I had a similar problem with my Integra which also had a very rough idle when cold. Occassionally it would crank, and occassionally wouldn't even turn over.
Issue was worse the longer I left it undriven for a week or two, and I did think it was the battery. However, when I did get it started, it would keep cranking over subsequently so obviously wasn't the battery.
The cue for me was the rough idle and occassional stalling (might have also been ECU tune) but I changed the spark plug leads and it's pretty much solved the problem. Car seems to run smoother as well, doesn't smell as rich on startup etc.
Re: NB8A has power but won't start
Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 10:21 am
by manga_blue
Battery maintenance 101. Disconnect the battery leads, clean the battery posts and clamps, wipe some grease on he posts, reconnect the leads and make sure they're tight.
If the problem continues then take the car to a good battery shop. It should take them about 1 minute to do a free test of the battery, the charging current and the dark current.
Re: NB8A has power but won't start
Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:43 am
by emily_mx5
ignition barrel. The copper terminals get corroded and/or the plug might be loose.
Re: NB8A has power but won't start
Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 12:01 pm
by hks_kansei
Do as manga blue suggests, even if it doesn't help, it's good maintenance anyway.
So the car has power? and teh starter relay clicks? But the starter doesn't turn the engine over?
It could be a sticky starter solenoid (or whatever it's called the makes the starter gear pop out) I remember Pam's starter developed that issue.
It could also be to do with an immobiliser (I think NB8A has one from factory) Perhaps it's not recognising the key and is stopping the starter?
Re: NB8A has power but won't start
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:47 am
by Okibi
As others have suggested your battery could be on the way out. This cold winter weather could be amplifying the problem.
If above doesn't sort it, then a couple of common problems with the NB8A are EGI relay & coilpacks. However, with the coilpack it's usually the other way around, ie sometimes won't start when hot, but usually cranks ok, then starts when it cools down. So 'EGI' relay's a possible as the NA6 'Fuel Inj' relay, which was subject of a Mazda Technical Service Bulletin in the early 1990s, used to have the same symptom, ie wouldn't crank, when it failed.
Re: NB8A has power but won't start
Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:03 pm
by Lokiel
My $0.02:
If you're NOT hearing rapid clicking when you turn the ignition, the starter motor's solenoid is stuffed or the battery is too flat.
If you're only hearing rapid clicking when you turn the ignition, the starter motor's solenoid is OK so either the battery is too flat to turn the starter motor, the starter motor is stuck or stuffed.
I had similar issues when I picked up my car from Dann and the battery was "on its way out" (managed to get 36km away from home, then had it towed the rest of the way ).
I bought a new battery and made sure it was charged to 13.8V but that didn't help so I triple-checked all fuses which were OK.
After doing some Googling, one of the suggestions was to give the starter motor a few whacks since it may be sticking. I then went all "Jeremy Clarkson" on it with progressively harder taps using a spanner and it worked on the 4th try. I've tried around 20 starts since then and it's fine so I'm speculating that the initial jump start I got on the Pacific Highway, where it almost started, left the starter motor in a screwy state.
).
Sorry couldn't resist. 