'94 Protege won't start

[JimmyP]

Hi all, this is my first post here, so be nice

I've used the search function and read until my eyes bled, but not found the answer to my problems.

I have a 94 Protege with ~140K miles on it. All routine maintenance has been done, belts, hoses, etc replaced when they were supposed to. The problem is the car turns over, but won't start.

I've taken the car to 3 mechanics, and none can tell what the problem is. Along the way the entire fuel line has been replaced (pump, line, etc) and tested. Fuel pressure is good, and it's getting to the engine. Compression is fine, and the engine is getting spark. (note: this is what the mechanics have told me; I haven't checked for myself because I don't have the tools necessary). Also, according to the Mazda dealership (yeah, they were one of the three I took it to) the car is returning no error codes.

Description of the problem: It started out where the car would be running fine, then it'd just cut out on me. It might start right back up, or it might take 10-15 minutes of just sitting before it would start. It progressed from there over several weeks until now it simply won't start. The engine turns over, but it never starts.

Aside from the 140K miles and some body damage, this car is in perfect working condition -- except it doesn't work. Can anybody help? I love this car and I really want to get it going again, as I'm certain it has another 100K miles left in it.

[slinky]

hmmmm, if the car would cut out then start back up, maybe the mechanics that you took it to couldnt find the problem because the car never cut out on there or anything, everything was working fine, maybe now that its not working, they can figure out the problem, is it doing anything else that is not normal? specially around the time that it will cut out (I E a certain smell or what not)

[rdale66]

These Proteges have a problem with the ignitor going bad. Unfortunately you can't buy an ignitor, you have to get the whole distributor and it is very pricey. You said that you have good spark though so that wouldn't be the problem. Do you have injector sounds? They should click when it is turning over as they open and close. I would be pretty upset if you spent money at a dealer and they can't tell you what is wrong with it.
I'm having a similar problem with one of mine right now, when I figure it out I will let you know what I found.