| Reader Question | | | | and battery cables. You can check this yourself...make |
| I have a question to ask you about my 1994 Mazda | | | | sure the cables are clean and tight! You should not be |
| B-3000. The engine intermittenly does not start. When | | | | able to move or wiggle the battery cables on the |
| you turn the key you never know what you're going to | | | | battery with your hands. Make sure you do not have a |
| get. The starter turns but sometimes the engine does | | | | ring on your finger or a watch on your wrist when |
| not start. If I'm lucky enough to be parked on a hill (it's a | | | | working around a battery...I have a few scars on my |
| standard) in first gear or reverse, once you get it rolling | | | | fingers to prove that batteries can HURT!I would have |
| and pop the clutch it starts without much trouble. It | | | | the battery "LOAD" tested, and a starter "DRAW" |
| seems to have plenty of power from the battery, | | | | test done by your mechanic with the items on the |
| (lights, etc. all work). Someone told me it's a flywheel | | | | vehicle....don't take them off the vehicle to test them.A |
| problem but my mechanic said he didn't think so, and is | | | | quick "Shade Tree Mechanic" test to diagnose a bad |
| unable to diagnose the problem. He said he took the | | | | starter: when the engine is in "no start" mode. Turn on |
| starter out and checked it and found nothing wrong. | | | | the headlights (make sure they are good and bright...or |
| What do you think? Any ideas would be greatly | | | | you have a bad battery), then turn the ignition key |
| appreciated. Very Frusterated, Joe D.Good question | | | | trying to start the engine. If the headlights DIM, but stay |
| Joe,If you can start the engine via push starting....it has | | | | lit, then you probably have a bad starter motor, if you |
| to be a problem with one or more of the following:1. | | | | turn the ignition key and the headlights go OUT, you |
| Battery does not have enough juice to fully engage | | | | probably have a bad battery or loose or dirty battery |
| and spin starter motor fast enough2. Starter motor is | | | | cables.ALWAYS check the battery cables first, 9 out |
| weak, and does not engage and turn engine3. | | | | of 10 times it is a loose or dirty battery cable...that has |
| Flywheel has a bad spot on it, when you turn the key , | | | | been over looked, that causes a no start or |
| you hear the starter motor turning...and usually hear a | | | | intermittent starting problem liek the one you are |
| grinding noise because the starter is trying to grab a | | | | having.Austin Davis your car repair advocate. Helping |
| piece of the flywheel that is missing4. There is a | | | | online visitors with car problems and improving |
| starter relay that is bad or some other electrical | | | | communication between the auto mechanic and the |
| problem that is not allowing electricity from the battery | | | | customer. Let me help you with your auto repair |
| to flow to the starter5. Bad connection at the battery | | | | issues. |