Engine cranks but not starting

Tiny
MAZDA4LIFE
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 MAZDA MIATA
  • 1.6L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 265,000 MILES
Car is very old. Bought a new car and wanted to keep it but didn't drive it really for 2 years. Have installed new battery and fuel pump. When turning key motor turns over but will not start. Next possible issues?
Sunday, April 5th, 2020 AT 10:01 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay. That is good that we have a good battery and fuel pump. However, your engine needs fuel, spark at the right time, and compression. Let's assume that compression is okay for now. Start with spraying a little starter fluid in the intake and see if it starts. Even though the pump is new doesn't mean it is getting fuel. Next pull a plug and connect it back to the ignition and hold it against the block then crank the engine and see if you have spark.

Here is a guide that covers these basics:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Let's start with these things and go from there. Thanks
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Sunday, April 5th, 2020 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
MAZDA4LIFE
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Oh, thanks. I will give that a go. Forgot to mention it does have new spark plugs and hoses for the plugs. Will get starter fluid to spray in there though! Will update further later!
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Sounds great. Hopefully that will give us more to go on. If not, we will figure out next steps. Thanks for the update.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
MAZDA4LIFE
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  • 4 POSTS
Hmm, sprayed the fluid in intake. Started engine with no luck. Oil pressure gauge started to go up and it sounded like it was trying to start up but did not. Could I have not sprayed enough in? Don't want to go overboard due to seeing videos of guys doing to much and they have a minor explosion in their hands.
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 7:37 AM
Tiny
MAZDA4LIFE
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  • 4 POSTS
Possible but also doubt there is an issue with spark plugs because they were all replaced a couple months before the car was put in the garage. Hoses were also replaced and car was running fine at the time.
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 7:43 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay. Just to clarify, the engine just cranks but when spraying starter fluid it acts like it wants to start? If this is the case then you need to spray a little more just to confirm. However, this is a positive sign. Don't worry too much about a backfire. Follow this process. Open the throttle wide open and spray for a count of 1 one thousand, 2 one thousand. Then stop and walk around to the driver seat and then crank the engine. Allowing that small pause after spraying the fluid will allow a small amount to evaporate. However, if you don't spray enough then it will evaporate and there will not be enough left to start the engine. Clearly the engine is only going to run for a second or two. However, this is enough to confirm it is a fuel issue.

If you have someone cranking the engine, then give the throttle opening 3 bursts of starter fluid. Then start cranking. If it doesn't fire right away then give it a couple more while cranking and it should fire then stall. This is all we need in order to confirm a fuel issue. At that point we can check fuel pressure and determine it is a pressure issue or a flow issue.
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 AT 3:57 PM

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