My train station car won't start. It's a 2000 Mazda protege 1.8. Pulled a fuel line I no the motor is getting fuel. Turning key it has a strong crank, but I noticed when checking for spark I am only getting one initial spark and then no more spark while cranking. Which is obviously why it won't start. What could be causing this? Any ideas?

 

Could be many causes, camshaft position sensor, crank position sensor but I would try the cam sensor first if your getting no spark at all but it could also be your coil dying. Try getting a scan tool and seeing if there are any codes.

 

I checked computer no codes are comming up. Car ran fine untill I pulled it in driveway, then no start next day. It throw just one spark at the start if cranking then I loose spark. I thought the same thing those two sensors and maybe a bad coil . Didn't want to go changing parts tho.

 

You may still want to take the parts out and inspect them. Sometime you can see traces where the spark runs to ground, or corrosion somewhere. Most parts can be bench tested.

 

Try adding an extra ground wire from the engine block to the negative battery terminal. Check connections to coils, plugs for corrosion as per Tanprotege.

 

i will go over all those , thanks... i am just hoping its the crank sensor.

 

Check the voltage at the sensor. I'm guessing there is voltage on both circuits from the PCM. If so, PCM is defective and needs to be replaced.

 

hi. I know this is really old, but did you figure out what the problem was?