went to head out tonight and the 8 wont start!! sounds like it normally does as it is starting, just wont fire up. i dont know too much about different sounds and whether it is alternator, battery or something else, but it sounds normal to me.

had a neighbor come out to jump it, but that didnt work either, still sounded the same. so i am assuming that it isnt the battery/alternator??


only thing i am worried about is that today i changed out the side markers and fog bulbs. it started then and all it did was just sit there this afternoon. no lights were left on or anything.

could having it at an angle for half an hour have done anything? could i have pulled a wire or something loose while changing fogs? dont see how, it was pretty simple.

please help if you can. looks like i'll be calling AAA in the AM and going in to work late.

thanks

 

I hate to ask this but is it flooded?

 

1.) Check for blown fuse? (not sure if the car will even crank but somebody mentioned a blown fuse resulted in him not starting the car)

2.) Did you attempt to start it using the flood procedure (with gas pedal fully depressed, etc...)

 

YOu may have flooded the engine if you started it, then stopped it without it warming up and let it sit. There's a short-trip procedure in the manual which talks about making sure the engine is warmed up prior to shutting it off to help prevent that problem.

You could try getting a jump from the neighbor to make sure the battery is good and crank the car with your gas pedal floored. Do it in 10-15 second cranks until it starts up.

Alternatively you could get it towed to the dealer to get it started also.

 

actually....i did start it for just a minute or two earlier in the day...so i didnt do the warmup cool down thing.

just tried the brake pedal start and nothing different, but MAN my brake pedal feels really stiff and doesnt move much. is that normal with the engine off??

what can i do tonight to get it started and go for a drive to set everything back to normal? if i cant then AAA in the AM to the dealer and i am sure they will get it going. but that means a lot of hassle and being quite late for work.


which fuse may be blown due to the headlight change? i went to the 80w fogs...but the fogs are still working even now, so i dont think i blew a fuse.

 

try to start it with GAS pedal floored, not the brake pedal, that wont do a damn thing. If it wont start then it is most likely flooded and a trip to the dealer will be required. If it does start, warm it up and drive the hell out of it for about 2 hours, that should do the trick.

 

err...yeah...the GAS pedal sounds much more logical...i see i misread it....i am a little upset right now so i guess i just didnt pay attention. (car is only 18 days old).

i just tried the GAS pedal start a few times and it progressiviely got closer and actually started for a brief second once. then didnt do anything after so it is probably flooded now for sure.

will keep trying this....hope it works. if/when i do start it i will go for a drive to let it all get straight

 

Sorry, bucko, you flooded the mother. You gotta let that thing idle for a few minutes when you move it cold.

 

yeah thanks! haha

went out this morning and hoped it would start, using the gas pedal method (read about it last night in the book too). almost worked but no luck.

tried disconnecting the fuel pump fuse and starting it and that almost worked too. now the battery seems to be dying from all this trying to start.

Mazda roadside service is on its way and i am going to be REALLY late to work. what a way to start the week!!

so if i make a short trip or have to start it just to move parking spots (which is what i did yesterday), i have to let it idle for a few minutes then rev it to 3000 rpm for a few seconds then i can turn it off??

 

You should have tried pushing it and popping the clutch to see if it will start as Rotarygod says..

Atleast now you'll get the L flash, that should help with flooding.

 

you know, you never said in any of your posts...do you have the automatic or the manual?

 

He has the manual I believe.. I've seen his car a couple times.

 

whats an automatic? hehe

i thought about the rolling start, but didnt feel like screwing with it...Mazda said it was flooded, changed the plugs, added some oil and burned that off....no problem, no $$. its all good.

 

oh...as for the L flash....they typed my VIN in and it came up not needing the flash. so didnt get it. i mentioned the M flash to him and he said if it isnt on the list of recalls they wont do it.

hmpfff...

 

Pinhy -

I started my week out the same way you did- flooded.
It's no fun is it?
My dealer would not replace the plugs tho - so you are one up on me there.
And by the way I already had the "L" flash before it flooded so that is not a cureall. It's strange how different dealers will do some things for you and not others.

 

true....if i find out i want to have the flash done, i am going to hit up a different dealer that i have heard will do it if asked. i just got mine 3 weeks ago so it may have already had it done.

have to wait for the 'M' to get out there and have that done.

 

When did you get your car backl? How long did it take? I saw a black 8 on dale mabery lastnight, was that you?