electrical stuff to throttle body stuff

[jimstaz]

so i went from my car not going into gear after a new clutch.. no big deal will figure it out.. last week started my mazda and the idle was up down and up and down and you step on the gas pedal it doesnt respond.. today i try to start it to let it run for a few to get some of the cobwebs out and it clicks.. ok thinking i have a low battery so it wont start so i try to start it with jumper cables and it will not even click.. the lights burn bright.. whats going on with my car.. im not good with the electronic side.. thank you.. any guidance or advice would help...

[jimstaz]

worst part i was thinking about selling it and when i brought it up to a friend then everything started breaking on it.. and yes i said it in front of the car..

if you guess could help me fix my ride with guidance and trouble shooting i would be greatful! please anything!

[GySgtFrank]

Not sure on the throttle issues, check for air leaks. Try bench testing the starter to see if it's just the starter motor itself and make sure you have good grounds.

[jimstaz]

Not sure on the throttle issues, check for air leaks. Try bench testing the starter to see if it's just the starter motor itself and make sure you have good grounds.

im a little confused about the air leaks? what and where would i look? i will pull my starter off and get it bench tested.. i got it back from the shop and one of my nuts on the stater wire was loose i torqued it down but didnt have any problems anymore until recent.. but then all it was the car just wouldnt crank..

[jimstaz]

are you talking about for the throttle.. ? look for leaks there?

[JL1RX7]

Yep check all the hoses on the intake going into throttle body and MAF. Have the car on and listen for hissing.

[GySgtFrank]

:iagree: You want to make sure all the air getting to the engine goes through the MAF. If you have a leak above the MAF (open hose, loose connection, etc.) it will do strange things as the computer can't compensate for airflow it doesn't know about. Just a guess on my part.

I've found most starter issues are either a burned out motor or solenoid. Or a bad ground that won't allow the starter to work.

[jimstaz]

this weekend when i get time i will pull the starter off and check it out and i will look for bad connections on hoses and things.. ill get back to you guys on some results.

[WE3RX7]

After installing the clutch, did the car crank over or has the non-cranking engine been an issue ever since the new clutch went in?

Did you do the work, or a shop?

[jimstaz]

After installing the clutch, did the car crank over or has the non-cranking engine been an issue ever since the new clutch went in?

Did you do the work, or a shop?

a local whole in the wall shop did it.. i went and picked it up and it fired up.. they even say that the test drive went well.. i drove it for about a week resulting in puting 62 miles on the car and then i was driving down the road and it just wouldnt go into gear... like in the middle of driving it just stopped shifting.. im just wondering if it needs rebleed or whatever? what you think it could be?

[Dannobre]

Sounds like a clutch interlock switch or neutral switch problem. If the wires didn't get re-connected properly on the transmission it won't engage the starter because it will think you haven't pushed in the clutch..or in gear

If it is the clutch switch it will cause a "hunting" idle..where it fluctuates between 900-2000rpm in a cyclical pattern. The non-responsive throttle could be a lot of things...but I would check the wiring on the transmission first and then deal with that if it still occurs

[Sephitrask]

Thanks for jumping in on this one Dan, good to see you over on this site!

[Dannobre]

There is more RX-8 people here now...so it is worth chiming in :)

Been lurking here for a long time....but never really had a lot of things to comment about

[jimstaz]

i will check out the wiring and everything on the tranny and see what i can find.. should i pull my center console out as well and look under that stuff aswell of just crawl under the car?


Sounds like a clutch interlock switch or neutral switch problem. If the wires didn't get re-connected properly on the transmission it won't engage the starter because it will think you haven't pushed in the clutch..or in gear

If it is the clutch switch it will cause a "hunting" idle..where it fluctuates between 900-2000rpm in a cyclical pattern. The non-responsive throttle could be a lot of things...but I would check the wiring on the transmission first and then deal with that if it still occurs

[jimstaz]

starting issue was the starter... some how the starter was burnt out with 72k on the car. next project for the weekend will be looking for leaks or anything for my messed up idle.. i have a buddy with a ob reader (spelling) and he says it will help me eliminate the the idle trouble shooting problem. wish me luck.

[Dannobre]

i will check out the wiring and everything on the tranny and see what i can find.. should i pull my center console out as well and look under that stuff aswell of just crawl under the car?

All under the car..or attached to the clutch pedal bracket..so no console removal :)

[reddozen]

Hopefully you replaced it with the upgraded 2kw starter.

[djmtsu]

Broken clutch pedal?

Check it out, it takes like 2 minutes to pull it off. My 2004 had a broken pedal, slapped on a used one and everything was resolved (well, the trans problems). Or, if it is broken, you can also easily weld it. It isn't the pedal itself, but the shitty multi-layer mounting bracket that separates and tears the metal.

[Sephitrask]

Broken clutch pedal?

Check it out, it takes like 2 minutes to pull it off. My 2004 had a broken pedal, slapped on a used one and everything was resolved (well, the trans problems). Or, if it is broken, you can also easily weld it. It isn't the pedal itself, but the shitty multi-layer mounting bracket that separates and tears the metal.

the clutch pedal bracket is shit. My first one broke and was replaced by Mazda. The new one broke right after the warranty expired. While its true I beat the shit out of it, I still say that a reinforcement bracket is the way to go with that thing.

[jimstaz]

do not even have the start back off again.. i couldnt afford to get a new one yet so i put the old on back on and somehow my nut on the left bolt of the start got rounded off.. i cant break the torque on it or anything.. i bought a new starter and was ready to put it on so i can fire it up.. so i had to go get liquid wrench and stuff and im gonna trim the bolt down a little bit so i can get a grip on it.. my car used to be garage kept but i no longer have a garage and i dont know how but it seemed as if it rusted over night about.. (week) but wish me luck getting this bolt off.. i want this thing running so i can trouble shoot the idle problem.

[jimstaz]

so i cut the nut off and got new hardware for the starter.. i installed it and everything.. well my battery is completely dead.. even when i jump the car and the headlights burn bright it makes not a clicking sound but almost like a thud sound everything you turn the key. ... thinking the battery is completely dead?

[Dannobre]

Doesn't sound like a dead battery if the jump doesn't help :(

Can you turn the engine over by hand? Is the immobilizer light flashing?

[jimstaz]

Doesn't sound like a dead battery if the jump doesn't help :(

Can you turn the engine over by hand? Is the immobilizer light flashing?

immobilizer light? im not sure what what is?

[jimstaz]

no i havent tried to turn the engine on its own.. i dont know how to do that unless you mean popping the clutch?

[djmtsu]

If you turn the key forward, there should be a key symbol light. If it flashes (I believe) it means the immobilizer is preventing the car from starting.

[jimstaz]

yes the key light does flash...

[Dannobre]

Check the fuses in the kick panel....the one that controls the OBD port and the ECU is in there....I had an instance in mine where that fuse was blown and it wouldn't let the scanner connect...and the car wouldn't recognize the key

[djmtsu]

Yep, check that fuse! It should be a 15 amp. Pull it to check it. Even though it might still be good, I've heard that simply pulling it an reinstalling it can fix these irritating issues.

Good luck!

[jimstaz]

:beatdeadhorse5: so i found a hose that was loose.. it fixed the idle.. got the car running just find.. drove it around the block.. 1st throu 3rd were rough.. almost as forcing it into gear.. i came to a stop sign and forced it into neutral and then it cut off.. i fired it back up and all i can hear is the starter spinning up.. car will not turn over or anything.. flywheel? could that be the cause of all this? maybe my teeth are messed up so the starters not catching?