The immobilizer doesn't make it hard to start. IIRC it cranks, starts, and then immediately dies. I'm surprised to hear it's a spark cut, I would expect it to cut fuel.

--Ian

 

I had someone suggest maybe the cat is clogged. I find that unlikely, but I have been feeling the car has been a little low on power, like maybe 90%. Also my highway average fuel economy has been in the 25mpg range, so maybe it is that. I went and gave the cat a knock and didn't hear anything rattle though.

 

While were shooting out crazy ideas...wrong timing belt?

 

Nope. Same belt I've used for the last 3000ish miles.

 

You're still posting and haven't retimed the motor yet? You posted a picture of it with a tooth off. You should fix that first. Then charge the battery so the car spins over faster than 64 RPMs, pull plugs and injector fuse, spin it over to un-flood the motor, then reinstall plugs, and then try to start it. You are way overthinking this.

 

My apologies fellow peanut butter loving Miata owner, that is just what I do. Overthinking has been my thing for better or worse for as long as I can remember.

Ok, I will do exactly as you said above, and report back if it is running. Hopefully!

 

main relay?

 

You didn't take apart the cam phaser (pew pew) while doing the belt, right?

 

Nope! (pew pew). That would not be good lol.

 

Hey everyone! The car is running better than ever!!! Thank you all so much for the help! I feel like such an idiot for not seeing the timing was off, but it was a tooth off on the exhaust cam like Patsmx5 said. If any of you all come by San Marcos, Tx, message me for free food and alcohol

 

Where's my dollar.

 

Hmm, I guess you can count me surprised one tooth was enough to cause an absolute no-start symptom. I would have instead figured just poor performance, but at least running.

Oh well, logging that one to the memory banks.

 

Good to hear! Back to enjoying the crap out of it now I hope

 

Good2go: Yeah I wouldn't have guessed that! I agree, I would have at least thought it would have ran, albeit horribly. But now the car drives amazing!

TonyV: Worry not, I will! I fixed the car literally the night before I leave to my hometown for winter break. I'd much rather spend the next month in my Miata than my boring (but comfortable and reliable!) Volvo.

 

Good to hear.

 

Well, the excitement was short lived. I drove it about 105 miles home and it ran better than ever. I drove it a little more last night. I tried to start it today, and it won't turn over. I have started it probably 5-6 times since I first fixed it with no issues. Somehow overnight it decided it won't start. It's on a battery charger now, but I don't think that's the issue. Any ideas? It ran flawlessly when I parked it :'(

 

What does "won't turn over" mean? I usually interpret that to mean you turn the key and nothing happens -- if so, then it's basically either the battery, solenoid, or starter motor.

--Ian

 

Sorry, I meant it will crank, but won't start. The battery is perfectly fine. After thinking about it more, I think the most logical thing is maybe water got in the ignition or something weird. I have a car port back home, but here in Brenham Texas I had to park outside by the curb. It absolutely poured last night, and the car is parked in about a 35 degree angle, so I'm going to let it dry a little before bothering you all

 

Well I left it on a battery charger and poped the hood this morning to let any water evaporate. I also pulled the ignition wires and coilpacks. It still won't start. It just cranks and cranks, but won't start. I'm about ready to jump this thing off a cliff. It ran amazingly the last time I drove it, with absolutely no sign I'd any issue. The next morning it won't start. I've never heard of a car breaking overnight. I still wonder if maybe it was the rain, because it was a very wet drive home before I turned it off. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks!

 

Back to basics: pull a plug, check to see if it's wet with fuel, use a screwdriver to see if it's sparking. Basically run through all the troubleshooting steps again.

If you got water in the ignition, 12 hours with the hood up may not be enough to dry it out. Try taking the coil wires off and if you see water in the plug wells or coils then dry it up by hand.

--Ian