'92 Miata - ? No Spark

Help!!!

My 'new to me' '92 Miata won't start. Got it 2 weeks ago - drove it
every day for 10 days, not a problem!!! Even lousier weather ( New
Hampshire - 6 weeks of rain ) had me park it for 5 days - This AM,
BEAUTIFUL morning - cranks, but won't start. Full tank o' gas.
Battery WAS OK, but worn down trying to start. Cranks like a champ.
Lovely smell of fuel! Pulled a plug - pretty blackened - bought a set
of Bosch plat. , gapped to .044, no go. I'm not seeing a spark with
the plug out of the cylinder. I don't think that both coils would fail
at the same time. Went out, bought a Haynes manual. Not sure where to
start now.....Previous owner - an OK guy it seems - said Never a
problem with the ignition....

I can do some work - did a wiper motor and starter on my '97 Jetta,
struts on an old Toyota (with some help). My wife is gonna kill me if
this is $$$$ - needed new catalitic converter for inspection.....


Gene

wrote:

>Help!!!
>
> My 'new to me' '92 Miata won't start. Got it 2 weeks ago - drove it
>every day for 10 days, not a problem!!! Even lousier weather ( New
>Hampshire - 6 weeks of rain ) had me park it for 5 days - This AM,
>BEAUTIFUL morning - cranks, but won't start. Full tank o' gas.
>Battery WAS OK, but worn down trying to start. Cranks like a champ.
>Lovely smell of fuel! Pulled a plug - pretty blackened - bought a set
>of Bosch plat. , gapped to .044, no go. I'm not seeing a spark with
>the plug out of the cylinder. I don't think that both coils would fail
>at the same time. Went out, bought a Haynes manual. Not sure where to
>start now.....Previous owner - an OK guy it seems - said Never a
>problem with the ignition....
>
>I can do some work - did a wiper motor and starter on my '97 Jetta,
>struts on an old Toyota (with some help). My wife is gonna kill me if
>this is $$$$ - needed new catalitic converter for inspection.....

One thing you could try is check the wires near the top firewall for
damage. I know from experience that if the wrong one breaks, the
ignition is disabled.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

(Leon van Dommelen) wrote:

wrote:
>
>>Help!!!
>>
>> My 'new to me' '92 Miata won't start. Got it 2 weeks ago - drove it
>>every day for 10 days, not a problem!!! Even lousier weather ( New
>>Hampshire - 6 weeks of rain ) had me park it for 5 days - This AM,
>>BEAUTIFUL morning - cranks, but won't start. Full tank o' gas.
>>Battery WAS OK, but worn down trying to start. Cranks like a champ.
>>Lovely smell of fuel! Pulled a plug - pretty blackened - bought a set
>>of Bosch plat. , gapped to .044, no go. I'm not seeing a spark with
>>the plug out of the cylinder. I don't think that both coils would fail
>>at the same time. Went out, bought a Haynes manual. Not sure where to
>>start now.....Previous owner - an OK guy it seems - said Never a
>>problem with the ignition....
>>
>>I can do some work - did a wiper motor and starter on my '97 Jetta,
>>struts on an old Toyota (with some help). My wife is gonna kill me if
>>this is $$$$ - needed new catalitic converter for inspection.....
>
>One thing you could try is check the wires near the top firewall for
>damage. I know from experience that if the wrong one breaks, the
>ignition is disabled.
>
>Leon

Also, try wiggling the key a bit. The ignition switch is a frequent
source of failure in older Miatas, though I think it usually stops
running the starter.

Leon

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)

On 28 May 2005 12:22:04 -0700, wrote:

>Help!!!
>
> My 'new to me' '92 Miata won't start. Got it 2 weeks ago - drove it
>every day for 10 days, not a problem!!! Even lousier weather ( New
>Hampshire - 6 weeks of rain ) had me park it for 5 days - This AM,
>BEAUTIFUL morning - cranks, but won't start. Full tank o' gas.
>Battery WAS OK, but worn down trying to start. Cranks like a champ.
>Lovely smell of fuel! Pulled a plug - pretty blackened - bought a set
>of Bosch plat. , gapped to .044, no go. I'm not seeing a spark with
>the plug out of the cylinder. I don't think that both coils would fail
>at the same time. Went out, bought a Haynes manual. Not sure where to
>start now.....Previous owner - an OK guy it seems - said Never a
>problem with the ignition....
>
>I can do some work - did a wiper motor and starter on my '97 Jetta,
>struts on an old Toyota (with some help). My wife is gonna kill me if
>this is $$$$ - needed new catalitic converter for inspection.....
>
>
>Gene

Broken timing belt

wrote:
> On 28 May 2005 12:22:04 -0700, wrote:
>
>
>>Help!!!
>>
>> My 'new to me' '92 Miata won't start. Got it 2 weeks ago - drove it
>>every day for 10 days, not a problem!!! Even lousier weather ( New
>>Hampshire - 6 weeks of rain ) had me park it for 5 days - This AM,
>>BEAUTIFUL morning - cranks, but won't start. Full tank o' gas.
>>Battery WAS OK, but worn down trying to start. Cranks like a champ.
>>Lovely smell of fuel! Pulled a plug - pretty blackened - bought a set
>>of Bosch plat. , gapped to .044, no go. I'm not seeing a spark with
>>the plug out of the cylinder. I don't think that both coils would fail
>>at the same time. Went out, bought a Haynes manual. Not sure where to
>>start now.....Previous owner - an OK guy it seems - said Never a
>>problem with the ignition....
>>
>>I can do some work - did a wiper motor and starter on my '97 Jetta,
>>struts on an old Toyota (with some help). My wife is gonna kill me if
>>this is $$$$ - needed new catalitic converter for inspection.....
>>
>>
>>Gene
>
>
> Broken timing belt

Cam angle sensor?