Mazda Protege 200 starter problems

LMCGRMI

MEMBER
2000 MAZDA PROTEGE
4 CYL

Mazda Protege 2000 1.6L Starts well when cold, but after driving any distance and stopping engine, restart will only work in about 30 or 40 minutes. Before that, starter seems to draw too much current. Battery is new, grounding seems OK. Once it starts it runs very well. Just restarting is impossible. To me it seems like starter needs replacing. Ideas?

1 Reply

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

If the starter motor is cranking the engine over w/o lagging or anytype of noise the problem is coming from somewhere else-Do below to determine if its fuel or spark problem

Next time it refuses to start don't wait for it to make up its mind-do below immediately to determine if its fuel or spark problem

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if so, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing