After overheating engine cranks but does not start, and code P0117

2011 MAZDA CX7
148,545 MILES • 2.5L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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STEVEN1984
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So was driving fine. Nothing wrong! Had car come up beside me flashing me down. Had white smoke coming from under car. Pulled off interstate came to stop to wait for traffic. Car shut off and would not start back up. White smoke was coming out of oil cap. Has oil in it reads full on dip stick. Coolant was little low but not bad. Been setting now two weeks. It turns over but won’t fire. Almost sounds like no compression. Hooked code reader up cause now engine light on. Gives me one code P0117 Engine Coolant Temperature sensor. Any ideas on what could be problem? I’m stuck :( Thanks
Nov 22, 2021 at 3:06 PM
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SQM
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Hello,

It sounds like you might have a blown head gasket.
Did the engine overheat?

Many times, with blown head gasket the coolant will enter the engine and mix with oil. This will make the oil a milky color. What color is the oil?

Also blown head gasket can wrapped the cylinder head and that can lead to no/low compression. Which can impact the start up.

Here is a helpful guide on how to test for blown head gasket:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let me know what you are experiencing.
Thank you.
Nov 22, 2021 at 7:51 PM
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STEVEN1984
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So no, the car never has overheated whilst I have owned it! The oil looks just like normal burnt oil. Nothing looks to be mixed in oil, Was driving 70 on interstate then had lady pull beside us and said we had white smoke coming from under car. So, we exited the interstate Immediately and came to a stop and won’t start now. But tomorrow I can take some pictures during day light and send. If that will help?
Nov 22, 2021 at 8:49 PM
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STEVEN1984
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Also, now this happened have several dash lights on. Oil, battery, check engine, and traction control. The check engine light blinks seven time after turning key. The traction control stays blinking.
Nov 22, 2021 at 9:02 PM
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SQM
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Are getting any code besides the P0117?

First make sure all the fluids are at correct level. Typically, you will see smoke when there is fluid burning. It could be oil that got on the exhaust or coolant.

A faulty coolant temperature sensor can prevent the engine from starting, but it does not explain the smoke.
I have attached the troubleshooting steps for the code P0117 below.
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Nov 23, 2021 at 11:07 AM
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STEVEN1984
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No sir that is only code it said. But of course, this is without car running as well! But when car stopped took oil cap off and it was coming out the hole. But dipstick read full. And coolant was little low but not bad. Water still in overflow. Thanks, I may get that part and try it!
Nov 23, 2021 at 11:50 AM
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SQM
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I have seen cars to not start at all due to a bad coolant temperature sensor. As the sensor can send signal that the engine is 'too hot' to start.
Let me know if you are able to go through that trouble shooting guide.
Nov 23, 2021 at 12:00 PM
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STEVEN1984
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No with more work. I pulled spark plus and cylinders are full of oil!!
Dec 9, 2021 at 9:28 AM
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SQM
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That is a sign of leaking valve cover gasket, or the sparkplug tube seals. Which allows oil to enter.
Is it on all of the cylinders?
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Dec 9, 2021 at 10:35 PM
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STEVEN1984
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Number 2 and 3 are full of oil. 1 and 4 look clean.
Dec 10, 2021 at 9:50 AM
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SQM
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So, it is likely due to leaking spark plug tube seals. Which is a part of the valve cover gasket.
Try cleaning out the plugs and the hole and make sure they are dry and see if you are able to run the engine. Then check again for the leak.
Dec 10, 2021 at 11:55 AM
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STEVEN1984
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What would be best way to get oil out of cylinders ?
Dec 11, 2021 at 9:51 AM
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SQM
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You can try cleaning it out with a rag, or a shop vacuum to suck it out if possible.
Best course of action would be to remove the valve cover and replace the seals.
Dec 11, 2021 at 8:49 PM
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STEVEN1984
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This would cause no start?
Dec 12, 2021 at 9:33 AM
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STEVEN1984
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Very odd I go out to clean out the cylinders and now no oil in them? Odd
Dec 12, 2021 at 9:48 AM
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SQM
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Too much oil in the plugs can cause no start. As the plugs will not produce good enough spark to start the engine.


Interesting. It is possible for the oil to drain back into the engine. Usually they just don't drain back, unless if the leak is large enough.
Dec 12, 2021 at 5:55 PM
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STEVEN1984
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So, the best action now would be to take apart and change gaskets. I cleaned spark plugs and still no start. But I think the plugs are bad now from being floating in oil basically. I'm getting new ones today and also start taking car a part.
Dec 13, 2021 at 6:28 AM
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SQM
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Unfortunately, until you figure out the oil issue, it will be hard to determine if something else might be the issue. And yes, oil fouling the plugs will prevent it from producing spark.

