Wierd problem with my p5 (won't start?)
 

Ok, I've had my 2003 P5 since december without a single problem, until about a month ago.

It just wouldn't start. So I'm like ok, battery is dead.. no biggie. So i jump it and it goes for a little while.. then a day or so later it won't start again. I figure it's just a bad battery (stock pos they had in it).. so I took it to the dealer and they replaced it with the mazda "performance" battery. I figure problem solved.

This was about a week or so ago. Then a couple days ago, it won't start again. I jump it, go another day of starts and such just fine. Then yesterday, won't start again. So wtf?? brand new battery should work fine. Only thing I can figure is it's not getting a charge.

So I took it to the dealer this morning.. they hook up the battery tester thing, reads fine.. says it's getting a charge just fine and that they can't do anything else. WTF?

Anybody have any ideas?? NOTHING is getting left on at all so it's not that. I've double and triple checked everything to make sure it all goes off.. yet it still does it every day or so.

I've added nothing to the car either.. (was going to add a sound system but havn't yet).. I'm all outta ideas.

Any help would be appreciated!

Kyle

Sounds like something is draining your battery when your car is off causing your battery to drain without the ability to properly charge via alternator between starts. If the meter read fine, then something obviously isn't catching. It could be a bad alternator, perhaps sparks aren't doing their job. Good thing it's under warranty. i am curious too to why it is doing that. Please keep us informed of any thing should you have to get it to the dealer again. Sucks I know!:rolleyes:

Is light in the trunk on? I notice it has a switch an doesn't turn off automatic. I was checking it out one day and thought I should make sure I watch out for that myself.

Mine shuts off

What year is yours? Mines a "02" They may have variations. I just double checked mine and it's not dummy proof.

'03

Maybe Mazda got negative feedback because people were leaving it on, in turn draining the battery. Anyways, sounds like you got an improved version.

kyo....keep very good records of taking your car into the dealer for the SAME problem and them not fixing it....if it becomes a hastle...which to me it has already.....get the papers and file them for "the lemon law"....ALL it takes is for you to return the car THREE TIMES for the same problem and them not fix it and you can start the process....they will end up giving you a new car......

if you have to .....give the dealer the car....let them drive it around and have it shut down on them....prove to them its not YOUR habbits that is causing the problem.

and if you do not get satisfactory service or responces from the service manager...do NOT stop there....go directly to the owner of the dealership....

there is NO NEED to dick around with lower level managers....go directily to the top.

thanks for the advice..

The guy sat there and shut it off/started it several times and it worked fine.. figures eh?

If it's following the same timeline as usual, it'll stop working again today.. in which case I'm pulling out my mazda road side assistance card from them, and having it towed to the dealership.. this is getting annoying.

My best guess is the alternator isn't doing its job.. but we'll see. I'll keep you all posted.

Are your other electrical components functioning when the car won't start? Your alternator may indeed be charging, but you could have some short-circuit that is intermittent, or a bad relay to the starter. Or this may be simply a bad connection somewhere in the wiring harness. If the alternator was consistently "not charging" then you would likely have the car die while on long trips or at night when the headlights are on.
Electrical problems can be a bitch; you're idea of having them tow it in may be helpful in documenting your cause.

Wow, it seems like after 2001, Mazda has had some quirks with the electrical system. However minor or major, it's still a pain in the ass to take them in to get fixed. Go to www.alldata.com and check for any recalls. I got the site from a guy on this site, so I can't take credit where credit is do.

you may also have a loose wire to the starter or solinoid. Or a defective starter.