MX-3.com

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

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

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

Ah excellent! Glad yours has been sorted so easily.

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

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.

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

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.

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.