2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege only sparks 1 or 2 times

[nkduncan]

Hi. I have a 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege that only sparks 1 or 2 times and will not start. I bought the car used with a blown head gasket. I replaced the gasket and am now having this issue. The guy I got it from bought it the way it was and never got around to having it fixed, so I am unsure of what problems it may have had before the blown gasket. Overall the car appears to be in perfect condition other than it will not start.


Here is what has been done:

- Replaced head gasket
- Replaced oil and filter
- Replaced camshaft position sensor(known good replacement)
- Replaced crankshaft position sensor(known good replacement)
- Replaced plugs
- Replaced wires
- Replaced ECU twice


Here is what has been tested/observed:

- All wiring is good as well as grounds.
- All fuses and relays are good.
- Fuel pump is running.
- Plugs only get one, sometimes two sparks.
- Injectors are running at first, but cut out after no more spark.
- Alarm works.
- Key is not chipped.


Info/observations from previous owner:

- When he first bought it, when you put the key into the "On" position,
the speedometer went nuts. So he replaced the cluster.
- Carpet was wet, discovered leak under dash on passenger side at
bottom of air-intake area.


I am at a loss and have no idea where to go with this next except to take it to the Mazda Dealership. Don't want to have to do that. :-(

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Nate

 

[Cleverfrog]

your timing is probably 180 off.

 

[Jickywoo]

your timing is probably 180 off.

I'm pretty sure that if you have the timing mark on the crankshaft gear lined up with the mark on the engine then your timing can't be 180 off. Unless of course that you somehow lined up the top timing marks 180 off which would be very difficult to do.

 

[2.0t03speed]

bad coil packs?

 

[nkduncan]

I'm pretty sure that if you have the timing mark on the crankshaft gear lined up with the mark on the engine then your timing can't be 180 off. Unless of course that you somehow lined up the top timing marks 180 off which would be very difficult to do.

Crankshaft is lined properly at TDC marks. Cams marks are level and together.

 

[nkduncan]

bad coil packs?

Gets spark once, sometimes twice.

 

[Cleverfrog]

That's what I thought too when I did it. But it can be 180 off. Just realign the marks and take the cylinder 1 plug out to check. Use something long to see if its off.

 

[hornsfan10609]

What about the MAF? Triple check all the grounds.

 

[Cleverfrog]

bump for an update?

 

[Spiced MSP]

nkduncan, I saw your thread on another mazda forum. Good choice migrating over here. Lots of good info and this is a very active forum.

 

[Jickywoo]

Found the problem. When I bought the car I didn't realize that the engine had been swapped with a 2000 626 engine. Whoever did the swap didn't replace the cam gears or crank pulley so the timing is not reading correctly. Parts are on the way!

 

[Cleverfrog]

That's a weird one