2004 Mazda B3000: No start-battery cable replacement?

['Lil Red_2004]

Hi everyone, I'm a new member but have used this forum multiple times in the past to look up problems for my mazda.

I've hit an interesting problem that I need help with before going in over my head. As of a few days ago she doesn't want to start. I'll get dash lights and a click but no start. Then sometimes I'll get barely visible dash lights like the battery is super dead. Other times the immobilizer will just reset over and over and over with a dead dash (and even with the key out). Weird! Checked the battery, its good. Replaced the starter and last friday she started and ran all day just fine and now she's being a brat again so its not that. Replaced the starter relay (why not) no change.

Decided to start at the beginning with sanding grounding points and checking connections....and both positive cables are corroded and nasty inside the sheathing (if that's the right word). Guessing I found the culprit!

Figured I would replace the positive cables (to the starter & main fuse box) and be done with it. Looked into replacing the harness, but after calling around yesterday its no longer available through the dealerships and cant find it on rock auto or A1 auto.

Ok, next idea is to pull the bundle and remove/replace just the positive cables. But noticed last night that the harness bundle going down to the starter is tied to the a/c compressor, alternator etc. Pulling that all out to get to the cables looks like a huge pain with how its routed behind the compressor to get to the alternator. And the cables are clamped by a bracket holding it in place down lower before getting to the starter.

Am I going about this the best way? Or does anyone have any better suggestions?

 

[Tnmason969]

It sounds like a starter

 

['Lil Red_2004]

After autozone bench tested the battery and then I also tested it during numerous cranking attempts with a multimeter with the help of a friend, it didn't drop any lower than 12.8v, I had replaced the starter, when it started last friday it was the easiest cranking that I can remember! (Keep in mind I also sanded the starter wire connections before I finished the re-install)

Update as of today though after much thought about those nasty cables, I cleaned em, with coke! They fuzzed and bubbled like crazy (more so the longer one I had split open that runs to the fuse box), taped everything up and it started 3 times just fine! I'll be taking her to work tomorrow instead of the bike to make sure, but I'm feeling good about it. Corrosion doesn't do well for pretty much anything and certainly doesn't conduct electricity well!

 

[RangerX]

Smart!