So...there ya go...I need a little bit of help . Anyways, I was driving on the highway near my house (with the music a little loud, I guess), and all of a sudden my car dies on me. NOTHING was working besides all of the "electrical appliances," such as the headlights, taillights, and everything else that wasn't engine-dependent. I said to myself, "WTF is going on?!?!?!?" I tried restarting the motor when I was coasting off the exit toward my house, and the motor would only spin (it would turn on). I stop on the side of the street so that I could call and get a tow truck.

The tow truck came, and the guy was trying to "teach me how to be a mechanic" at 11:30 PM. Well, he asked me to start the engine, and it wouldn't even turn over--NOTHING AT ALL...IT WOULDN'T MOVE! My hunch is that something is stuck because after the car cooled down, then it wouldn't turn over.

When I came home, I took my AP and tried to check the codes...nothing was wrong except for my TPMS, which I normally have on anyways.

Do you guys have any thoughts as to what I should do at this point?

 

Perhaps (internet diagnostics is an imperfect science....) you killed the battery while driving.

The battery was working fine, even after the engine quit, the headlights worked - then you say that when AAA arrived, it wouldn't even turn over. The battery would have spun the engine, your battery is dead, and it seems to me (Internet Diagnostic Technician, First Class) that is your problem.

......but don't take advise from random strangers whos only qualification is 'possession of a computer!'

S

 

sounds like you ran out of gas (fuel pump ?) then drained the battery trying to get it going . Sorry that's all i got .....

 

^Ahh...forgot to mention, we tried to jump start it. It still wouldn't turn over!

 

When you say it didn't turn over do you mean it just went click from the starter motor ?

How good were the cables you used to try jump starting it ? If your battery is dead you need really good cables to get enough current through them ...

Do you have fuel getting through to the plugs ?

 

1) There was a slight click noise I guess... more like A LOT of resistance to get the motor started.

2) I'm not sure, but I'm assuming they were fine (the guy told me he tows mostly high-end cars).

3) How could I determine that?

 

pull your plugs and see if they are wet .
You have a couple of things going on here - your original problem and possibly your battery is discharged as well .
I doubt very much that your motor is seized but if you have someone who could help you try and push start it you should try that and see what happens . assuming you know how to do that .

 

ummm...yea, I'll try those two things tomorrow. It's too late now 1:40 AM. Thanks for the help though! I really appreciate it! BTW, this is under warranty, I am just curious to see what the problem is before I take it in. I also need to uninstall my COBB AP before giving it in...

 

yeah warranty - don't know the meaning of the word . Heh .

Good luck - hope is nothing serious .

 

The AP can check you battery voltage so you can at least rule that part out. I think it has to be above or around 13.7

 

$10.00 its your battery lol

 

I also say battery...a good battery should b 12.7V

 

cool....I'll go check that now

 

Battery.

 

BigRed, I'm hoping it's somethign simple like the battery. keep us posted

 

11.3 Volts... but I had my lights on last night for a good hour and a half before the tow truck came (the car was on the side of a street ). anyways, i appreciate your help people

 

1.3 while running?

 

Something else happened here. I don't buy the battery theory. Low battery voltage would have set off a light on the dash, and you'd need the alternator to go out too to stop the engine. If the alternator went, then the car would run till the battery went flat, but then he wouldn't have been able to leave the lights on for an hour and a half.

Unfortunately, I don't have any better answers as to what happened.

 

no...the car won't start! ^^

 

i agree

 

you didn't mention this little gem of info last night .
your battery is discharged so you need to sort that one out before you can trouble shoot the original problem .
Have you tried taking the plugs out yet ?

 

You said you tried to start it while costing to a stop. Did you crank the engine? or try and start it by putting it into gear and popping the clutch?

I think the next step is to pull the plugs and see if the engine is fllooded, and check for blown fuses or loose wires.

Grasping at straws here.

Brettus is right. you need to charge your battery/ make sure it's not damaged

 

sorry... no, but I'd rather not... i don't have that much time this weekend to figure out what to do, and I don't really feel that comfortable doing it. mazda roadside assistance (gotta love free service ) is coming within 45 minutes thankfully... i'll have another car to drive for a few days because my dad is out of town... thanks again for all the help guys!

 

This happened to me last year.

I was driving at 80 mph and my car shut off COMPLETELY

Had to be flatbedded, battery was TOASTED. Nothing left, got it replaced under my batteries 3 year warranty.

 

wow sounds exactely like what happened to me. Car just died, lights and acc would turn on, but all that would happen when i cranked it was just a click and nothing else. Motor wouldnt turn over, and there was a slight whine... I swore it was the battery or starter, but I had it towed to Mazda anyway. Engine was fried, seized rotors....dont know, good luck..