Mazda mx5 2008 intermittent starting issue

Asked by itisri May 29, 2018 at 05:15 PM about the 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Hardtop Convertible

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Hi all, i have mazda mx5 yr 2008. It recently started  
intermittent starting issues. When it stops running
it does not make any noise no cranking . The first
time it stopped running it started on its own after
playing around with the wires  and hammering the
starter. The second time it had the issue starting
up, I replaced the starter this is the third time it
stopped running after I drove back home from
work to the engine was warm. I'm not sure what
the problem is anymore here is a picture of the
housing of the ignition and other fuses I'm about to
replace the ignition fuse what else could I try?
Could it be the wire harness?

5 Answers

50

Not sure if the same issues however in the 1990-1997+ Miatas relays are known to go bad like clockwork, almost always go bad at 20 year mark. Start replacing relays. You can buy used for a pinch so your not stuck roadside however would recommend purchasing OEM Name brand relays BRAND NEW ONLY!! otherwise you will be doing the dead relay dance many more times. Can't answer for your year however my 94, many faulty relays will leave you in a no start, no run situation. In the earlier NAs it's usually one or more of the following.......Fuel pump relay, main relay, and any of the other many relays found both Underhood, 5 or so on drivers side under hood, a couple in the fuse box under hood, passenger side, under dash/under steering wheel look way up and under, and there are 2 or 3 in trunk area. One for rear defroster, one for power antenna, and other for aux something, I think, might kust be fuses but going from memory. Hope this helps, check fuses too. Not by look, swap out fresh known to work fuse and go through each row. Might consider the ones that light up.when tripped or replace fuses with circuit breakers. Some will need to be time delay such as for the A.C. system or will constantly trip when use AS. CHEERS

1 people found this helpful.
50

also, bad or loose ignitor, ignitor wire. Coil on plug units should be replaced once every year or two. Cheap insurance instead of waiting to go bad, and replace all four at same time. Do it when you put batteries in your smoke detector in your home once.per year. One way to remember. Also, a bad ignition switch, the electrical parts, NAs are.known to actually melt and scortch the wires and plug where it plugs into.the back of the key ignition contacts

50

For NA owners also check the CAS sensor Unit. A and MAFS there is one wire in each of the above which will result in a no start issue if wire or contact is broken. These are expensive so.try continuity tester 1st, or order from Amazon so you can return if not found to be defective. Amazon is your friend when comes Miatas.

I went to the dealership finally, they diagnosed it with the starter relay, 10$ wortg part amd 150$ diagnosis :/

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