WTF happened to my car?

2118 Views 32 Replies 12 Participants Last post by 2 qk 4 u, Oct 13, 2004

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2002

I start the car, and drive for about 5 minutes, get into the gas a little, only hit enough boost for about 7psi then let off. Knock gauge didn't even move just for the record. About 2 minutes later, I'm slowing down around a corner to get on the interstate and the car dies, quick and quiet, no sputtering or anything. The lights were on, stereo on, everything else worked/works. No warning lights were on before or after that happened. When I tried to start the car again, the starter kicks on, but doesn't spin, it is drawing power though. The oil level is full and so is the coolant. I tried hitting the starter with a hammer and got nothing different. A Scan Tool revealed no error codes or anything out of the ordinary. The car's got 141k miles on it and the mods are listed in my sig. When the key is on, the pump primes for about 3 seconds. Battery connections are good, checked both the positives and negatives. We tried to jump start the car also. It doesn't turn over at all. Any other questions or ideas, PM me.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Ray Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

ES

· #2 · Apr 21, 2002

Loose wire at starter? Bad cable wire to starter.

CaPPY

· #3 · Apr 21, 2002

I had the same results (pump primed, pos and neg checked out OK with a meter, etc.) and even put a new starter in...same results. It ended up being a DEAD CELL in the battery. It was even a Yellow Top Optima...who would've thunk! Try the easiet first, borrow a known good battery and then try starting it. Hope it works!

[This message has been edited by CaPPY (edited April 21, 2002).]

See less See more

Zap

· #4 · Apr 21, 2002

Crank Sensor.

CaPPY

· #5 · Apr 21, 2002

Oh, by the way, I tried jumping the battery with the dead cell and it still wouldn't start.

Yeah, I've also had the crank sensor fubar like Zap said.

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 21, 2002

How could it be the crank sensor? I just don't know that much about it to know what that could do/cause. If the battery has a dead cell, wouldn't the car be totally dead then? The starter's drawing power when I turn the key, it's just not spinning the motor at all. I tried to turn the motor with a breaker bar on the crank, and couldn't get it to go either way.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Ray Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

CaPPY

· #7 · Apr 21, 2002

If the battery has a dead cell, wouldn't the car be totally dead then? The starter's drawing power when I turn the key, it's just not spinning the motor at all.
[/B]

Mine read fine with a dead cell, the fuel pump energized, headlights went on, everything seemed normal. You can't try jumping it, you must put a DIFFERENT battery in it!!!

I'm just passing on what exactly happened to me.

When my Crank Sensor went out, I think my starter would crank, but the car wouldn't start. Can't remember anything over a couple of weeks!

[This message has been edited by CaPPY (edited April 21, 2002).]

See less See more

Steve Wood

· #8 · Apr 21, 2002

What does the voltage read with nothing turned on? What does it read when you turn the key to the start position?

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 21, 2002

What does the voltage read with nothing turned on? What does it read when you turn the key to the start position?

I didn't even think to check that, I'll try to do that this evening. What should I be looking for if it's good, and bad?

Could a dead cell in the car happen just driving down the road and cause the car to die quickly? It was still in gear when it happened, nothin grinded, it was like the tranny went into neutral as soon as it happened.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Ray Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

Steve Wood

· #10 · Apr 21, 2002

It should be like 12+ with nothing going on...and 11.5+ when you hit the key to try to start it.

If the cell shorted...it might act like that...

I would have thought the lights would have been dimmer....

Zap

· #11 · Apr 22, 2002

If you are getting power to everything else, but the car won't run, you are either not getting fuel or spark. If no fuel (check on fuel rail) then it is probably the pump ( but you said you could hear it prime). If no spark, then it could be a lot of things, but I would still guess crank sensor. When they break (or fail, mine broke), the car just shuts down like you turned the key off, and probably will not throw a code (ask me how I know

)

[This message has been edited by Zap (edited April 21, 2002).]

See less See more

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 22, 2002

Steve: I'll check it and post the results here.

Zap: The car doesn't even crank.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Ray Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

Zap

· #13 · Apr 22, 2002

In that case, it's not the crank sensor!

Check those pesky fusible links going to the starter.

See less See more

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 22, 2002

The starter engages like it's going out and hitting the flywheel and can't turn it. This just needs to be a bad dream... I only bought the car about 5 days ago. I have such bad luck.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Ray Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 22, 2002

Tried to turn over the motor by hand, put a breaker bar on the crank and tried to go both ways. Had two people on it and it didn't do anything when we tried to turn it either way.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Ray Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

Zap

· #16 · Apr 22, 2002

Yeah, it should turn fairly easily.

See less See more

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · #17 · Apr 22, 2002

Well, someone said that the timing chain could've broke and wrapped around the crank gear and jammed the motor. I'm hoping that's all it is. I'm going to pull the timing cover and see what I can see.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Jay Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

MAR86GN

· #18 · Apr 22, 2002

Sorry to tell you but sounds familiar to me. One of my bearings froze on the crank. The engine would not turn at all. The mileage on your car could definitely have caused it.

Blasphemous

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 22, 2002

I should know today if it's a timing chain, spun/froze bearing, seized engine or none of the above. I'll post what I find out.

------------------
Black 93 Mazda RX7 R1
- Worn Motor, HKS Downpipe, Mindtrain Midpipe, Enkei RP01 18" Wheels, Veilside Body Kit, Hose Techniques Hose Kit, Fischer Racing Block-off Plates

Black 87 Buick Turbo T
- ATR 3" Singleshot Exhaust, Accufab FPR, Turbonetics Deltagate, 36# Blue-Top Inj, Walbro 340 Fuel Pump, Jay Carter Chip, SMC Alky Kit

Steve Wood

· #20 · Apr 22, 2002

good luck...that is a terrible feeling, I know.

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.