Solved: Wont start! HELP PLEASE (I did search!)
 

Okay well long story short my 8 just wont start. 2004 AT 50,150 miles.
Tried deflooding several times (including pulling 20A pump fuse and pulling plugs, no result)
New plugs and coils only 5k miles ago
New battery 6 months ago
Cleaned MAF
Cleaned ESS
Brake Pedal reset

nothing has worked :/ ive worked on it all yesterday and searched, no luck. i need help getting her started im already missing class today. please help

can you describe what happens when you attempt to start?
Do you have fuel?

I do have fuel, tested all my fuses and they work.
I know the engine is getting fuel as well.
when i try starting, it just cranks and cranks but never starts. Twice its gotten close (successfully sparks one power stroke) then dies. but id like to note thats twice out of like 20 attempts between yesterday 5pm and this morning at 7am

dude, push start or tow start it. Put it in neutral, keep the ignition at on, have a friend push the car and put it in 2nd gear let the clutch go.

It will run like crap at the beginning so dont let it die

if my car wasnt a 4 speed auto, i would do that. i said it in the first post...

pull the plugs out and let them dry out? Maybe crank with no plugs to get the fuel out of the motor? Not sure its a good idea but it could work if its heavily flooded

You need to get the gas off the plugs.

Nothing else will work, sounds like you don't own a sparkplug wrench.....

How much time did you spend on deflooding?
It could take anywhere from 30min to few hours....fyi.
Yes, you'll need another car or something to keep your battery alive.

ill do that when i get a chance. i own a plug socket but the car is on grass so i cant jack it up right now.

used another car to keep battery alive, ive spent several hours total between last night and this morning

Won't start until you clean the plugs!

Do it from above, I never jack it up just for plugs.....

Try keeping a car charger on low amp charge for a couple of days. It happens to me and replaced the same parts you did. It started right up after 2 days of charging the battery. Also check to see if you have the updated starter, I think there was a bulletin for the 04 models. Correct me if iam wrong. Good luck

still no luck...debating taking/towing it to mazda tomorrow :/

update:
returned car to stock (minus TB Coolant bypass mod) and will be towed to mazda tomorrow morning.

i said a couple of days not a couple of hours.

He that art too lazy to pull thine plugs,

Payeth the dealer thou shalt....

Pariah - 5:22

i did pull the plugs, i went through everything i could here and nothing. Cleaned them, dried them, cranked a bunch and repeated, no avail. Checked fuses and all. We will see what happens tomorrow.

Are you sure getting fuel....
Mine happened b4,it's fuel pump problem...

it is getting fuel

It is too bad you aren't closer, I would offer to help you out rather than tell you to go to the dealer. I guess no one can offer to take a look at the man's car?

Update, did the dealer get it running?

Wondering what it was?

thank you, thats very nice :) contacted some of the locals here only to have them scratching their heads, too.


yes, dealer got it running.
1) Yes, it was flooded; BUT, it was already too damaged by the time I found it.
2) No, I did NOT pay a dime. Thats right, it was covered under a engine flooding warranty the car is apparently under while its under the 8yr/100k mi Engine Core ESP. Lucky me! Here's the story

Yesterday morning at 7am, I call AAA and have my car towed on a flatbed to the dealership. Mind you that Monday when I had called the dealer and checked fine print, they told me that if the issue is flooding that it would be covered under that warranty; however if it was not flooding that i would be obligated to get a $98 diagnostic on the car. When I arrived to the dealer at 8:30am yesterday they reminded me of such, I accepted those terms (I wouldve needed the diagnostic if flooding wasnt the issue anyways), and they began trying to deflood the car.

Upon removing the spark plugs, they realized how severe the flooding was. Before continuing, they removed the cat converter in hopes to save it from additional damage, leaving just the header since there was no connecting pipe to the catback. Also, the spark plugs from flooding became fouled and needed to be replaced, which was scary for me because I just got new coils and plugs and was thinking I had to buy plugs again only now at the price of my left kidney from the dealer. To my surprise and relief, the deflood warranty also covered NEW oem plugs from the dealer! :worship:

So after making sure the engine was completely drained, they put in the new plugs and gave it a try (the service manager came to me and asked if it had new coils, too. after confirming with him the car does, he told me "okay they are going to throw the plugs in now and try to start it". I know it fired up in the first few attempts, because i heard it from INSIDE the customer lounge, over 1,500ft away from the garage bay. It was rather funny as when i heard it, i stopped what i was doing and looked up at another customer waiting for their car. He even commented "what the hell was that", and when i told him it may be my car, he replied "what do you drive a formula 1 car???" I died laughing.

About 90 mins after that (they had put the cat converter back on and taken it for a drive to make sure all is good), the car was back in my possession and I drove home happily with my car repaired and all parts and labor were covered under warranty~ :icon_tup:

Yes, I got very lucky that happened, AND that I had such a pleasant experience. They told me car is in GREAT health and it should run fine.

The car flooded because it was improperly shut off (engine was cold), and the gasoline sitting on the plugs from 7am-6pm, plus the additional flooding when a family member tried cranking it before making me aware of the issue, is what killed the plugs. Just more evidence to everyone how important it is to NOT shut this car off cold. Lesson learned

Also MODS or an ADMIN, please feel free to modify the thread topic to include "Problem resolved"

I'll make the title change.

And note, you got quite lucky. Deflooding isn't covered under the 8yr 100k warranty, but your dealer thought it was. Only diagnosis of a failed engine and replacement of that engine is actually covered. But, your gain here. Also very smart of them to disconnect the cat. Too few people do that. Even the 8yr warranty expires 8yrs after purchase. 2004 + 8 = 2012. Yours must have been a late purchase in 2004, or a carry-over until 2005 before selling.

The description on the paperwork reads "crank no start"
I must have gotten very lucky indeed, I didnt believe it was covered however i wasnt going to say anything about it!
I am on good ground with my dealer. I always get my oil changed with them every 3k miles or 4 months, i stay on top of the car and maintenance, everything. Its quite possible I got lucky and they helped me out for doing my part all the time. who knows.
and the car was purchased originally in Nov. of 2004, and I have the warranty till 11/5/2012