mazda mx5 1991 (eunos roadster) starting problem

Hi to all out there, I am new to this site and also new to Mazda MX5's. My
partner and I have just perchased an old one as our second car. I am
hoping that someone can give me some help with my starting problem.
usually first thing in the morning it will start first time, after that
your in the hands of the gods. Its like the immobiliser is still on but
its not, the ignition lights are all on but nothing happens not even a
click noise. to over come this I have to take a wire from the solonoid and
touch it onto a terminal on the starter motor, it sparks a bit but it turns
the engine over and starts, so my problem is not so much starting as
turning the engine over.

window wrote:
> Hi to all out there, I am new to this site and also new to
Mazda MX5's. My
> partner and I have just perchased an old one as our second car.
I am
> hoping that someone can give me some help with my starting
problem.
> usually first thing in the morning it will start first time,
after that
> your in the hands of the gods. Its like the immobiliser is
still on but
> its not, the ignition lights are all on but nothing happens not
even a
> click noise. to over come this I have to take a wire from the
solonoid and
> touch it onto a terminal on the starter motor, it sparks a bit
but it turns
> the engine over and starts, so my problem is not so much
starting as
> turning the engine over.
>

Sounds like the starter itself is bad. One of the symptoms of
the solenoid not working is the lack of "click" when you turn the
key. There may also be a dead spot on the commutator. When the
engine stops on the dead spot, it won't start again. By giving
it a "bump" you've moved the bad spot and then the engine will
start again.

Or the ignition switch could be bad too. Does the car start
again if you wiggle the key back and forth a couple times? Then
it's the switch that's not working.

--
Iva & Belle.)
'90B Classic Red.)
#3 winkin' Miata