Another wont start thread

[kulluminati777]

my car wont start
It is a 1993 K8. i was driving down the autobahn when the check engine light came on and the car just cut off. I have an external coil and HEI on it for about 3 months. I tried to put a new disty on there..nothing...i replaced the HEI and coil..nothing...when it cranks it just makes a clicking sound and its not the battery either because its only 4 months old and i tried jumping it with my friends car..nothing.. any ideas or hints....i was thinking fuel pump but wouldn't the car stall like it was running out of gas before it cut off. I didn't here any loud noises or any thing when the car shut off, it was like i had turn the key off and it wouldn't cut back on

[marcdh]

by clicking do you mean it sounds like the starter isn't actually cranking the engine? Or it cranks but doesn't actually ever start?

Have you checked for codes?

[kulluminati777]

i have to send it in to the shop for codes so i havent checked any just yet and yeah the starter just clicks there is no turn over at all...it used to click and turn over i have been meaning to replace the starter or get it looked at but i dont think the car would randomly cut off and not start again because of the starter..

[Redline322]

Sounds like a bad ground, the shut down with not much warning and just getting a click even when trying to jump the car points to a break or loose/corroded wire. Check your battery and alternator cables and any chassis grounds for any obvious signs. Clean any corrosion off and hook them back up and see if it works. Also, try turning your key to the on position without trying to crank and listen for the fuel pump. If those all check out and it still doesnt start, pull off your starter and touch it with jumper cables to make sure it is still good. While unlikely, the starter solenoid could be bad as well but that wouldnt cause the shut down.

[wytbishop]

Ground. I would say about 90%.

[kulluminati777]

hhhm i will drive out to wear my car is at and check grounds....

[davmac]

Hate to think distributor with the recent work so hopefully you'll find a ground wire loose. After you're convinced all ground connections are good then you might pull a few bolts off the timing cover and pry it back to check the belt. That could cause the engine to stop suddenly. But it is not consistent with the starter not turning at all with a good battery and/or jumper cables.

[kulluminati777]

I have good news and bad news...the bad news is acording to the mechanic i took the car to, the engine is done, they claim it will be 2000 EURO to fix....the good news is im dropping my MX-6 engine into the MX-3 then parting out the MX-6

[DeadMaker]

What's the exact problem with the engine?

[kulluminati777]

the mech said the timing chaining broke and the valves bent....

[wytbishop]

it's not an interference engine. When the timing BELT brakes the valves cannot hit the pistons.

there's a decent chance you're being lied to.

[DeadMaker]

From wiki
The Mazda B-series is a "non-interference" design, meaning that breakage of its timing belt does not result in damage to valves or pistons, because the opening of the valves, the depth of the combustion chamber and (in some variants) the shaping of the piston crown allow sufficient clearance for the open valves in any possible piston position.

[kulluminati777]

even if the timing chain breaks?

[kulluminati777]

would valves ever bend?

[marcdh]

If you dropped the valves you could bend them - IE retainer/keeper failed, that seems very unlikely on a k8. You don't even have a timing chain. You have a belt. Even on my over skimmed ZE heads they still clear, with flat top pistons, in any position. I'd be cautious of your mechanic, though having not heard his exact words nor seen the car couldn't be sure.