Miata died, cranks but doesnt start...
 

Not sure if this is the best place to post this...

So last night I went for a quick spin in the Miata, feet from my driveway the lights cut off, and the engine died. I could crank the engine but nothing....

This morning I went out and turned the car on and all the lights came on... the wide band went through its check and the car started just fine?!?!

The car is a 95M with an FMII Link set up with an AEM wideband O2, it also has had the interior swapped in from an NB.

The can also has an on/off switch and a push button starter. The car with crank and not start if you don't let the AEM WB go through its little initialization. Not sure if its related but thought it worth mentioning.

This car was bought with all this like it is now.... I am starting to sort though it to get everything dialed in.... I'm starting to think I should have just bought an NC. ;P

I love the car, but don't know where to even begin... I am afraid to drive for fear of getting stranded by it. :|

check your timing belt first.

open the oil fill cap, shine a flashlight in, have someone crank, and watch if the cam turns. if not; ezpz fix, report back. if so, report back.

Would it start and run normal with a timing belt issue? This morning it acts like nothing happened... Cars Love'em/Hate'em :D

As of this moment it runs fine... but I know its waiting to attack me.

oh no. sorry i dont read.

maybe a coilpack issue.

but i HATE when others wire cars, im sure that on/off switch is held together by chewing gum and using 12g speaker wire.

You and me both, the idea of a tearing into a wiring mess is making me want to shop for an NC LOL

Where would you even start looking for a glitch that went away... lol I guess I better keep the AAA card handy.

clarify please...the car WILL crank but WON'T start unless the WB goes through its initialization? That is very odd. is this consistent?

For it to start it needs spark, fuel, and timing:

-If it cranks and won't start I would check for spark first. Pull a plug out, touch it on the valve cover and have someone crank the car. Testing all 4 plugs is a good idea in case one of the coils is out.

-Check timing like Brain suggested. the 19 teeth counting method is easy, although be mindful that it could be off at the crank.

-Lastly check fuel. you can jump the diag pins (don't remember which ones, should be easy to find online) to see if the fuel pump primes. Probably all you need unless the fuel at the intake has been messed with. in that case, you will need a better way to make sure the injectors are firing. Usually if the car cranks for a while you will smell fuel...

Now, other stuff:
1) if the coilpack is going bad, the car will die on you when hot and usually won't start again until it cools off.
2) while less common, fuel pumps tend to behave similar to #2 on their way out. Usually this starts to happen in the summer time when ambient temps are hot.
3) if its intermittent, and doesn't follow the pattern in #1 & #2, then I would say the wiring is the first thing to look at.

Funny story, at my last event, this guy had his car cut off on him on track a few times. Apparently he paid some guy to wiring up a supercharger + whatever in the car. Guy never finished it but he left a bundle of about 5 feet of wire with all the ends exposed on the exhaust side...it was probably a miracle that bundle didn't end up on the exhaust manifold. People do stupid shit sometimes...

Check all your grounds. Also battery if lose or anything.

THANKS!!! This is great info... ill do all the above... once again I love this site.

Normally a Link needs to power itself up before you can start. This takes a little time. Maybe because it has been changed to pushbutton start, someone has added a delay to the circuit.

Engine dies and lights off: Yes; check all battery lines and battery main grounds.
(Ground in trunk, ground to PPF, hot line at alternator, etc)

It would crank, while all the "idiot" lights and AEM were off, everything looked like it was getting no power, but the car would was cranking like it had power.....

Now, it powers on like normal and starts just fine... it "FIXED" itself overnight... I have not driven it since Friday, don't feel like getting stranded.

Frustrating, I wish it was broke still so I could maybe find the issue easier.

Just tried to start is without the WB running through its cycle.... started right up.... strange. When I first got the car it would't let you start before the WB cycled.

Hmmm, maybe my car is fixing itself... lol just weird... ill have to put AAA on speed dial and drive and enjoy till it acts up.

Timing is everything. I know of people with link systems that wait to hear a click and others that wait for the airbag light to go out before cranking. Cranking before the link is ready is a no start condition.

Good to know, I plan to get a new EMS, ems4 or MS, but I still have to figure out why the car just up and died on me... the curse of modded cars... why do I do this to myself.... Oh yea because I'm to poor to buy nice cars. ;)