Trouble starting Mazda 1500

[Ext User(Stephen Oakes)]

Hi,
I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually starts first go,
but if it has been raining ... it won't start.

After it has rained I can crank and crank this thing and it just won't
start. It will turn over (and keep turning over until the battery's flat if
I try that long) but won't catch.

There doesn't seem to be anything wet under the bonnet, so I suspect it's
just something about moisture in the air...

What might be causing it, and more importantly, what can I do to fix it?

--
Stephen Oakes

[Ext User(Kev)]

ever heard of CRC, RP7 or similar
might be condensation under the distributor cap, give it a good spray
inside and out, also the plug leads at the spark plugs


Kev

Stephen Oakes wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually starts first go,
> but if it has been raining ... it won't start.
>
> After it has rained I can crank and crank this thing and it just won't
> start. It will turn over (and keep turning over until the battery's flat if
> I try that long) but won't catch.
>
> There doesn't seem to be anything wet under the bonnet, so I suspect it's
> just something about moisture in the air...
>
> What might be causing it, and more importantly, what can I do to fix it?
>
> --
> Stephen Oakes

[Ext User(Jason James)]

"Kev" <kevcat@optunet.com.au> wrote in message
news:4355A598.6A05254C@optunet.com.au...
> ever heard of CRC, RP7 or similar
> might be condensation under the distributor cap, give it a good spray
> inside and out, also the plug leads at the spark plugs
>
>
> Kev

Or,...I had a Passat with exactly the same symptoms. That turned out to be a
stuffed dizzy cap. It looked OK,..but spraying it out, drying it out didnt
help,..it had tiny carbon tracks which shorted the spark to ground. A new
one fixed it. In wet weather, the car barely ran.

Jason

[Ext User(atec)]

Stephen Oakes wrote:

>Hi,
>I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually starts first go,
>but if it has been raining ... it won't start.
>
>After it has rained I can crank and crank this thing and it just won't
>start. It will turn over (and keep turning over until the battery's flat if
>I try that long) but won't catch.
>
>There doesn't seem to be anything wet under the bonnet, so I suspect it's
>just something about moisture in the air...
>
>What might be causing it, and more importantly, what can I do to fix it?
>
>--
>Stephen Oakes
>
>
>
>
Spray the inside of the cap with hair spray , should cover any carbon
tracks or cracks , if it improves its cap time .

[Ext User(OzOne)]

On Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:17:56 GMT, "Stephen Oakes"
<soakes1@XXXbigpond.net.au> scribbled thusly:

>Hi,
>I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually starts first go,
>but if it has been raining ... it won't start.
>
>After it has rained I can crank and crank this thing and it just won't
>start. It will turn over (and keep turning over until the battery's flat if
>I try that long) but won't catch.
>
>There doesn't seem to be anything wet under the bonnet, so I suspect it's
>just something about moisture in the air...
>
>What might be causing it, and more importantly, what can I do to fix it?

Dirt and dust.
Clean the engine, dry it off and try again.


Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.

[Ext User(hippo)]

Stephen Oakes wrote:

>Hi,
>I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually starts first
>go,
>but if it has been raining ... it won't start.

>After it has rained I can crank and crank this thing and it just won't
>start. It will turn over (and keep turning over until the battery's
flat
>if
>I try that long) but won't catch.

>There doesn't seem to be anything wet under the bonnet, so I suspect it's

>just something about moisture in the air...

>What might be causing it, and more importantly, what can I do to fix it?

What everyone else said should at least get you going. If it still keeps
happening, wait for some dry weather, start the car and selectively spray
dissy cap, leads and caps *lightly* with a mist spray bottle. When car
stops, you've probably located what needs replacing! Dissy cap would be
first suspect, then porous leads. Cheers

Wait fo some dry w

[Ext User(crazy ron bakir)]

On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:39:59 +1000, atec <atec77@###hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Spray the inside of the cap with hair spray , should cover any carbon
>tracks or cracks , if it improves its cap time .

hammer time is cheaper!

--

managing director and CEO
crazy ron's mobile phones
gold coast, qld.

[Ext User(The Raven)]

"Stephen Oakes" <soakes1@XXXbigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:Eof5f.21750$U51.4491@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Hi,
> I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually starts first
> go, but if it has been raining ... it won't start.
>
> After it has rained I can crank and crank this thing and it just won't
> start. It will turn over (and keep turning over until the battery's flat
> if I try that long) but won't catch.
>
> There doesn't seem to be anything wet under the bonnet, so I suspect it's
> just something about moisture in the air...
>
> What might be causing it, and more importantly, what can I do to fix it?

You may have a weak ignition system which is being affected by the higher
humidity. This can turn a marginal ignition system stop working.

Does your 1500 have the distributor mounted sideways on the front right hand
side of the head (running off the front of the cam)? If so, it can be
condensation. IIRC the OEM caps had a vent with a rubber cap on them. If you
have an aftermarket cap without one that could be your problem. I also
vaguely remember that the cap had a slightly larger notch at the bottom side
of the cap (remembering it's mounted sideways) which was intended to let
water/condensation drip out.

Check if the distributor cap has a vent, this would be a rubber cap mounted
where the plug leads attach. It would be obvious. If not, remove the cap and
look for some form of vent or elongated slot around the base of it ensuring
it's mounted at the lowest point when the cap is attached.

If all else fails, drill a few small holes (probably 1-1.5mm) at the lowest
mounted point of the cap. Obviously pick a spot that isn't going to
interfere with anything. 3 or 4 holes would be enough.

A new set of points, rotor button, cap, leads, and perhaps a coil (it would
be rather old by now) would be another good idea. If you do that, spend a
few extra bucks and replace the condensor(s). Should be one condensor on the
distributor.


--
The Raven
http://www.80scartoons.co.uk/batfinkquote.mp3
** Now I will bring chaos to the world!

[Ext User(crazy ron bakir)]

On Tue, 18 Oct 2005 23:17:56 GMT, "Stephen Oakes"
<soakes1@XXXbigpond.net.au> wrote:

>Hi,
>I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually starts first go,
>but if it has been raining ... it won't start.
>
semi retirement?

--

managing director and CEO
crazy ron's mobile phones
gold coast, qld.

[Ext User(Noddy)]

"atec" <atec77@###hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:43561878@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

Uh-oh, Mr fuckwit posted a binary into a non binary newsgroup :)

Kill him :)

--
Regards,
Noddy.

[Ext User(John Henderson)]

Stephen Oakes wrote:

> I have a 1968 Mazda 1500. It runs pretty well, and usually
> starts first go, but if it has been raining ... it won't
> start.
>
> After it has rained I can crank and crank this thing and it
> just won't start. It will turn over (and keep turning over
> until the battery's flat if I try that long) but won't catch.
>
> There doesn't seem to be anything wet under the bonnet, so I
> suspect it's just something about moisture in the air...
>
> What might be causing it, and more importantly, what can I do
> to fix it?

As others have already said, a cracked distributor cap is the
usual culprit.

Has the car spent a lot of time near the beach? A gradual
build-up of salt spray on ignition leads can make a car
impossible to start when the humidity is very high (raining, or
sometimes just early morning). Wipe all ignition leads,
connectors and plug insulators off with a clean dry cloth.

John

[Ext User(Stephen Oakes)]

"crazy ron bakir" <support@myphoneshop.com> wrote...
> semi retirement?

....of the car or of me? :-)

Yeah, but I'm trying to get it going more.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I have tried the obvious things, such as
basic cleanup and checking all the connections, but I will do a more
thorough job and see what happens.

--
Stephen Oakes