2008 Mazda 3 GS, Dead

[_Blaze_]

Just got back from a 1000km trip, washed the road salt off last night(feb 25) at a car wash. Went over to a friends place, and after shutting off the car, the fan kept running. I tried starting the car again, and turning it off and the fan was still running. Checked on it 10 minutes later, and the fan had stopped.

Drove home fine, and then this morning drove into work without problem, and then drove home for lunch.

I noticed at lunch I could hear a clicking noise from the front end, but had to get back to work. I left the car in the drive way and walked to work.

When I got home from work(4 hrs after it had last started) the car was totally dead. No lights on inside, and when I tried to turn it over there was nothing. Not even some clicks as the started tried to get going.

I tried to boost it, and even after 5 minutes of sitting hooked up to my old civic(that started like a charm after not being started for 3 months, including 3 weeks of -30 and lower temps) It still did not turn over, and no lights came on at all.

Any thoughts? I've got some stuff to do so I'll call road side in the AM, but could there be a fuse that has blown or something like that? I've never seen a car as dead as this

[nicker]

could be a relay , sounds like definetly have to take it to the shop to have them hook it up to a computer

[Niteshade]

could be a relay , sounds like definetly have to take it to the shop to have them hook it up to a computer

I agree with Nicker. Regardless, sounds like a warranty issue.

FWIW, I've found that most things (cars or otherwise) that are going to break down either do within the first month or within a week after your warranty expires!:bang

[Malcolm991]

That sucks but it sounds like a small problem

[3GFX]

I'm hoping that washing it after such a long trip wasn't the cause. Get it to the dealer, its a warantee issue. Has to be something small.

[Flagrum_3]

I'm hoping that washing it after such a long trip wasn't the cause. Get it to the dealer, its a warantee issue. Has to be something small.

I don't think washing a car would be the cause unless he managed to get water in the fuse/relay box somehow.I've been told there has been problems with relays, (there's also a TSB on it for no starts), so hopefully its just that.
Let us know the outcome!

As a side note; relays seem to be a big PITA, at TTC many of our "new" buses have been having some serious problems in the cold, mainly due to dead relays...apparently they get condensation build up and when the temp drops they freeze! So much for new technology:chuckle

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[MajesticBlueNTO]

I don't think washing a car would be the cause unless he managed to get water in the fuse/relay box somehow.I've been told there has been problems with relays, (there's also a TSB on it for no starts), so hopefully its just that.
Let us know the outcome!

As a side note; relays seem to be a big PITA, at TTC many of our "new" buses have been having some serious problems in the cold, mainly due to dead relays...apparently they get condensation build up and when the temp drops they freeze! So much for new technology:chuckle

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sounds like modern relays are being built by the lowest bidder with the cheapest parts by child labour in china.

recently got an alarm on a car and the installer (tm3 sponsor) recommended against the starter-kill as the relay was known to exhibit the condensation issue causing a no-start in cold weather conditions.

[_Blaze_]

just got off the phone with the dealer. Looks like it's the fan and fan control (relay or system, I forget).

3-5 day wait for a part :(

[RX9]

its just your bad day, dont you too worry, it will pass.

[andytam]

i've been noticing that in really cold weather (like today feels like -30 in ottawa), it takes close to 10 "ignitions" to start the car.
just curious, does anyone know what causes this, or what may make it "ignite" quicker like summer starts?

Thanks.

[andytam]

i've been noticing that in really cold weather (like today feels like -30 in ottawa), it takes close to 10 "ignitions" to start the car.
just curious, does anyone know what causes this, or what may make it "ignite" quicker like summer starts?

Thanks.

n/m, just found it on google.

[RemaerdLacidar]

i've been noticing that in really cold weather (like today feels like -30 in ottawa), it takes close to 10 "ignitions" to start the car.
just curious, does anyone know what causes this, or what may make it "ignite" quicker like summer starts?

Thanks.

:whoa a fellow Ottawaian? :bana2

[RemaerdLacidar]

i've been noticing that in really cold weather (like today feels like -30 in ottawa), it takes close to 10 "ignitions" to start the car.
just curious, does anyone know what causes this, or what may make it "ignite" quicker like summer starts?

Thanks.

Sorry, back on topic....

Mine took a couple "ignitions" this morning to get going.. more than it usually does.. But it was like -20 according to my ambient temperature thermometer :\

[Noisy Crow]

n/m, just found it on google.

