I may have an electrical problem with the car. Lately everytime I try to srart the car, but especially when cold, it will not start, it wont even crank. All the lights inside the car will just flicker and dim. However when I move the battery terminals around it'll fire right up. I checked all the connetections and evrything is fine. This happened to me in the past but lately it has been happening to me all the time. Last month a similar thing happened and my power sttering gave out too. Had to have the power steering module replaced. Yesterday the power steering was out again, but after starting the car today morning everything was back to normal. I'm taking the car in today but likely the dealership wont find anything and knowing my luck it'll start evrytime without a problem. Any guesses to what the problem might be? Thanks

 

Either one of the battery connectors isn't making GOOD contact or you have a loose ground connection. To start the car there is a large current draw and the connections need to be tight to allow the current to flow.
The steering may or may not have been related to the problem. Sometimes it is due to a loose connector that is located below the air intake/cleaner box. You have to remove the lower tray to get to it.

 

Im sure that there is a good connection. I replaced the brackets that go on the battery terminals, cleaned all the connecting surfaces and made sure everything is bolted down properly. I also replaced the battery and the starter a few months ago. It just doesnt make sense that its been happening for such a long time, and I made sure there's a proper connection many times. The power steering may not have anything to do with this problem but it gave out twice right after I could not start the car. Maybe just a strange coincidence but i doubt it.

 

Just because you have a new battery doesn'tmean its not bad.

Charge it over night.

Check for a draw off the battery.

 

The battery is fine. It tested somewhere in the low 600's (CCA).
Well my power steering went out last Thurday but came back this morning. No point of taking it in now since everything is working an knowing Mazda they'll say they cant replicate the problem. Any other suggestions?

 

I get that same flickering problem when trying to start the car. Wont even try to start, the starter doesnt even crank.

After a while it works, but I have to recalibrate the steering wheel.

Happened a few hours ago, and I pushed in all the relays in the bottom right relay box in engine bay, when I sat back down it cranked right away.

Not sure if that was it though...

Have you figured out why this is happening ?

 

Well - you know where the problem is then .

 

try checking the ground from the frame of the car to the lower manifold on the passenger side. had that problem before...