I need help diagnosing a starting issue on my '97 Miata.
Last night, after driving it for 15 mins, I parked and shut off the engine. I then tried to re-park the car, and it wouldn't start. You could hear it trying to crank, but it just wouldn't turn over. I've noticed that the car has been struggling to start when cold for the past week or so, but this was the first time it wouldn't start at all. I went to my meeting, and came back after 2 hours and the car struggled to start, but did so after the third or fourth time.
The interior lights are on strong, so it doesn't seem like the battery.
Does this sound like a starter issue or a cam angle sensor issue? Or maybe a battery issue? Thanks.
The starting system is really simple and the ECU is not involved. The only thing that will make it crank slow is low voltage or a weak starter. It doesn't take much to light up an interior light, but a starter is maximum draw.
Thanks. I tried starting just now and it won't start at all. Won't even crank. I do hear a click. I took the battery and had it tested, and it's fully charged.
This must mean the starter is dead then, right?
In reply to CyberEric:
Most likely the starter, check for loose connections. How old is the starter?
Did you load test the battery or just checked it with a volt meter? If not, I would suggest that before replacing starter.
In reply to outasite:
I took the battery to AutoZone and they checked it on their machine, which I assumed was a load tester. The machine said it was fully charged. Is it possible that this was incorrect?
TRoglodyte, according to my receipts, the ignition switch was replaced in 2010 at 137k miles (car now has 192k). I have no record of the whole starter being replaced.
It's really easy to tell if it's the battery. All you need is another car and some jumper cables.
Tough to read the hand writing on the receipt but it looks like the starter was in fact replaced in 2010.
Depending on the quality of the installed starter 5 years is a pretty long run. Bushings and brushes are wear items and it sounds by your description it may be dragging. Connections clean and tight?
Make sure you check both terminals on the starter - mine dropped the nut on the terminal that connects the solenoid to the starter motor. I wasn't too happy to see that once I went through pulling the thing off, but since I had a new one, I replaced it anyway. Since you're hearing a click, pretty good chance it's the starter itself.
As someone stated, try jump starting it. If it starts then most likely battery. I've had a couple batteries show full charge and test ok but was bad. Replaced and no issues since. Found out the hard way that Miata's won't run with a bad battery, even if you jump it and get it started it won't run very long. Probably any newer ECU controlled car will be that way.
Turns out it was the battery! I had another guy test it, and it showed that the battery was nearly dead this time. What the?! Totally contradicted the test from yesterday. I put in a new battery and it started. Woohoo! Glad I didn't have to do the starter, it looked like it was going to be tough to get to.
Thanks for all the help everyone!
I'd like to have the $$ for every starter replaced because of no/poor diagnosis
wlkelley3 wrote:
As someone stated, try jump starting it. If it starts then most likely battery. I've had a couple batteries show full charge and test ok but was bad. Replaced and no issues since. Found out the hard way that Miata's won't run with a bad battery, even if you jump it and get it started it won't run very long. Probably any newer ECU controlled car will be that way.
I can tell you the new 2016 Miatas are really weird on a flat battery. The electric steering assist cuts in and out, which is not conducive to smooth steering inputs 
Never really had any issues with the older ones after a jump.
The battery test is only as good as the tester. Lesson learned
In reply to Keith Tanner:
Mine jump started ok and drove about 4 houses down and died. Jumped again & went another 4 house down. OK lesson learned. Jumped one more time and sped into the driveway before it died. New battery fixed it.
Automobiles require 9.6 minimum voltage to operate properly. A jump start does not charge a dead battery. Either charge the battery with charger/leave car run w/cables attached so alternator can recharge battery or replace w/new/known good battery. Better than being stranded again.
outasite wrote:
Automobiles require 9.6 minimum voltage to operate properly. A jump start does not charge a dead battery. Either charge the battery with charger/leave car run w/cables attached so alternator can recharge battery or replace w/new/known good battery. Better than being stranded again.
Once jumpstarted, though, a healthy alternator should be able to keep the voltage up in a range where the car will keep running. As long as you don't stall it, it should keep going. It might be worth checking the alternator on that car to see if it's putting out full capacity.
