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Can't get Miata to start.

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Old Apr 17, 2011 | 10:57 PM
  #1  
garrett's Avatar
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Default Can't get Miata to start.

It's a 96 w/ a 1.8. New battery, new starter. It still won't crank. I thought the motor might be stuck but I threw a breaker bar on it and it turns over no problems.
All the fuses under the hood are good from what I can see. The starter just clicks but that is all that happens.

What to do next?

Thanks!
Old Apr 17, 2011 | 11:04 PM
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Check the grounds on your starter and the cables on the battery (especially the ground). I've seen this several times on my own vehicle and another local miata guy's car.
Old Apr 17, 2011 | 11:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeff_Ciesielski
(especially the ground).
+1

I had to tap mine until the truck light came back on. Then I replaced the terminal. lol
Old Apr 18, 2011 | 10:48 AM
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Definitely check the ground on the battery in the trunk - you know what, just replace it. Also check your main motor ground.
Old Apr 18, 2011 | 02:36 PM
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Push the clutch in.
Old Apr 18, 2011 | 03:06 PM
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If it clicks your solenoid is working.
If you jump the starter directly it should spin but not turn the engine over.
If those fail your "new" battery is probably bad. To find out, jump it with another car/battery.

To jump the starter, disconnect battery, carefully jump the 2 screws on the starter with some clamp, then reconnect the battery. Or jumper cable directly to the starter.
Old Apr 18, 2011 | 03:28 PM
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I would do as everyone else says. Put a new gound in the trunk to the battey, check engine to chassis ground and try to jump start it to check that you new battery is good. To be honest I would do that in the opposite order because I am cheap.
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