Need Advice - Car won't start

rakebackblogger

I need some advice. My car is fcked and yesterday morning it wouldn't start. I didnt think it was a battery as the lights were still working and I drive it regularly. The last 3 months the car has been getting progressively worse making a funny noise whenever I am at cruising speed. The noise stops when i accelerate or slow down. It also has very bad flat spot when changing gears but particularly noticeable in 1st and 2nd gear, and sometime i end up jerking the car like a bucking broncho in 2nd or 3rd gear..

So last night I tried to jump start the car just in case the battery was dead but didn't work. All I am getting is a clicking noise when I turn the key but thats it.

its a 99 Mazda 323, I have it 9 months and the reason I bought this second hand car was I heard (and read from here) that Mazdas are bullet proof.. seems untrue in my case.

Any suggestions as to what may be wrong?

Also seeing as I cant drive the car anywhere what are my cheapest options to get someone to look at it? I don't have breakdown cover on my insurance.

Ironic thing is last monday I actually had it booked into a mazda garage for this morning to try and sort out the flat spot! Sods Law..

Starter motor may be shot. Bulletproof does not mean you should drive a car with a problem until it breaks by the way.

cabrwab

Mazda's are good, unless its diesel!

But its a 99 in fairness! Stuff can go wrong.

Sounds like it maybe a starter motor too.

Get it to a mechanic!

rakebackblogger

thanks james,

I actuallly took it to a mechanic 1 month ago to change the timing belt and check out the noise. Of course they change a rear link on the back left and a CB on the front right and also the TB and charge me 400 but did not fix the noise i took it in to get fixed for in the first place.

This did not fix the problem.. Therefore i decided to go to a mazda garage to check it out but you have to wait a week. I only drive 20 - 40 miles a week so didnt think i would be over doing it.

If it is the starter motor an auto electrician can recondition them for less than €100 ish.

rakebackblogger

just called into a mechanic across the road. he said he had a similar problem with a 636 where the gearbox had gone.

the flat spot can also be explained by the gearbox and the nosies as well I was getting in 1st and 2nd gear as well as noises when i was at cruising speed.

he says about 250 labour costs and about 200 for second hand gearbox. Does that seem right?

it may of course be something else but that looks like a worse case scenario ..

Gearbox noise would get worse when you ease off the throttle generally, does nothing to explain why the car won't start either. €450 is a good price if the 2nd hand gearbox is decent.

R.O.R

What sort of noise do you get when trying to start the car?

Is it doing nothing at all?

Are you gettng a clicking noise when trying to start it?

Is the engine turning over, but not "catching"?

Might help narrow it down a bit.

rakebackblogger

It is just a clicking noise when i try and start it

R.O.R

rakebackblogger wrote: »

It is just a clicking noise when i try and start it

Sounds like the starter motor is banjaxed then.

Should be able to push start the car if you have someone to push you and a bit of space.

kmcm100

The gear changing problem sounds clutch-related. had similar problem and ended up getting a new one fitted.
The clicking noise is most likely your starter and personally, i'd get a 2nd hand one from a scrapyard.
Most places would guarantee parts for a month(approx) so if it didnt fail after a month, it'll do ya a good while for a fraction of the cost.

rakebackblogger

thnaks guys, im getting it towed to mechanic tomorrow morning.

jimmyw

rakebackblogger wrote: »

It is just a clicking noise when i try and start it

Could it not be just the solenoid maybe instead of the starter or a bad connection somewhere ?Of course it could be the starter still.

It's the solenoid in the starter that folks refer to as the starter failing when you get the clicking sound

rakebackblogger

I was able to push start the car so looks like gear box ok. so now looks like starter is gone. Just waiting on Mechanic to get back to me today about it.

R.O.R

rakebackblogger wrote: »

I was able to push start the car so looks like gear box ok. so now looks like starter is gone. Just waiting on Mechanic to get back to me today about it.

Shouldn't be a big job, but depends where it is on the engine. No idea how much a starter motor is, but a recon unit can't be too expensive.

It's one of the few mechanical parts I've ever replaced on a car. Picked one up from a scrapyard for a Ford Pinto engine and fitted it myself. Was delighted - until the bolts came loose on the motorway and I ended up dragging the starter motor along, bouncing between the car and the road tethered only by the battery cable.

Got a pro to fit it the second time, and I don't mess with the oily bits anymore

Muckie

I'd recommend a Haynes manual if your going to start doing work on your

car. Starter motors are quite easy to fit, disconnect the battery first(save

your radio code, if you have one). Socket set needed for this job,

take your time and good luck too.