Let me know how it goes.
Dec 13, 2021 at 6:55 AM
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STEVEN1984
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Here is what looks like with valve cover off.
Dec 14, 2021 at 8:24 AM
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STEVEN1984
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I’m not sure how to tell if bad. But I’m sure the three in the middle should not have that oil there? Right? Would this have caused the white smoke from the oil cap once it blew filled with oil and caused smoke? Thanks for all the help so far!
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Dec 14, 2021 at 8:27 AM
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SQM
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You can kind of see the oil mark on the inside. So that is where it is likely leaking.

So, did you get smoke out of the oil cap but not the exhaust right?
The oil can smoke if it is under excess heat.
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Dec 14, 2021 at 12:45 PM
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STEVEN1984
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As far as I know the lady said coming from under the car. Then we pulled off the road and stopped. I only seen smoke coming from the oil cap. I’m just curious to if the head gasket went as well.
Dec 14, 2021 at 12:53 PM
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SQM
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Well, if the head gasket is blown you would have coolant mixed with oil and the oil will become that milky white color.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test
Dec 14, 2021 at 1:02 PM
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STEVEN1984
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Coolant dark. But green tint and smells like coolant. Oil dark black.
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Dec 14, 2021 at 3:09 PM
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SQM
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Those look to be typical used fluid and does not appear to be mixed. The oil would be a different milky color if coolant got in it.
Dec 14, 2021 at 7:10 PM
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STEVEN1984
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So, in your opinion should I go further and check head gasket? Would the valve cover have caused the car to stop running once we got off interstate?
Dec 15, 2021 at 7:25 AM
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SQM
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If the plugs got flooded with oil, the engine would stop.
Did this car overheat? Typically, when an engine overheats to a certain level the head gasket is unable to hold the pressure and blows.
Just by looking at the oil it does not appear to be a blown head gasket.
Dec 15, 2021 at 7:48 AM
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STEVEN1984
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No overheating. We drove maybe 5 minutes after a lady drove up beside us and said she had seen smoke. That’s when we pulled off. Check engine and oil light came on then at bottom of off ramp it shut off. Now we are at this stage.
Dec 15, 2021 at 7:59 AM
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SQM
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Got it. Well oil burning will create smoke as well. So it is likely what was visible.
Dec 15, 2021 at 9:13 AM
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STEVEN1984
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Okay, thanks. I’m get new stuff and go from there!
Dec 15, 2021 at 9:59 AM
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SQM
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Let me know how it turns out.
Dec 15, 2021 at 10:04 AM
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STEVEN1984
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So, I changed the valve cover gasket and spark plugs. Put new oil and coolant in. Still will not start!
Jan 4, 2022 at 2:23 PM
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SQM
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So, what is it doing now? Is it cranking over and not starting?
Are you getting spark and fuel?
Also, if the coolant temperature sensor is bad due to overheating it can prevent the engine from starting.

See if you can scan the vehicle for codes. If it is a sensor related there might be some codes.
Jan 4, 2022 at 7:06 PM
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STEVEN1984
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It wants to turn over but just won’t! The car has never overheated. Is what’s odd to me. But that was the only code we got was for the coolant temperature sensor. It was about dark when it was done. Going to check fuel and spark tomorrow.
Jan 4, 2022 at 7:42 PM
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SQM
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Let me know what code was for the sensor. As that could be a culprit.
Jan 4, 2022 at 7:50 PM
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STEVEN1984
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P0117 temperature sensor is only code I got.
Jan 5, 2022 at 5:29 AM
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SQM
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I think trouble shooting the code would be a good idea. As that can prevent the engine from starting.
This code is related to low power input to the temperature sensor. Take a look at the diagnostics steps below.
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Jan 5, 2022 at 6:04 AM
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STEVEN1984
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Okay, I’ll look into that next. It’s 30 so it’s a bit cold today. But on dash when turn the key on. Check engine light starts solid then flashes seven times then solid again. Along with oil, battery, trac control, and tire pressure lights on. With TCS off light flashing.
Jan 5, 2022 at 8:17 AM
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STEVEN1984
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Hooked code reader back up and got more codes this time! :(
P0117
P061B
P0113
P0102
Jan 5, 2022 at 8:43 AM
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SQM
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Strange, it appears that the vehicle really wants you to go down the rabbit hole :(
These codes are for Mass air flow sensor, intake air temperature sensor, these could be wiring or PCM issues.

I think a good step would be to diagnose the P0117 first and see if that gives you an answer.

I have attached the diagnostics for the other codes as well just so you have it.
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Jan 5, 2022 at 1:09 PM
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STEVEN1984
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I can’t locate the temperature sensor. The videos I have watched don’t tell me correctly.
Jan 13, 2022 at 1:34 PM