Some engine issues I need help on

[Mp5speed]

Hey there ya'll. Its been a while since I have posted on this site, probably 5 years or so. Remember it when it was msprotege.com. Sorry for the absence, been busy I guess. But I was needing some advice from you guys and gals. I unfortunately will be selling my mp5 and I am just waiting for the title to come in the mail before i give up my keys... However, just last week I started noticing something strange and scary with my baby. To begin with, she's a 2003 mp5, 56000 miles, no mods except axle back exhaust, normal oil changes, 5spd tranny, optima yellow top battery 2yrs old, had spark plugs and fluids swapped about 15k miles back, no past engine problems, live in dallas so not much cold climates...
So there has been a few instances this past week in which I have become concerned. Case #1: 7 days ago I proceed to start my car and the engine tries and tries to turn over for about 5 secs as if the battery is dead... I let her rest for 30 secs and try again, car starts instantly, I drove 15 mins home, turn the car off and test it by turning it on 3 or 4 times, worked perfectly. Case #2: 3 days ago I go out to start my car in the morning, engine struggles to turn over but actually does this time in my first 5 sec attempt, I drive 30 mins to school, test out turning enginge on and off a few times again, works fine. I pop my hood just to have a look and to my suprise my engine coolant is crazy low, I'm talking not even a 1/4 inch of it in the bottom of the coolant case, thought my mechanic topped me off last oil change, so I fill it up same day, hoped that would'v fixed it. But... Case #3: 2 days ago I leave work after an 8 hr shift, start my car up and everything is fine, I drive 2 mins to the nearest gas station to fill up, turn car off but leave my headlights-foglights-stereo on while pumping (optima battery has never failed me), after 5 mins or so I attempt to start my car up and same issue as in case 1, struggling to turn over first 5 secs, works perfect 2nd try.... So now I take my car up to autozone and have them run a diagnosis on my electrical system, battery and alternator and everything pass with flying colors, no error codes or anything...
So now the guess work begins... What in the world is going on with my ride? I dont wanna give my car away nxt week and have that person come after me with a 12 gauge cause I sold them a lemon. I'm thinking maybe a bad tank of gas??? This current new tank has not given me any problems since case #3... Maybe I should try a bottle of fuel system cleaner, its been years. Higher octane fuel next fill up?? Can a fuse cause this?? George Bush?? Hell i'm outta ideas... Anyone experienced this problem or can suggest anything?? Any tips would be appreciated. And anyone who finds me a fix can come to Dallas and thrash around my new Dodge Challenger R/T 6sp for a day once it gets delivered!!

 

[stdntDrvr]

have you charged the battery? i doubt bad gas would cause problems with it turning over.

i've had the same problem with the coolant in my msp...i can fill it up, but a few weeks later the damn thing is empty...not quite sure what's causing it...every msp i've been around smells like coolant under the hood anyway, so i have always contributed it to poor design. it's probably not the case, but it helps me sleep at night.

 

[DSlab]

Really? so it is normal to have the coolant disappearing? My P5 is doing the same thing and I couldn't find the leak anywhere, it was driving me crazy. If it is normal for everyone, I guess it'll make me feel a little better, still not completely happy about it though.

Anyway, the engine turns but won't start? or it won't turn at all? You said "as if the battery is dead" if the battery is dead the engine won't turn at all. But anyhow, let me throw out some possibilities:

(from "Fix your Car" book by Strachan)

1)Engine turns over normally but won't start

possible cause:

-Damp ignition cables
(Wipe ignition cables, ignition coil, and distributor cap. spray with water dispersant)

-No spark at the spark plugs
(check for loose connection at ignition coil)

-Faulty Ignition coil or ignition module
(seek garage advice)

-No fuel
(refill with fuel)

-Fuel system blockage or faulty fuel module
(Seek garage advice)

-broken timing belt
(install new timing belt)

2) No warning ligts on Dashboard when ignition switched on and engine will not turn over.

- Flat battery

3) Dashboard warning light come on when ignition is switched on but go out when ignition key is turn to start position

- bad connection at battery terminal
- bad ground connection

4) Dashboard warning lights come on when ignition is switched on, but there is only a click when key is turn to start position.

- bad connection at starter motor
(have starter motor connection cleaned)

5) lastly, this happend to both my friend's Mitsubishi and my previous Honda. All warning lights come on but nothing happens when ignition is switched on. Wait a few minutes (or longer), try again it will start. A real annoying intermittent problem.

-turn out to be a bad relay. But that was a common problem with Hondas, don't know about Mazda. I replaced the relay on my Honda, and never had the problem again.


Anyway, hope this helps.

 

[stdntDrvr]

oh, i have no idea if it's normal or not...i've just noticed it on other msp's as well.

 

[Mp5speed]

Anyway, the engine turns but won't start? or it won't turn at all? You said "as if the battery is dead" if the battery is dead the engine won't turn at all.

Thanks a bunch Slab for the info, but to elaborate, the engine struggles to turn over as if the battery is "extremely weak" and does not have enough juice to get her going. The engine sputters as if it is almost about to start up but no true start up. Let it rest a minute and its starts up fine...??

 

[DSlab]

But mine is pretty bad, I have to add coolant every week. Few weeks ago there was a crack on one of the radiator hose, I replaced the hose myself. I've been thinking that maybe I messed something up when replacing. But then again, I couldn't find any sign of leak. Also no water/oil mixture on the dipstick. The next thing I was gonna try is replacing the radiator cap, but to be honest I really don't think that's the problem. It really worries me thinking that one of these day I might forget to add coolant and the engine overheats.

 

[DSlab]

FYI, I am really not an experienced mechanic or anything. So I don't want to pretend like I know a lot about cars. But from the limited knowledge I have, I would first examine the batteries, spark plug and coil. Those seems to be the easier stuff to check. You said you took it to autozone, did they check the spark plug and coil? If you are sure that the engine is getting the spark it needs to ignite but still won't start, then logically I would think that it is not getting the fuel or the oxygen it needs for the combustion.

 

[P-Funk!]

A clogged injector could be the culprit. Run seafoam through the tank. Also - carefully inspect the battery cables pos and neg for corrosion/chaffing, etc.

It is NOT timing belt (it does start)
It could also be a failing coil. How does it run when started? Fuel economy normal?

It is not related to the coolant level (another issue).

Me? Tell the guy buying it about the troubles. If he balks - shave $300 off the price. If he still balks - turn it in at the delaership

 

[Mp5speed]

Yea engine runs just fine. What kind of task is it to check coils, tried searching for some tips on the forum...

 

[shane02pro5]

I thought the yellow top was a deep cycle and needed to be charged periodically. Put a voltage meter on it during cranking and idle.

Losing coolant is not normal. Probably just a bad thermastat $10 30min fix. Mine never has coolant smell except when my overflow cracked recently.