Car wont start. Weird problem.
 

Today I reset my computer after swapping out my cold air intake back to the stock air box.

Took it out for a ride, it felt fine. The ride was about 10 minutes.

Came back home. Parked it in the garage.

Went inside for a few hours, had to go out to the market so I went to get in the 8 again.

Won't start.

But before I get in, the remote unlocks the door. The inside lights turn on.
When key is in the "On" position, all the lights are there, then as soon as I turn it to start I hear nothing. All inside lights die, all dash lights die. No clicking from the engine compartment, nothing to indicate that the car is trying to start or turn over. Just a scary silence.

In the dash theres a small red light in the shape of a car that slowly fades out in about 3 seconds.

Wtf is happening?

dead battery?

Wouldn't I heard the rapid ticking?

Would I have noticed lights dimming, or anything else seeming "not right" before this?

Just seems to have come out of nowhere.

*shrug*

I guess I'll try to jump it in the morning.

back track the process of installing the stock airbox, seems weird it would occur after reinstalling it.

I agree w/ dillsrotary.

yep.

beers :beer:

Battery terminal or you left a light on or something.

I think its your theft system. Maybe the CHIP in your key went bad.

I hope so. I did disconnect the battery at one point during the process. I'll have to go down and make sure they're connected tight.

Could be gunked up with battery acid also.



ps: On a lot of cars, I've see the white / blueish battery acid fuzz type stuff. The 8 was the first car I've seen have purple goo around the terminals. Weird.

Guys, thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

So then technically I can use the valet key right?

yep. I had a key made when I bought my 8 and the dealers machine was down so they couldn't connect to mazda to program my key. They didn't tell me this until after when I had already tried to use the key and the the car would not turn over. I would get all of the lights and radio and everything, but when I turned it over, NOTHING, no clicks. just the flashing red theft light.

You were right. One of the terminals was loose enough to freely rotate.

I must have inadvertently loosened it when disconnecting it last night. So I disconnected both terminals, cleaned them, then re tightened everything. Car started. Hoorah.

Took it out for a little morning run. The car runs much stronger now that I have the aftermarket intake removed. But that could also be from resetting the computer.

She's fun to drive again.



Thanks for the other suggestions guys.