Have a car starting problem and need some help

jeepin

jeepin

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Jul 20, 2003
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So my roommates car overheated a couple days ago because the water pump leaked. We towed it home and had a mechanic friend replace the water pump and we were going to replace the timing belt but it had been replaced less than a year ago and was in perfect condition. So got everything back together and it started right up. My roommate took it for a drive and everything was fine.


Then last night he was going out to the car to go to work, and it wouldnt start, it just sounded like it wanted to turn over but never did.

One friend thinks the oil might have gotten really hot, and the rings might have been seized up so he said to try to spray starting fluid in the intake to get it started then let it sit for a half hour, and then take it for about an hour drive.

Tried the starting fluid but it wouldnt start. Now im at a loss. We checked spark. Thats good. We checked to see if its got fuel. It does. All the fuses are good. Batteries good, starters good.

My other roommate thinks the timing belt could have slipped, but I am unsure.

Anyone have any thoughts?
 
Was mechanic friend involved in the timing belt activity..take anything off or loose? I'd get him or her back over and troubleshoot.

Out of idle curiosity - what kind of car/age? I had an old beater that "jumped time" when I did something stupid..did he have any violent backfires at any point.

I'm NOT even mechanically-inclined but if engine was seized up, starter would not turn the motor over.

Sorry for your friends problem..probably need a real mechanic..could be something simple..and hopefully cheap. Let us know what you find out.
 
The mechanic friend was the one that did the work.

I tried calling him but he hasnt called back yet. He must be working on something else now.

The car is a 1988 mazda 323.

Im just baffled, especially when the car started right up after putting everything back together, and my roommate took if for a test drive for about 15 minutes and everything was perfect till he went out last night to try and start it.
 
Yeah the car was cooled off before the new water pump was put on.

The car has spark so its not that, and I can get the top cover off, but the bottom cover you have to take the power steering pump out to remove.
 
"and it wouldnt start, it just sounded like it wanted to turn over but never did"

is it turning over?
maybe the battery is low?
starter gone?

thinking about it,new water pump,
little more drag on the belt than with the old pump,
might be enough to cause a weak battery/starter to give up....
 
Just for grins, check the oil. See if it is milky or has bubbles in it. While not conclusive, it might show that the car got hot enough to either ruin a head gasket or even warp the head. Low compression could result and make starting the car difficult or impossible to start. Good Luck.
 
its trying to turn over.


And I assume it isnt the battery because it powers all the lights and everything else with no problems, and we even tried jump starting it with my friends truck and that made no difference.

I also took starting fluid and sprayed it in the intake while my roommate tried to start it and that changed nothing.
 
So got everything back together and it started right up. My roommate took it for a drive and everything was fine.
Click to expand...

That's the hard part. I'd go straight to the timing belt (or warped head or head gasket issue) if the engine hadn't run fine after the repair. That's the complication.
 
I'm not much of a mechanic, but "you got spark" where? at the end of the cable or the plug itself?
Any gunk at the plug gaps?
Did you check for water in the oil?
 
Basics: You need (3) things for an engine to run:

1. Fuel-air mixture
2. Spark (at the right time)
3. Compression

Beyond that it's fine tuning. In this event ONE of these is off big time.

Starting fluid would confirm or supplement #1.
Spark at the tips of DRY plugs? fouled plugs may be getting spark, but not jumping the gap. You need to pull one....
...and while you are there do a quick compression test. Even with your thumb. If you can't hold back compression with your thumb it will probably start. If you can...

The timing belt has jumped some teeth, and the cam timing is off, and the valves have hit the pistons and bent. OR, the head gasket had blown considerably. Either one =Game over.

Good luck. :)

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Basics: You need (3) things for an engine to run:

1. Fuel-air mixture
2. Spark (at the right time)
3. Compression

Beyond that it's fine tuning. In this event ONE of these is off big time.

Starting fluid would confirm or supplement #1.
Spark at the tips of DRY plugs? fouled plugs may be getting spark, but not jumping the gap. You need to pull one....
...and while you are there do a quick compression test. Even with your thumb. If you can't hold back compression with your thumb it will probably start. If you can...

The timing belt has jumped some teeth, and the cam timing is off, and the valves have hit the pistons and bent. OR, the head gasket had blown considerably. Either one =Game over.

Good luck. :)

Coop
Click to expand...

This.

Also check the distributor or cam angle sensor if you haven't yet.
 
Thanks for all your help guys,

I will check it out some more today.








(Okay, Turns out its the head gasket. Thanks again everyone).
 
Last edited:
^^^ #3.

Well, it's better than bent valves.

Good luck on this.

Coop
 
If I'm not mistaken the Mazda 323 motor was the same as the Ford Escort 2.0 Liter motor, the head gasket isn't a hard job to do, if ya have even the slightest mechanical ability you should be able to do the job.

Good luck to yer friend.
 
Overheating is the start of terminal illness for a lot of engines, particularly Japanese ones. They will go for a long time but the cooling systems needs watching.

I'm guessing gasket/head or the like.
 
macdo said:
Overheating is the start of terminal illness for a lot of engines, particularly Japanese ones. They will go for a long time but the cooling systems needs watching.

I'm guessing gasket/head or the like.
Click to expand...
Aluminum heads don't take heat well.I sure hope that didn't happen.You're right about running cool.A warped head can be $$$.See what the oil looks like.
 
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