Probably the fuel pump you're hearing. Check the fuse box/relays under the hood and check your main ground.
This morning, I try to start my 99 and when I turn the key, nothing. Figuring dead battery, I jump start it, get ready to go, turn on the lights and it kills the engine dead. Sitting there in the dark I hear a sound from the engine compartment that stops when I turn the key switch off. Kind of like a small motor is running. Before this morning,no symptoms of any kind. Any ideas?
Probably the fuel pump you're hearing. Check the fuse box/relays under the hood and check your main ground.
The little motor noise was definitely coming from the fuse box under the hood. Changed frequency when I pulled the 'Head' fuse but kept going.
I am going out on a limb here and say your alternator died and took your battery with it.....
Now it won't even jump start. Afraid it's more than a dead battery.
Did you check the fuses/relays under the hood? How does the ground strap look?
If the car lives outside, all this rain/moisture really exposes electrical faults.
You got a meter what is the voltage on the battery?
I'm betting the battery just died from your symptoms it sounds like what my wife's '02 when it's battery decided to go to a better place.
+1
when you jump started it you put a charge to the battery and when you turned on the lights battery went dead and since your alternator is not charging there is no power to keep electrical things working. Get your battery tested and charged up at an auto place. should take them like an hour. Then see if the car starts and runs. If it does have them check the alternator with the charged up battery. Hope you get it worked out. These kind of problems are never fun.
'94 Miata "M Edition" - sold
'99 Miata w/td05
I'll get the battery tested today.
update on the problem?
'94 Miata "M Edition" - sold
'99 Miata w/td05
I was afraid you were going to ask. Loose battery cable!!!! My son and I installed a powered subwoofer about 2 weeks ago and evidently when I tightened the positive battery cable connection... well I didn't.
We all make mistakes and learn from them. Today, I will learn a lot.
Last edited by cone-cerned; 03-23-2012 at 05:51 PM. Reason: I learned to proof read better.
On the track, I am fearless.
If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.
1994 M Edition
CSP 67
Well I will take that any day over a bad battery or alternator. Glad it's all worked out.
'94 Miata "M Edition" - sold
'99 Miata w/td05