I purchased a '90 Mazda MX-6 for my son and after driving it for a couple of weeks, it just died while he was driving it. It will not start back up. When pumping the gas, it sounds like it wants to start but won't. We replaced the plugs, wires, distributor cap, checked the fuel injectors, tested the fuel pump, and changed the fuel filter. None of these seem to have been the problem. Does anyone have any suggestions what else it could be?? It also shakes when it gets to about 60 mph?? ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED!! PLEASE? Thanks so much!

 

Number of miles would help.

I am going to guess a lot

Man with all those things changed, and it absolutely will not start? I am going to guess you have no timing belt/ gears left? Did you check it? It was running and he was driving when it died right? Timing can kill an engine and go out instantly. My other thought is your coil or distributor. Look and see if there is spark at the end of the spark plug wires to eliminate that guess. Anyway I am going to say your timing is gone so check that. If it is, when you crank the engine, the Crank shaft will still turn, but your cam shaft/ shafts will not Or if the timing is accessible just open the cover and check. Sorry I don't have an MX6 so this is just general engine repair.

Let us know if the timing and coil and distributor are ok and I can think on what else it could be, but at that point I might be out of ideas.

 

OK, thanks so much. I was wrong about the distributor cap, it was the rotor that we replaced. The distributor cap has NOT been replaced. Compression and spark from all four cylindars, timing belt is turning. It has over 170 K miles : ). If you hold down the gas pedal while cranking, it backfires and sputters, without foot on pedal, there is a smooth turnover- little response. Has over 45 psi fuel pressure from fuel pump...

 

Hmmm, Got me, THis has to be an MX6 thing and not just a general thing.

 

The backfire with your foot down sounds a little like you may have jumped timing. Has the timing belt ever been changed. It's recommended that they be changed at 60K I believe.

One other thing, there is a hose that runs down from the air cleaner (actually, I believe it was after the air flow sensor) to the exhaust. Mine cracked and it would run rough whenever I got on it a little.

 

maybe blown head gasket??? not enough compression to start.