Help with Car Starting Problem

geek001 on 13/11/2014 - 09:57

Hi OzBers,

I have a problem with my car that needs your advice. When I turn the key on the ignition, the car doesn't crank and therefore doesn't start, and all the lights on my radio starts to flicker, like when you have a weak battery. But if I leave the key in the "on" position(the one where the lights on the dashboard comes on) for a few seconds or so and then start the car, the car starts fine.

Initially I thought it might be the battery, since it has been more than 2 years since I last replaced it, but somehow this time, it feels a bit different to when I needed to replace the battery. For one, if the battery was weak, I shouldn't be able to start the car at all, just my hunch, but I could be wrong.

The other thing I suspect might be the spark plugs, I don't think they have been replaced in a while. I could take the car in for a major service but I want to avoid that if possible since I just changed the oil in my car and I put in the good oil too.

Any other ideas? Which do you think is more likely to be failing? Spark plugs or battery or something else?

By the way, my car is a 2002 Mazda Astina SP20 and has done around 190,000kms.

Automotive

Comments

  • holdenmg on 13/11/2014 - 10:27
    +3

    Q. What is an Auto-Electrician?

  • spacebanana on 13/11/2014 - 10:58
    +1

    If its not cranking then it has nothing to do with spark plugs, as they only fire when the car is cranked.
    Sounds like battery/ electrical problem or possibly a sticky solenoid in the starter motor.
    Just take it to an auto elec mate.

  • npc on 13/11/2014 - 11:30
    +1

    Can you hear clicks under the hood when you turn the key to the "start" position? It might be solenoind in your starter old/dirty/stuck.

    Also bad battery may give you similar issues. Check it in any battery shop. It is usually done at no cost.

  • bigticket on 13/11/2014 - 11:36
    +1

    Definitely an electrical problem.
    1. Security system - if the car has it, the red flashing led has to turn off when the ignition key is turned to 'on' before the car will start.
    2. Starter relay
    3. Ignition switch
    4. Starter itself
    5. Wiring
    or something else.

    • highon2str on 13/11/2014 - 12:07

      loving your diagnosis.

    • npc on 13/11/2014 - 12:46
      +2

      Beautiful:)
      Geek001, bigticket has just found that there is something wrong with you car. Most likely related to electrons. They are moving in wrong direction or in lower quantity than expected.

      • blitz on 13/11/2014 - 13:34

        Are you saying we should reverse the polarity?

        • npc on 13/11/2014 - 15:04

          Or shop around for some electrons to top up.

      • bigticket on 14/11/2014 - 12:46

        Yeah I think you guys are right re: electrons. You have the electron 1/2 spin but unfortunately are missing the other half. I expect you will be have starting problems as well…

  • Cheeper on 13/11/2014 - 12:54
    +1
    1. Lift the bonnet…
    2. Check for loose or dirty corroded connections especially battery and starter motor. If no different…
    3. Take it to an auto electrician.
  • blitz on 13/11/2014 - 13:17

    Replace battery. Replace alternator.

  • geek001 on 13/11/2014 - 13:55

    Hey guys(I am using this as a non-gender specific term), thanks for all your help, including all those sarcastic comments, I know how hard it is to convey sarcasm on the internet. :)

    The consensus is to take it to an auto electrician. But I might take it to the battery place first to check the battery.

    Cheers.

  • morpheu on 13/11/2014 - 13:55

    if the battery is charging fine, it's not the alternator, i was thinking maybe an intermittent earth strap/battery terminal but the part about But if I leave the key in the "on" position…for a few seconds or so and then start the car, the car starts fine made me think maybe the engine computer needs some attention, try an ecu reset

    • Speckled Jim on 14/11/2014 - 10:29

      Yeah I initially thought the same.
      The ECU should activate the fuel pump, and it does but only after ignition left in "On".
      You can reset the ECU easily enough; it usually just involves disconnecting the battery for a minute or so.

      But it's more likely a bad ground, a short in ignition wiring or the ignition relay solder joints.

      Time for a sparky if you don't want to mess with it yourself.

  • kickling on 14/11/2014 - 07:44

    Like someone said above… Alternator and/or battery. Had mine replaced around the same km mark

  • uniqualz on 14/11/2014 - 12:41
    +5

    Replace your dodgy battery with 6 Eneloops..

  • backpaqer on 14/11/2014 - 14:13
    +1

    Needs a flux capacitor and 1.21 jiggawatts

  • Densor on 14/11/2014 - 15:53

    Sounds like a problem I had with my Toyota Tarago. It would sit there and click. Waiting a few seconds and trying again would see it start. The headlights were perfectly bright which indicated a strong battery. It was the starter solenoid which is attached to the side of the starter motor and pulls in a connecting cog when the ignition key is turned on. The Toyota starter motors are actually maintainable. A $10 pair of copper contacts for the solenoid, purchased off Ebay, and the ability to remove the starter motor meant I saved >$300 on a new starter motor.

    Removing the starter motor from a front wheel drive Mazda could be totally different. See an auto electrician !

  • backpaqer on 15/11/2014 - 07:28

    Diesel cars also need to preheat their glow plugs before the engine will start.

    • Speckled Jim on 15/11/2014 - 09:45

      Yes, but

      2002 Mazda Astina SP20

      is petrol-juice powered :p

      • backpaqer on 16/11/2014 - 21:44

        thought so…the diesel "pause" usually catches me off-guard when I rent motorhomes in NZ.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join