Advice Needed

[trancebabeuk]

I've had a mooch around the forum and you all seem to know at least a billion times more than I do about the car that I have been driving for the last 4.5 years so here goes with the questions.

I have a 1995 MX-3 1.8 V6 and almost 2 weeks ago, I parked up outside my house after a trip out.

I didn't need to use my car for a couple of days and in that time, we had some really heavy rain (in the UK - and car has never liked the damp)

Went to start it and it turns over - but doesn't fire into life.

Lifted hood, scratched head and sprayed wildly over Disty, Plugs and leads with trusty WD-40.

No joy.

Looked at ignition wires and one had a greenish corrosion on the disty end - and another had been put on by previous heavy handed mechanic so that the connection had gone sideways right through the boot before going into the disty.

So I ordered new wires and fitted them this morning but still no joy....

New battery 4 months ago, new plugs 11 months ago - re conditioned disty approx 13 months ago ( had same-ish problem then but had more warning that something was wrong)

Likely to be the Disty again or something a whole lot more serious ?? What do you think ???



Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance

[Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE]

Sounds like a similair thing to what's wrong with mine - at least in that it cranks but wont fire up.
Will be taking to Mazda for a diagnostic.. will post an update in my other thread

[trancebabeuk]

Well Flaming Heck....

Just called out a mobile tuning guy who helped me last year and he jiggled a few wires ( checked the firing order) and put a new set of plugs in and...

Va Va Vooommmmm....

Dave - I really hope you get yours sorted soon. Thanks for your reply

[Dave-UK-MX3-V6-SE]

Ah excellent! Glad yours has been sorted so easily.

I'll continue praying that mine will at last be back on the road soon....

[IanL]

If "previous heavy-handed mechanic" is the one who changed the distributor, I wonder if it has the gasket properly fitted. That might be the point of entry of moisture.

It would be worth opening it up to check, and giving it a good clean inside with meths or similar.

[hgallegos915]

hmm would you by any chance know..what wires he giggled?

[trancebabeuk]

Given my really limited knowledge I know that - he checked the firing order of the leads I had fitted ( he removed the disty and looke at that also.

(The leads I bought were Magnecor's)

Then he also had a look at the fuel injection line - which was no problem apparently.

He then just stuck a complete new set of plugs in and started her up. She now goes like a rocket.

One worrying thing he also said was that when he took one of the plugs out ( number 5) there was some oil on it which I understand is due to a "head gasket leak."

I also understand that this may come back and bite me on the bum in the future.

[IanL]

Originally posted by trancebabeuk:
One worrying thing he also said was that when he took one of the plugs out ( number 5) there was some oil on it which I understand is due to a "head gasket leak."

I also understand that this may come back and bite me on the bum in the future.

That's a worst case diagnosis. It could easily be worn valve guides letting a bit of oil trickle down from the valve gear. Keep an eye on the oil level on the dipstick.