Our 01 Protege has had this intermittent crank no start issue for years; turn the key to on position on start up and the CEL light doesn't come on naturally it cranks and doesn't start. You can do things like turn the key on and off several times or simply wait 5-15 minutes with the key in the on position and then bingo the CEL light illuminates and it starts up. It will sometimes do twice in way day or a few times a week than nothing for months on end. Note all of the other dash lights will come on.
The frustrating part is by the time you start going through the process of diagnosing it the problem solves itself. I've looked for the obvious like bad ground etc. even did the shot in the dark replaced the main relay no effect.
I have poured though various forums and read of other Mazdas with the issue of the CEL initially not illuminating and then after a short time it comes on and the car cranks up BUT there never seems to be a definitive answer. My thought is a solder joint somewhere but of course this is a wild arse guess. So any Mazda gurus have experience with this and a fix.
Tom
So you get a cel wasn't it goes closed loop. Either a downstream O2 or cat not getting up to temp
Sounds like the ECM isn't being powered up. I'd take a look at the wiring diagram and check if there's any other relays involved with that circuit. Has it ever stalled while driving?
Run_Away wrote:
Sounds like the ECM isn't being powered up. I'd take a look at the wiring diagram and check if there's any other relays involved with that circuit. Has it ever stalled while driving?
This. Or an intermittent ecm ground. Ir bad ignition switch.
See if there is a ECU/PCM relay and thwack it with your finger when it is acting up, see if that makes the MIL come on.
First to clarify; in a normal situation you turn the key CEL illuminates along all the other dash lights and once it starts CEL goes out along with all the other lights.
My son says it has stuttered on him in the past year but it fire again instantly, in the 9 years I dorve it never.
I'm thinking ECM ground and or solder joint on the edge connector something similar. The fact that leaving the key on solves it, makes me think not a relay. I'm hoping somebody encountered this.
Tom
I haven't encountered it specifically in a Mazda, but I have encountered it in Hondas.
And yes, it would be a failure like you describe. Key on, everything lights up but no check engine light. Then you hear a "click" and it lights up. Weak relay. So the test is to get it to act up, then apply percussive assistance while watching the light.
Usually this would happen on a hot soak - run car for 20-30 minutes, turn off, try again after 5-10 minutes or so. Relay gets hot from being energized, has enough umph to stay connected but not enough to go from rest to engaged after being shut off for a while. When the relay cools off enough, it works again.
I'm not saying this IS your problem. It just sure is acting like that.
Knurled this pretty much describes what's going on.
Tom
