Help Car Won't Start

[j.ferger]

Please help, Car would not start several days ago after it was running for two hours, jumped by AAA, they said battery tested bad, but altenator fine, drove home, replaced old battery with new, next daydriving and starting fine all day,next day no start, returned battery and battery tested fine still no starting after replacement of battery.
When trying to start slight engine cranking then whining, seems to be no firing happening, re tested battery, voltage @ 12.5, store tested cca @ 700
Any suggestions would be helpful.
j.ferger

[DamagedGoods]

Some more details may be necessary.
12.5 volts sounds about right, probably isn't the battery.
Have you attempted to start the car again while being boosted?

What do you mean by whining? Like the Bendix in the starter is whining?

[j.ferger]

Thanks for the response from Damaged Goods.
Retested battery showed 12.26 v,whining or whiring sound maybe one turn of engine then nothing. Rechecked all connections near battery, main grounds have continuity, trying to check connections at starter but difficult to see and reach. Why are all the electrial connections wrapped with electric tape? Thanks

[Chimmike]

clean the battery terminals?

[bigriver]

Maybe check "ENG BAR" fuse.

I used this slot when I tapped it to power my Guardian Angel. After I removed the GA, I didnt put the fuse back and the engine wouldnt turn over. It just made the whirring noise. When i put the fuse back in it started right up.

[pzr2874]

Bang/tap on the starter when trying to turn it over.

With someone around of course

[j.ferger]

Thanks Chimmike, bigriver, pzr2874,
Update: tested battery during start attempt no load @ 12.16 load test voltage droppped to 7.56v, tried tapping starter during cranking, checked Engine fuse and all other fuses, no joy, no start. Should a new battery drop that much in voltage with load,or is this an indication of a bad cell or two in the battery?
Thanks

[pzr2874]

Ask autozone to borrow a new battery while you switch em out outside.... voila... issue solved. And a $110 lighter LOL

[tddvrrn]

have you checked for spark yet? if it's turning over it's probably not the starter. i'd try the battery swap at the place you bought the battery. is your ground clean and tight?

[j.ferger]

Hi again, Replaced battery, replaced spark plugs, streched coil springs, cleaned battery terminals and cable connections, engine turns over better after battery change but no fire or spark so no joy on starting, what else LOL could have I screwed up or has failed?
Thanks everyone

[pzr2874]

What kinda fuel pressure you getting?

[tddvrrn]

did you check for spark? take out the plugs and lay them on the block. have a friend turn it over and see if there is an arc between the plugs and the block.. just because there are new plugs in it doesn't mean they're getting a current..

checking FP would be a good idea as well..

have you checked all your fuses? maybe a fuel pump fuse has blown?
no CELs?

[bigriver]

OP - have you done any mods recently?

[j.ferger]

Thanks for all the posts, will check spark on new plugs, no knowledge or tools on how to check fuel pressure, but mazda put in new fuel pump a little over a year ago, car is stock. All fuses test and look ok.
thanks
j.ferger

[himurax13]

Originally Posted by j.ferger Thanks for all the posts, will check spark on new plugs, no knowledge or tools on how to check fuel pressure, but mazda put in new fuel pump a little over a year ago, car is stock. All fuses test and look ok. thanks j.ferger

Do you have a Cobb AP? If so Check HPFP Destination FP. Should be above 400 before starting.

[bigriver]

Did you gap the new plugs properly?

Which plugs did you get?

[j.ferger]

Pulled plugs, I have spark in all plugs, plugs gapped @ .030, starter turns engine over, still no starting

[pzr2874]

Check fuel. Borrow an AP.

[ak_spray]

Did you get this figured out I'm having a similar issue.

[j.ferger]

Thanks for help. Had car towed to shop, compression test showed no compression, looks like timing chain slipped or failed, looking at new valves, vvt, chain and tensioner.
Not happy news.

[ak_spray]

Yeah that's not good, hope all the best for ya man.

[Chimmike]

chains don't just slip or fail without giving you some sort of sign ahead of time...............any odd rattling on startup before? any strange noises?

Wonder if your VVT failed, then you just kept driving it and it failed catastrophically....