No Crank No Start Issue

[JMR]

Hi,

First and foremost, Eric, just wanted to thank you for all of your videos and knowledge you are passing on. All of the hard work you have put in is really appreciated!!! Thank you!

We have a 2000 Mazda MPV and we are dealing with some really weird issues. I’ve been troubleshooting it for days to no avail.

Here is some background on what I’m dealing with:
2 days ago wife reports she can’t start the car. I tried jumping it, nothing. I tried using my copy of the key and the engine started. When I got home. I tried her key again, NOTHING. Mine works. Following day NEITHER key works.

I started off with Battery. Went to Autozone and sure enough it was bad. They gave me a new one. I checked all the battery leads/wires and they seem fine.

NExt off Started. I ripped it out and when trying to unscrew the Negative lead I broke it. I took it to a local Electrical Starter shop and the guy changed the Selenoid for me. He also opened up the starter and said it looks fine/plenty of years to go. Bench tested it worked great.

Put the starter back on yesterday. NO GO.

I get a click when I turned the key. And I tried switching the gears to see if it will fire up in Neutral or other gears but I keep getting the 1 click from under the dash.

I checked all the fuses as well.

At this point, I’m thinking since its clicking ignition switch is probably not the problem.

I’m thinking Neutral Safety switch? I would like to bypass it but I’m not sure which leads to hook up.

I was also going to try to rotate the engine to see if it even turns (but I’m pretty sure it will).

I would really appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Topic

[college man]

With a meter check for 12v at the starter. if seen starter is suspect.
if not seen check the starter relay. see if this link helps you.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-electrical-problems

[JMR]

Yep, was going to check the voltage at the Solenoid. My guess is it’s not getting any. Based on the video I’ve seen I simply take Negative on the multimeter to the battery and positive to the Solenoid > try starting it and watch for voltage correct?

Thanks for the link. That video is very useful. I will find the relay and test it. I do hear something clicking so I should be able to pinpoint to the relay/take it out and test it.

[JMR]

I noticed that under No Crank no start video/guides there is no troubleshooting guides for Neutral Safety switch or Ignition Switch. I’m pretty sure my issues is in those areas.

First, Starter Relay when I get home today. That sounds easy enough to check. Will also double check and make sure Starter is getting power.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Don’t forget about battery connections or problems with the cables themselves.

You might also find some useful information in this article.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems

Keep us posted.

[JMR]

[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=85553]Don’t forget about battery connections or problems with the cables themselves.

You might also find some useful information in this article.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems

Keep us posted.[/quote]

Thanks for reply

I checked the cables when I started working on the Starter. They all looked fine.

So few days ago I was troubleshooting some more and took out the 2 Ignition Relays. Even thought they were clicking I figured it’s easy enough to benchtest them. They were both good.

So I go to start it, no go. Put it in Neutral….and it started.

Ding ding ding….Must be Neutral Safety switch.

I got a new one at Mazda for $130 bucks and replaced it the other day. Car is fine now.

I did get some Install instructions from folks at MPV forums but I found them to be worthless. It asked to put the car in Neutral when removing the NSS and also not to move the lever as it might break the transaxle? Well, that was impossible to do. There is no way to get that thing off without moving the lever (especially the 22mm nut that connects the switch to transmission.

I just left it in Park, it did move (even the car moved) when I was unbolting….little scary (I thought I really messed up the tranny). But then I just put the new switch in (made sure it was in park) and bolted everything back together.I didn’t really adjust the switch itself either (as the 2 bolts that hold it are in a slot that can rotate the switch a bit. I just tightened it down in the position that felt right.

Car is fine now. The switch gear shifter feels like when the car was new now.

Mazda really put this switch in a bad place. It’s right under the coolant hoses etc….notices little coolant in that area (have to keep an eye on the leak now).

Thanks for all your help!!!

Pfew

[college man]

Glad you got it. Thanks for the update and the fix

[EricTheCarGuy]

Glad you got it solved. Thanks for keeping us updated and for the info about the installation.

[Author]

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