So here is the latest installment of a hopefully minor problem that you all can hopefully help me with before I take it to the dealer.

... & for the record, I have all the updated TSB's and have had the recall performed and my engine tested ok...

Lately, when I turn my car on, it has been sluggish trying to start. It turns a few extra times and then gently rumbles on (when normally it revs to 2-3000 and then calmly comes down). Once it gently turns on it idles fine and everything. Then occasionally when I am accelerating, it kind of bogs when it is accelerating through the low revs. I let off the accelerator and then re-accelerate and everything is good. I thought at first I was losing a bit of HP, but I think it is all attributed to the hot weather lately and my Gen 2 K&N intake. I think the hot air is just making it a little more sluggish.

Any ides on the problem? I am by no means a gear head, but the first things that corssed my mind were starter (already replaced), spark plugs (already replaced), or fuel injectors. Can someone enlighten me please.....

 

Maybe you have a vacuum leak with your intake installation? Check to make sure everything is tight.

 

I actually had a problem with that when I put the intake on. I will definitely go check that. Do those symtoms match up with a vaccuum leak?

 

So I took my car out to listen to it more deeply...

When it is turned on... instead of going "ree ree, vrooom", it goes "vree vree.. then it kinda hiccups and slowly bellows on"

When accelerating, sometimes it is fine, sometimes it bogs down when I hit the accelerator. It is also choppier when i accelerate sometimes as well...

please, if anyone has any help.. i know some out there do...

 

I assume your K&N filter is an oiled filter. There have been some problems reported of oil deposits on the MAF/IAT sensor from filter oil and engine oil. So, remove your MAF/IAT sensor and carefully clean it. Do a search in the DIY section of the forum for detailed instructions on how to remove and clean the sensor.

 

Thanks for the advice! I took the sensor off and cleaned it (it was pretty black on one side). It seemed to free up a bit of the accleration problems I had been feelings, although from time to time i still feel a slight hiccup or bog when I accelerate sometimes. Also, the starter is still WEAK! They have already replaced it once, I hope that is all that it needs, but we will see.

 

UPDATE:

So I took my car out for another spin today to really take a look at the problem and pinpoint it. I drove it hard for long spurts, short spurts, i slowly increased (pretty much everything). The car still starts slow which I am going to attribute to battery or starter and let Mazda take care of.

As for the acceleration, there is a HUGE lack of HP below 3.5-4 RPMS. I will step on it in 4th gear in the 50's (mph) and it will go nowhere. My intake will sound loud and it will take forever to increase like 2-3 mph. Then I drop it to 3rd gear and punch it and it accelerates like normal with gusto. Do you think it is my intake? Or does it sound like something like the primary injectors that kick in up to 3750 rpm?

Someone please put my confused mind at ease...

 

It could be ur CAT.

I have K&N Version II I never had this problem. and I think Im the first one on this forum to have it.

but since u have version II, you should clean your filter every 5K miles. cuz due to the design, its easy as hell to trap dirt on the filter. I clean mine every 5K miles.

and make sure all the tube are attached to the tube.

 

x2

beers

 

x3

the stock cat can get clogged up. if you do not ming the noise you may want to get a catless midpipe, or a hiflow cat. The midpipe would be best but it is very VERY loud.

or you can go to the dealer and get a new cat, but if your out of warranty the cat is like 1400.00 just for the part, where the catless midpipe, which would give you a little more power than the stock cat is like 230 bucks.

 

x 4:

I'd troubleshoot in this order:

1) MAF/airflow sensor (faulty/dirty causes all kinds of driveability issues

2) Overall intake airflow

3) Cat/exhaust flow

Doesn't sound like a spark issue.

 

Thanks guys. I cleaned the MAF last night again. I am going out as we speak to pick up the K&N Recharge kit to clean the filter. I will then take it to the dealer if all else had failed.

Will I have to worry about the warranty? I know there is that website where it says they have to prove the intake directly effected why the part went bad to void it. Can someone paste that link in here for me? Thanks

 

UPDATE!! I took my car into the dealer the other day and got it back yesterday. After talking with the dealer, they said it was the leading coil that wasn't firing at all. Whenever I started my car, it wouldn't fire (which caused the slow start) and obv. caused power problems in accelerating. They replaced the coil and something else along with it (I tihnk a transistor; or something like that) under warranty and my baby feels awesome again. Thanks for everyone's help. I went to Brandywine Mazda in West Chester, PA and they were VERY HELPFUL!! Good experience!

 

I see this is a year old thread, but do you know exactly what was replaced? I am experiencing the same problem and I am out of warranty.

 

Couldn't help but notice this thread as I was doing a search for spark plug issues. My 8 had 21000 miles on it when I bought it. Now, a little over a year (about 15 months) later it has 37000. I went to the guys at Mazdatrix (long beach, ca) and they pulled my plugs/wires at my request. No real problems, but I am driving back to Philly tomorrow so I wanted to make sure I didn't get stranded along the way. They were VERY corroded. $300 and with four new plugs and wires and this 8 screams! I took a Camaro Z28 SS (yes, the SS) from 10mph on the on ramp to the 405 - and that was BEFORE I had the plugs changed. It will chirp when I shift into 3rd at redline! Never did that before. I, too, have the Typhoon II intake from K&N and the rough idle and sluggish starting (only after I drove it for a few minutes or let it warm up did it smooth out before) are now gone. Well worth the change for me. Lastly, I'll be in Philly on the 30th...where are my Philly 8s and where and when do we meet?