Help! car dead

apple

New to this site, wish I had visited a long time ago!
Due to an injury I have not been able to drive my Miata (1996 Automatic) for several months. I did start it occasionally and drive around the block, but I am very upset for myself for not taking better care of it. I have NO knowledge of cars and assumed it would be okay.......*sigh
So it won't start. Put in a new battery, even gave it a little charge. Lights come on! But absolutely nothing else.....I even tried putting gas in, but this  did not help.
I have no car knowledge and very limited money (meaning maybe $40) to put towards fixing it.
I recently lost my job and I can't use the car anymore. I know someone who will buy it, but I need to have it running before this is possible. (I hate to part with quot;herquot; after 10 years, but I know it is time.)
Any advice is welcome! I don't know what is what with the car, but I catch on pretty fast. If you have the time to offer insight, please give me a few details so I know where to look!! (I read on forum about Immobilzer.....where is this and what can I do with it?)
Thanks so much!! I appreciate it!

The car did not have a immobilizer stock, if it has one someone added it later.  It could be a problem if you changed the battery.  So could a aftermarket alarm.  Knowing you changed the battery I would look at the fuses to make sure they are ok that the battery did not get connected backwards for a second by mistake.
Brad

The car wasn't starting before we switched out the battery. We thought it was the battery's fault......but will double check the connection and fuses.
What is this about the alarm? It does have aftermarket alarm.
You will laugh at my next question......where are the fuses and how do i check them?.....
it's okay to laugh at me!

Fuses are under the steering wheel, on the left side.  There are also some fuses under the hood.  They are in a black box and are labeled.
member who may be able to check it out for you. It does not sound like a terminal problem to me.

Does the car turn over at all and not start or does it do nothing?  I am back to the alarm and when the battery got disconnected, it went into a no start can't steal mode.
Brad

Yes, Myah'sDaddy, the car won't start, click, or turn over. However, the lights will turn on.
If the problem is with the alarm, any thoughts what can I do about that?
I will check the fuses tomorrow in the light. Thanks all for your help! Much appreciated.

I almost asked if you were pushing the clutch in, then caught myself.  I suppose quot;is it in parkquot; would be the equivalent, but I doubt you keep the car parked in anything other than park.

It may be a idea to try to shift it to neutral then try to start it.
Brad

Don,t get rid of it just yet. I,m sure someone will help and it sounds like a cheap fix to me.


Originally Posted by Miata_Lady
... So it won't start. Put in a new battery, even gave it a little charge. Lights come on! But absolutely nothing else.  ....

If the only thing that works is the headlights, then suggest rechecking the main 80 Amp fuse in the fuse box in the engine bay.  The headlights do not use the main 80 Amp fuse.  If other things like the interior lights, dash lights, and door buzzer work, then the 80 Amp fuse is not the problem.  If the fuse is bad, willl first need to disconnect the battery, then remove the two small bolts on each side of the big fuse.  Replacement should be under $5 at auto parts stores or even Wall-Mart.

have the starter checked out, if anything tap the outside casing with something, some object and try to start afterwards,
Our Mazda 626 did have a problem like that, got in and wouldn't do anything when you tried to start the car, no click\no turn over, tap the starter, got back in started up fine, been starting since.
I of course would also recommend checking all fuse and relays in car and in engine bay.


Originally Posted by Jim (Pop VII) C
suggest rechecking the main 80 Amp fuse in the fuse box in the engine bay.  The headlights do not use the main 80 Amp fuse.

Thanks for explaining this! This sounds like something I can check out in the morning.
You all are great, will post what I find tomorrow!

I too had a similar problem with my automatic.  While this solution may not help your particular situation it is something to consider.
I have placed my shifter in Park.  Came out the next morning and the car would not start.  Lights came on, radio would play, but it would not engage the starter to crank the engine.  Fault was in the Shift mechanism.  I ended up pushing the shifter forward, toward the dash.  Seems to be a dead spot in the Park position.  Once pushed forward it started up just fine. It's done this since new.


Originally Posted by NCC-1647
It's done this since new.

if it did that since new then why didn't you take it to the dealer??
and its probably a fuse or like he said a dead spot where the transmission is in park but reading as reverse


Originally Posted by maverick_124
if it did that since new then why didn't you take it to the dealer??
and its probably a fuse or like he said a dead spot where the transmission is in park but reading as reverse

That is why I said a few days ago shift it to N, it still should start in N and would be out of the dead spot in park, or atleast rule that out.
Brad


Originally Posted by Miata_Lady
Yes, Myah'sDaddy, the car won't start, click, or turn over. However, the lights will turn on.
If the problem is with the alarm, any thoughts what can I do about that?
I will check the fuses tomorrow in the light. Thanks all for your help! Much appreciated.

Assuming from your comment that you do have an alarm.  Normally when power is removed from an alarm it will go into the cut off mode where it will not allow the car to start.  Does the alarm have a light that shows when it is activated?  Does it flash when you try to start the car?  If it does flash, you need to find the over ride switch and push that when you are trying to start the car.
Good luck.