Dutch

Hey guys,

Well here in Calgary it got a little cold over night and there was lots of frost on my car in the morning. I started it up and let it idle for 10 minutes then while I was sweeping snow off my car I noticed sputtering comming from the exhaust. I got inside the car and noticed rough idling and a CEL light flashing at me.

Now I have done a search and noticed that this could be due to spark plugs or ignition coils (i think). Could it have anything to do with this cold weather? My car only has 30,000 KM's on it.

Anyone have any suggestions or advice?

Thanks

Edit:

Also I forgot to mention that when I first start up the car the idle drops down really low and it feels like the car is about to shut down but it doesnt, and when I am trying to drive there is very little power and again the car feels like its about to stall out.

prospectjtaz

iTrader: (1)

what year and tranny does your car have?

could be due to ignition, flashing cel and backfiring from the exhaust could be due to misfires.

prospectjtaz

iTrader: (1)

I Really Recommend You Don't Drive The Car If Its Flashing Cel.

Dutch

Its a 2004 and a its a manual.

Don't worry I am not going to be driving it with the car in its current state. If it something I can fix myself then I would rather do that then get it towed to mazda and have them charge me and arm and a leg for a small job.

Bishop

Yeah, flashing CEL is bad from what I've heard. Although mine has flashed at me before and then went solid, then went off altogether...

Thumper3322

NOT ANOTHER ONE!!!!! NOOONNOOONONONOONONONONONONON

Mine did that and then went off. Thru the other two peeps that just had problems, first thing change the plugs. Flashing = misfire and no not due to cold temps, thought that's what it could have been on mine.

Dutch

Well its at the mazda dealer now and I am supposed to get it back tomorrow. I dont understand why would the spark plugs or coils be going at only 30,000 Kms?

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

lol, "CEL light" is kind of redundant.

Good luck with the problem.

Thumper3322

Prob not coils at 30k but they are weak. Plugs could be if you haven't been drivin it hard and get fouled up.

Footman

iTrader: (2)

You know all this CEL light **** is just a scam so that revenue can be generated from servicing and doing the CEL check. In this modern age, it's not difficult at all to put a 5 character LED display to display "Pxxxx" directly on the dashboard.

The additional step of "checking" the CEL is just extra nuisance to me.

rx8it

I have an '04 Manual and that happened to me three weeks ago. Had it towed to the dealer because I wouldn't have made it in the state it was in, knocking and sputtering and with no power. Dealer said that CEL flashed because of "ignition failure" I needed wires and plugs. Set me back a pretty penny, but she's fine now. Yours probably needs wires and plugs also.

Bishop

Despite the fact that mines running like a dream after the new plugs yesterday, I think I'm going to serious look at getting the new coils and wires soon too. Cant hurt right?

Dutch

Wow so I need new coils and they are charging me 800 bucks to fix her up. YAY!

Thumper3322

800 WTF DON'T DO IT!!!! Is that just for coils! U can do it with brand new OEM ones for $110us, or better do the BHR for $410us shipped.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I don't even need to live in Canada to know that they're screwing you!!!! $800?!
wow, that's madness.

Footman

iTrader: (2)

That is not madness, that is SPARTTAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

footman, you lose points for not posting the obligatory 300 picture.

Thumper3322

Dutch

Well the final bill ended up being $600 and they replaced the coils, flushed out the engine, and shes running great now. I don't know if its just me but it feels like it pulls significantly harder (probably just me).

I also noticed that the car starts up really quick now, before it used to take few seconds of the engine turning over but now its instant.

Thumper3322

$600 wow, better than the $800. No offense man, but you should have done the coils yourself, it is a 30min job. Having them run the cleaner thru it tho is good! Yup the car will be a lot better in many ways since the plugs are getting real spark. Just an FYI and not to be a downer, but the BHR kit is only $410ishus shipped and provides a spark twice or more as big as OEM. Hence why I am waiting for that. Glad she is back on the road for ya!!

Cheers!

Dutch

Hey none takin, if there wasnt snow on the ground here I would have gave it a go and unfortunately I do not have a big enough garage.

I have looked at that kit and from what people say it sounds like a great upgrade, I know the coils wont need replacing in the summer time but I think I will give that kit some serious consideration (being an 04 and all it would be a nice replacement).

Thumper3322

+1!!

Dutch

Well something weird happened today. Tried the search function but couldnt find anything.

This morning it was -15 out, I went and tried to start up the car. The engine sounded like it was turning over but never fired up. I stopped, tried it again, still nothing. I went inside then tried it again 5 minutes late and it fired up, but this time as soon as it fired up the revs went to 5000 RPM for about 6-10 seconds, then came back down to normal. While they were revving the engine coolant light was flashing, after the revs came back down to idle the light went off and the car seemed fine.

Anyone have any ideas?

Silver06

I think it may be 2 things. Both cold-related.

First the cold may have frozen a little water in your fuel line (the first no start).

Second, when you started it again, you pulled the battery voltage down just enough to cause a transient fault in the engine computer signal.

Now, both of the above are just wild guesses....

Check your coolant level - if it's ok, then this could be the first signs of the coolant level sensor going bad (search other threads for this fairly common problem).

Good luck.

nugimus

each time you start some gas gets injected into the engine to get her started, since you tried 2x and it didnt start, the unburned gas was probably still sitting in the engine, so on your 3rd try when it did start, all that gas got burned up and hence the high rev...
thats my GUESS-timate....
and question how long did you crank it for before you let go? dealer guy said you should hold it until it catches and never let go, could take even 10sec sometimes...
cuz once you let go, you flood the engine and your sparks are done AGAIN...