2006 Tribute four banger. Battery almost 1 year old. Twice now, when turning the key, no engagement of starter.

Time 1: In my driveway... let it sit 20 minutes when I went to get a cup of coffee in preparation for jump starting it. Walked back out, started right up.

Time 2: Granddaughter was driving it. Tried to start it, wouldn't start. Called her Dad. He jumped it, started right up.

That last issue happened four days ago. I've started and run it daily since then without issue. I don't think it's the battery.

I'm SWAG'ing that it's the starter solenoid, and asking if anyone agrees or has another idea. Is the solenoid alone available or am I stuck buying a starter?

TIA.

 

An update on this issue. It has happened two more times. My wife was driving it, would not start in a parking lot. She had jumper cables and it started right up.

She came home. I attempted to start it. Started right up. Let it sit for a few minutes. Tried again. Would not start. And, I noticed that every last light on the dash was out. Not a single light lit. But, the light in the USB charger in the accessory port was on.

Turned off the ignition. Tapped on the battery posts with a hammer and checked the connections. It started right up, and has started OK for the last several days.

Is there a relay somewhere that might be affecting this?

TIA

 

You can't guess about the battery condition and all [size=13px]your[/size] info points to either a failing starter (not [size=13px]likely[/size]) or failing battery (more likely). In either case you can at least fundamentally rule out the battery if you get it tested and it still good!

In your area you have several places that offer the service for free>>>>>>>>>

Go get the battery load tested at
O'Reilly Auto Parts

AutoZone Auto Parts

NAPA Auto Parts - Genuine Parts Company

Pep Boys Auto Parts & Service

Firestone Complete Auto Care

 

Battery tests show it to be OK... but that doesn't mean that there isn't an internal break that causes everything to go dead. However, I will go to another battery testers. Thanks for the reply.

 

Go down to the part I illustrate the proper way to do a Battery Load Test!
https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/maz...n-43946/page2/


Watch how they do the test to make sure you see some of what I posted. If your battery is not fully charged prior the test and not a "HOT CHARGE" the test will not be conclusive.

 

Have a similar issue on my 2001 2.0 LX....I have a "Start fail" about one in every 20 starts. I hear the solenoid engage (klunk!) but she won't turn over. Takes sometimes 5 attempts to get 'er lit. Took the starter to O'Rielly's and had it tested, checked out fine. I'm down to the starter switch now, and looking at the schematic, it seems that there's no relay-the current goes through a 60A fuse, then the start switch, then to the starter! (Thanks, Ford.) Don't want to take it in as it's intermittent...and pay for a $100/hr "fishing expedition". I'll just let it fail completely, I guess.

 

I finally found the source of my problem. It was the battery cable clamp on the negative battery terminal. Although it looked to be tight, it was not completely tight, and I found I could move it with a pair of pliers.

This battery clamp on my Mazda is not the soft clamp you see in auto parts stores, but rather a relatively thin metal ring clamp. I could not tighten this clamp enough to stay completely tight on the battery post, and I can only guess that it stretched over time. I ended up loosening the whole thing up, wrapping a thin piece of copper sheet that I had around the battery post to increase its diameter, then tightening the whole thing back down again.

Maybe not your problem, and, worth taking a pair of pliers and checking that those supposedly tight looking battery clamps really are.

 

Good on ya, StrongEagle,

...but it ain't the issue here; neg term tight as a drum.
With 40-50A going thru the starter switch instead of a relay first (an idiot Ford idea), I think it might wear the switch out. Either that or I have a hypochondriac starter that gets "well" when tested.