel go limp like that? Please help guys its christmas abd I'm stuck at the mall!!

Old Rotor

Get a battery...

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Need a good battery...but if you flooded it..the easiest way to start it is to pull it..if it's a MT

Then you can get a new battery and go from there when you have it home...

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

As Old Rotor was saying, how old is your battery? That could be the only issue. Except now it is probably flooded.

Alexb

iTrader: (1)

My guess is bad battery or bad connection on battery. Loosen the connectors and clean the terminals. Use water and baking soda. A few weeks ago my ground terminal was causing my car not to start and the lights and stuff wouldn't work. I un-hooked it, used my fingers, cleaned it a bit, connected it back up and it worked fine.

Xander

Is there anything special I'm gonna have to do after putting in newe battery? If flooded what's the best way to get it goin again? I kno I should be searching for this but my blackberry isn't good for browsing the web...

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Foot to the floor till it burps...then give it gas to keep it running..if that doesn't work then try pulling it

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

And you'll have to reestablish your TCS if you have it. Turn the wheel all the way to the right then left.

Xander

Earlier whn I said I tried to jumpstart it I meant pushstart....if I hook it up to cables and the battery is the problem then it should act as normal right? And if its flooded and holding petal down doesn't work then I gotta take plugs out and dry them off?

Xander

ok car is running...i think that the problem was me letting it get too low on gas..when i started it that first time it sputtered then quit..possible it sputtered pulling out the last bit of gas left...i put gas in it and did tall the steps for flooding (using cables and my camaro)..its running now and has started up just fine since...my question is what was up with the steering wheel going limp when i tried pushstarting it? is the steering wheel not connected directly to the wheels without electronic assistance? kinda scary what if that happened while driving?

Old Rotor

The power assist steering is Direct-drive electric and if there is no electric no assist.