Mazda 3 - Won't start

[cKGunslinger]

So, I parked my 2008 Mazda 3 (manual transmission) on Thursday afternoon after work.

Last night, I went to start it and it basically made the same sounds it does when you try to start it when the car is already already running - engine not trying to turn over, but a fast, high-pitched whirring/grinding sound when you turn the key. Lights and all work and don't really dim much when I try, just the winding/whirring sound.

I'm guessing the starter? I might try pulling the battery and having it tested first, just in case. In retrospect, I have had a few isolated incidences of me trying to start the car, only to realize that I'd been trying for 6-7 seconds to no avail, instead of the usual 2-3 second start up. I then turn the key off, wait a second, push the clutch back in and try again and it starts right up. This has happened maybe 4-5 times over the last year.

I don't have the tools/area to get to the starter, I don't think (recently separated, in an apartment right now,) so I guess I"ll be taking it somewhere. Being a manual transmission, I'm assuming I can just push-start it? I used to do that all the time with my pickup in college when it was having battery issues. Only problem is the lack of run-space in this apartment complex's tight packing lot. :|

 

[LTC8K6]

Sounds like the small gear on the starter is not sliding out and engaging the flywheel. Used to call it the "bendix drive" back in the day. Anyway, it sounds like the starter is not working correctly.

 

[iamwiz82]

That is the sound of the starter gear not advancing to engage the flywheel.

Hit it with a hammer a couple of times, that can free the gear and allow it to start, but you should plan on a replacement.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Well, charging the battery seemed to do the trick. But yeah, I think the starter was sticking, too. I'll plan on getting it replaced now that it's running.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Well, charging the battery seemed to do the trick. But yeah, I think the starter was sticking, too. I'll plan on getting it replaced now that it's running.

Getting what replaced? Sounds like the battery is getting weak or the alternator isn't charging properly. most of the chain auto parts stores will do a battery/alternator check for you for free.

I wouldn't replace the starter yet.

 

[LTC8K6]

Getting what replaced? Sounds like the battery is getting weak or the alternator isn't charging properly. most of the chain auto parts stores will do a battery/alternator check for you for free.

I wouldn't replace the starter yet.

A weak battery generally would not cause the starter to fail to engage with the flywheel, though.

 

[NoTine42]

A weak battery generally would not cause the starter to fail to engage with the flywheel, though.

It may not correlate to automotive, but on my garden tractor this fall (26hp Kohler) I was sure my starter was fried (weird noises and trouble engaging) but my battery wasn't holding a charge either so I started with getting a new battery and all problems were solved. (No more starter issues)

 

[z1ggy]

Well, charging the battery seemed to do the trick. But yeah, I think the starter was sticking, too. I'll plan on getting it replaced now that it's running.

Then if charging the battery worked, your starter motor wasn't getting enough voltage/current (power) to actually start to engage.

Did you test the voltage before you charged it? Might just simply need a battery change to fix the problem. Probably should get the alternator checked to if you haven't.

But if it's really a grinding noise, and not the higher pitched clicks, it could be your bendix gear or flywheel being worn out and aren't meshing properly as others have stated. Odds are though based on you saying a fully charged battery worked, that the problem was the starter motor not getting enough power.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Then if charging the battery worked, your starter motor wasn't getting enough voltage/current (power) to actually start to engage.

Did you test the voltage before you charged it? Might just simply need a battery change to fix the problem. Probably should get the alternator checked to if you haven't.

But if it's really a grinding noise, and not the higher pitched clicks, it could be your bendix gear or flywheel being worn out and aren't meshing properly as others have stated. Odds are though based on you saying a fully charged battery worked, that the problem was the starter motor not getting enough power.

I had the auto store check it and they said battery was fine, but the charge was at 6% and asked if the car had been sitting a while. He charged it up and I put it back in and got the car started, albeit with more effort that it has ever required - multiple attempts, giving it some gas, dying once, then having to rev it a bit as it wanted to die at idle. :hmm: ~2 minutes later, all was good and it seems 100% back to normal these past few days. :thumbsup:

I have noticed on at least 2 occasions over the years, that after I remove my key, some lights and other accessories were still powered on. Confused, I stuck the key back in and jiggled it and they shut off. Perhaps I have some small issue/short in the ignition that kept power flowing without me noticing (it was raining, so maybe it was noisy and I wanted out in a hurry,) draining my battery over 2 days.

In that case, it was most likely just a dead battery. I had never heard the starter make that sound with a dead battery, however. But before I removed the battery to take it in to be tested (the morning after the weird high-pitched sounds), I did try again to start it, moving the steering wheel from one side to the other and shifting through the gears beforehand. That time, it sounded like a pretty normal "battery too weak to start" attempt with the engine slowly turning over.

That actually does make me think that maybe the battery was being actively drained, made too weak to even power the starter motor or something. But the act of me trying to start it killed/reset the ignition-leak-or-whatever that was draining the battery, allowing it to build up a small charge overnight that made it be able to at least turn-over the engine the next morning. All speculation from a non-car-guy, however. :hmm:

 

[z1ggy]

Well, if your battery was totally drained, it wouldn't even provide enough current to close the solenoid anyway, so it sounds like it just wasn't charged up. You'd turn the key and hear nothing.

Like I said, the high pitched whiny "clicks" are the starter motor basically just wigglying back and forth as it tries to start up, but isn't getting enough power. Grinding would be the gears between the flywheel and starter not meshing right.

What things remained on after you remove the key? Some of my lights in my mazda 3 (2011) remain on after I remove the key, but turn off once I lock & shut the door (map lights).

How old is the battery? Or do you have a new one now? If it's new, you said you were getting the alternator looked at. If that is broken, then your battery will drain rather quickly.