And the answer is..... ????

[andytam]

Yup I'm also from Ottawa

QUESTION- Apart from the "ignitions" I've noticed in cold weather my Clutch is super sticky in the beginning as well, it takes around 15minutes of driving (or when the temp of the engine goes to half way between cold and hot).
As well, when I first got into my car, my shifter was stickier too. Anyone have similar issues?


COLD START ANSWERS:
Reason 1 - Gasoline, like any other liquid, evaporates less when it is cold. You have seen this -- if you pour water onto a hot sidewalk it will evaporate a lot faster than it will from a cooler place like a shady sidewalk. When it gets really cold, gasoline evaporates slowly so it is harder to burn it (the gasoline must be vaporized to burn). Sometimes you will see people spray ether into their engines in cold weather to help them start -- ether evaporates better than gasoline in cold weather.

Reason 2 - Oil gets a lot thicker in cold weather. You probably know that cold pancake syrup or honey from the refrigerator is a lot thicker than hot syrup or honey. Oil does the same thing. So when you try to start a cold engine, the engine has to push around the cold, gooey oil and that makes it harder for the engine to spin. In really cold places people must use synthetic motor oils because these oils stay liquid in cold temperatures.

Reason 3 - Batteries have problems in cold weather, too. A battery is a can full of chemicals that produce electrons (see How Batteries Work for more information). The chemical reactions inside of batteries take place more slowly when the battery is cold, so the battery produces fewer electrons. The starter motor therefore has less energy to work with when it tries to start the engine, and this causes the engine to crank slowly.

All three of these problems can make it impossible to start an engine in really cold weather. People either keep their cars in heated garages or use "block heaters" to get around these problems. A block heater is a little electric heater that you plug into the wall to keep the engine warm.

[RemaerdLacidar]

Yup I'm also from Ottawa

QUESTION- Apart from the "ignitions" I've noticed in cold weather my Clutch is super sticky in the beginning as well, it takes around 15minutes of driving (or when the temp of the engine goes to half way between cold and hot).
As well, when I first got into my car, my shifter was stickier too. Anyone have similar issues?




My clutch was also "sticky" or feeling heavier this morning :| as was my gear box.

[Flagrum_3]

Yup I'm also from Ottawa

QUESTION- Apart from the "ignitions" I've noticed in cold weather my Clutch is super sticky in the beginning as well, it takes around 15minutes of driving (or when the temp of the engine goes to half way between cold and hot).
As well, when I first got into my car, my shifter was stickier too. Anyone have similar issues?


COLD START ANSWERS:
Reason 1 - Gasoline, like any other liquid, evaporates less when it is cold. You have seen this -- if you pour water onto a hot sidewalk it will evaporate a lot faster than it will from a cooler place like a shady sidewalk. When it gets really cold, gasoline evaporates slowly so it is harder to burn it (the gasoline must be vaporized to burn). Sometimes you will see people spray ether into their engines in cold weather to help them start -- ether evaporates better than gasoline in cold weather.

Reason 2 - Oil gets a lot thicker in cold weather. You probably know that cold pancake syrup or honey from the refrigerator is a lot thicker than hot syrup or honey. Oil does the same thing. So when you try to start a cold engine, the engine has to push around the cold, gooey oil and that makes it harder for the engine to spin. In really cold places people must use synthetic motor oils because these oils stay liquid in cold temperatures.

Reason 3 - Batteries have problems in cold weather, too. A battery is a can full of chemicals that produce electrons (see How Batteries Work for more information). The chemical reactions inside of batteries take place more slowly when the battery is cold, so the battery produces fewer electrons. The starter motor therefore has less energy to work with when it tries to start the engine, and this causes the engine to crank slowly.

All three of these problems can make it impossible to start an engine in really cold weather. People either keep their cars in heated garages or use "block heaters" to get around these problems. A block heater is a little electric heater that you plug into the wall to keep the engine warm.

I would have thought all that stuff was common knowledge by now! ...anyways living in Ottawa you should definitely think about doing these things in preparation for and during your cold winters.1/ Use gas line antifreeze in each new fill.2/ Change to synthetic oil and gear oil in your engine and tranny.3/ Get a trickle charger or battery blanket....4./ Avoid short runs during extremely cold temps.

Just a few tidbits.


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[notoriousb]

You could put the key in the on position put it back in the acc then back on the on to prime the fuel pump.. and you should be able to start the car better in fewer cranks.