04 Won't crank if below 20 degrees
 

Hey guys,
Wondering if anyone has a similar issue. The last 2 days (and once last year), if I go to take the Miata and it's below 20 degrees, the car won't crank. The battery is fine, I even tried an jumper pack just in case. Once the day warms up a bit it will crank and start just fine. I've had no other issues with it, it's currently still on the OEM ECU. I've wiggled a few wires, but no change. It's hard to test because it only happens when cold and not all the time.

Has anyone else had an issue like this?

wont crank or wont start?

Won't crank. All the lights, radio, ect.. works. Doesn't even click. I can hear the fuel pump too. I was thinking the clutch switch, but I looked and it acted properly. Didn't have my meter with me to test the wiring.

not enough CCA.

Battery is newish.. I also put a battery pack jumper on it as well to see if it was the battery. Still same issue. Seems like the starter isn't even getting power.

Next time it happens(next year) try cranking with the lights on. If everything stays bright, bypass the clutch switch, if nothing, pull apart the ignition switch and clean it. If lights dim, check the starter and solenoid.

It happened yesterday and again this morning. I'll try what you suggested tomorrow if it happens again. Doing the timing belt, water pump, radiator swap tomorrow and then the S4 install on Thursday.

Thanks

Check if the immobilizer light comes on for 1 second when you switch the ignition on.

mine does that every time it gets cold like that... and i have a badass brand new battery with MAD CCA's. havent figured it out yet, because right after i noticed it, the weather started getting nice. my Clutch safety switch has been bypassed for years.
it wont even click when i turn the key. i whacked the starter a few times to try to free it up (thought that may have been it) still did nothing.
to start it, i would rapidly turn the key from off to start multiple times, and something would just contact and start it up. kindof weird. i wanna figure it out, but now that its warm, it wont do it... ill have to wait til winter i guess...

it may sound stupid as shit, but try to turn the key rapidly to start, and see if it starts like mine did. im ASSUMING since that made it start, its something in the ignition switch itself.. but i havent really been able to dig for it, so dont take me as an expert on it. lol

supercooper, that definitely sounds like the ignition switch going bad.

thats exactlly what im thinking... BUT it only does it when its cold...

Metal shrinks when it gets cold, the contacts in the ignition switch might be worn to the point where they don't make good contact when cold anymore.

thats what i was thinking, just havent had a chance to mess with it. also, until this thread, i completely forgot about it because it HAS been working. ill probably replace it before next winter

What are you driving a miata in 20 degree weather for anyway? :eek3:

Driving to work?

I live in maine, the temp drops overnight. 40+ degrees