2004 Not starting after 1 month

[Snidepumpkin3]

Hi all

I know this will of been covered many times on here, but every issue is unique in a way.

To give my car some history, it's a 2004, had a engine rebuild 4 years/8000 miles ago, used it every week for 1 year and a half and it's never not started, had the occasional long crank on hot or cold, but always started.

I didn't use it for 1.5 months and the battery was weak, and it didn't start, so I took my battery to work and charged and tested it, battery was fine and I put it back in and it still wouldn't start. Just incase it flooded I took the fuel pump fuse out and cranked it for a while then popped it back in, it still doesn't start. Crank is healthy but it won't fire.... any ideas before I get it towed to the rotary specialist near me ?

Cheers boys

[warpc0il]

Does the CEL go out after the lamp test and when the engine is spinning on the starter?

If not then the PCM may be preventing starting due to a failed pre-flight test.

For example a bad signal from the ESS.

When the engine is turning over does the exhaust smell of fuel? If it doesn't then there could be an issue with fuel pump or even that fuse holder.

There's never any need to touch fuse to deflood; that's an RX7 trick that Mazda avoided with the 8 by holding the throttle down for "deflood mode "

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[Snidepumpkin3]

No, CEL goes off when cranking, it's as if everything is normal it just doesn't fire up. Doesn't even try/catch.

You will have to forgive me, I'm not sure what PCM means mazda wise, I work for porsche and that's something completely different haha.

I didn't get out to check exhaust smell tbf as I was on my own, but could smell fuel from the drivers seat with the door open hence trying to see if it was flooded. Good information about the fuse pull though, so thanks for that.

[casey]

Most likely still a flooded engine. They can be a devil to start once flooded from what I've seen on this forum over nearly 20 years

Thankfully, I've never flooded mine, but those that have seem to suggest a tow start is the best method to get going.

[Snidepumpkin3]

Will try the "deflood mode" tomorrow then and see what happens. Just surprised as I did everything to avoid a flood for over a year and never did it, then leaving it it's now flooded.

Hopefully will be all it is as the reason I fired it up was to sell it.. maybe it doesn't want to go haha

[PaulAV]

The deflood mode requires around 6-8 repetitions better (mod edit; before?) attempting an actual start, normally I start with accelerator fully to the floor, before slowly lifting it, when the engine catches you will need to try and keep the revs up as there will still be unburnt fuel on the plugs.
Alternatively tow start in second gear at around 20mph

[Snidepumpkin3]

Thank you sir, how long should I go for seconds wise each try before starting again btw ?

[PaulAV]

Around 8 seconds of cranking with around 1 minute(or more) rest to allow the starter to dissipate done heat, with making sure all your cables have clean terminals as cranking like this will draw a lot of current this will cause any dirty or loose connections to heat up. Also if you can have either a jump pack or jump leads to another car it will ensure your cranking is as fast as possible for as long as possible

[goodeggbob]

As with any vehicle left standing for some time, just put battery on charge on the vehicle the day before you intend to start it. chances are you have flooded it as it probably wasn't cranking fast enough to fire but would still have received fuel. As Paul says above, foot right down and release slowly, linking another jump battery would let you maintain the procedure for longer if a bump start is not an option, good luck,rob.

[Snidepumpkin3]

Yeah the battery has been on an optimiser for the weekend and is apparently fully charged and in good health, so should be ready for tomorrow, unfortunately i didnt do that before I only boost charged it before trying to start it last time...bump start is an option, but at a couple of man power running speed not 20 mph, so hope this works.

Thanks for your help yet again, I've had a few cars and been on a few forums in the past, this place is by far the most friendly and helpful!

[BigPete]

Get someone to tow start you much easier