start-stalling problem
tbolivar
04-04-2004, 01:59 PM
Hi there
I've tried all sources, including my Mazda dealer and other repair facilities. My Mazda has only recently had this problem.
Please bare with me and I'll give you a little background.
- Its a 1989 323 with approx 300,000 kms (I'm in Canada)
- Its a Automatic transmission with the P/B Overdrive.
- Its of course the 1.6 litre
- New Die-Hard Battery, Alternator
- I've never had a problem with this car until now.
The problem occured, it seems after we had very cold weather here, (about -17C), Vancouver BC Canada (west coast). One morning I started the car and went on my way to work. I noticed the temp gauge MAX out, and then as quickly as it increased it came down in about 2-3 minutes. Very fast. I didn't think anything of it after it came back down and got to work. That never happened again.
The following week I had my little car vandalized and had the roof and hood caved in by some nuisance kids. I had it fixed. After that I noticed my radio no longer worked, so I disconnected it.
A couple days after all this happened I went out in the morning to go to work, the car wouldn't start.
IT CRANKS FINE THROUGHOUT THE TIME THIS HAS ALL OCCURED.
I had it towed to Sears Auto Care. They replaced the Coil. I went to pick up the care it started fine. The next morning it started, that evening after I finished work I went out to start the care it wouldn't start.
My Manager and I went out to see what we could see, and noticed that the coil WAS NOT producing any current. Tried the cable to ground, NOTHING. Sat there waiting for AAA and pushed it to the curb. Tried it after an hour it started. Drove it back to Sears and the next day they replaced the Distributor cap and Rotor. Went to get the car again, it started fine. The next morning it started fine. The next morning it didn't.
Finally I got it towed to my Mazda dealer. They said they could diagnose anything unless it wouldn't start, luckily one day after aout a week or two in there possession it wouldn't start. They said the Distributor wasn't producing a signal.
Hmmm, At this point and $1,600.00 later I was telling them this had better solve the problem. Well, to finish the story, It didn't. I went out the next morning and the car started. I drove up the street and made a right. I accelerated it died. Died cold in its tracks while i was accelerating so i pulled into a mall. And tried to start it. It died.
I had it towed directly to the Mazda dealer. They looked at it and told me a harness hadn't been connected properly, and it was giggling loose. Still doesnt keep going after it starts. After about 3-5 seconds after it has started it stalls.
I Try time after time and it wont start. Try it enough it will eventualy go, but I haven't Driven it since because I cant trust it.
We bought a new Pontiac Montana to replace it. To make a LONG story shot I have absolutely NO IDEA whaty could be causing the problem. Maybe a loose wire, a damaged harness, what? Your guess I hope is better than mine.
Well, that's it. I'm sorry about the length of this but I wanted to give you as much info as possible.
Thank you
Tony
I've tried all sources, including my Mazda dealer and other repair facilities. My Mazda has only recently had this problem.
Please bare with me and I'll give you a little background.
- Its a 1989 323 with approx 300,000 kms (I'm in Canada)
- Its a Automatic transmission with the P/B Overdrive.
- Its of course the 1.6 litre
- New Die-Hard Battery, Alternator
- I've never had a problem with this car until now.
The problem occured, it seems after we had very cold weather here, (about -17C), Vancouver BC Canada (west coast). One morning I started the car and went on my way to work. I noticed the temp gauge MAX out, and then as quickly as it increased it came down in about 2-3 minutes. Very fast. I didn't think anything of it after it came back down and got to work. That never happened again.
The following week I had my little car vandalized and had the roof and hood caved in by some nuisance kids. I had it fixed. After that I noticed my radio no longer worked, so I disconnected it.
A couple days after all this happened I went out in the morning to go to work, the car wouldn't start.
IT CRANKS FINE THROUGHOUT THE TIME THIS HAS ALL OCCURED.
I had it towed to Sears Auto Care. They replaced the Coil. I went to pick up the care it started fine. The next morning it started, that evening after I finished work I went out to start the care it wouldn't start.
My Manager and I went out to see what we could see, and noticed that the coil WAS NOT producing any current. Tried the cable to ground, NOTHING. Sat there waiting for AAA and pushed it to the curb. Tried it after an hour it started. Drove it back to Sears and the next day they replaced the Distributor cap and Rotor. Went to get the car again, it started fine. The next morning it started fine. The next morning it didn't.
Finally I got it towed to my Mazda dealer. They said they could diagnose anything unless it wouldn't start, luckily one day after aout a week or two in there possession it wouldn't start. They said the Distributor wasn't producing a signal.
Hmmm, At this point and $1,600.00 later I was telling them this had better solve the problem. Well, to finish the story, It didn't. I went out the next morning and the car started. I drove up the street and made a right. I accelerated it died. Died cold in its tracks while i was accelerating so i pulled into a mall. And tried to start it. It died.
I had it towed directly to the Mazda dealer. They looked at it and told me a harness hadn't been connected properly, and it was giggling loose. Still doesnt keep going after it starts. After about 3-5 seconds after it has started it stalls.
I Try time after time and it wont start. Try it enough it will eventualy go, but I haven't Driven it since because I cant trust it.
We bought a new Pontiac Montana to replace it. To make a LONG story shot I have absolutely NO IDEA whaty could be causing the problem. Maybe a loose wire, a damaged harness, what? Your guess I hope is better than mine.
Well, that's it. I'm sorry about the length of this but I wanted to give you as much info as possible.
Thank you
Tony
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