Who was it that said timing is everything?

 

Thank goodness I'm not the only one with this problem... it has to do with A/C and the heat. Everytime the temperature gets hot... car would surge at around the 5-6k RPM range.. can't accelerate. When you get to a stop light or stop sign, it would wobble, then shut off. 3+ dealerships cannot resolve this. Mazda USA hasn't been helpful, sent me a electronic letter stating that I should just bring it to the dealership. (Btw, I sent a hand written letter hoping it would catch their attention that this is a problem, but to no avail.)

 

As far as I can tell the moral of the story is that intermittent problems like this that require environmental conditions and can not be easily diagnosed by a CEL reading or standard test like compression, you have to replicate with a Mazda certified technician in the vehicle to get effective resolution. When you think you have a high probablility of replicating the problem go to the dealer and get a ride along (better yet have them instrument the car so there is a record to send to Mazda).

 

Well I am getting this to happen on demand now. I am going back to the dealer in the next week and have them ride with me and show them exactly what is happening. It was 75 here yesterday and I get the car to die after stopping after driving it around town for about 30 min. We have lots of hills and frequent stop n go traffic. I am tempted to try and work a deal for a new 06 and just let MNA have my 04 as an example of a problem car that can not be diagonsed with just a cursory check at the dealership.

 

As I have posted elsewhere, I am having a new engine installed as I write this. MNA finally agreed to replace the engine as a last resort. I will post on the success of this new engine in the next couple of weeks.

I would also like to point out that Superior Mazda in Bentonville, AR has been nothing but great thru this whole experince. They have always taken the time to listen to my complaints and then try to solve my problem. Plus there new location and shop is just awsome, clean, modern, and comfortable.

 

I am in the 300s of miles on my new engine. Wow I have been missing out, no longer does the AT downshift to maintain highway speeds going uphill.

They really just have to come up with a better/faster/more accurate diagnostic method for this problem. It took at least 4-5 trips to the dealer before they finally got MNA to authorize engine replacement, after I had stalled in the most unfortunistic places.

Everything is better, except the my new front windshield crack from some truck on the highway last weekend. Argh......

 

I have been having this same problem with my 04 MT. When I turn the AC on and drive it for about 20 min I have some rough idle, stalls at stop lights, and lose throttle response. I did notice that the center console was EXTREMELY hot. It has even done this with the AC off. I took it in once to have it looked at, among some transmission stuff. The rebuilt my tranny and said they fixed my AC issues, but driving home when I got the the first stop light off the highway STALL and right before turning in my driveway STALL. Im going to the dealership next wed. Im going to tell them to keep my car until its fixed. I have 42000 miles on it now and have been having this problem the last 9 months. Does anyone else have a sound coming from the engine under acceleration that sound like marbles in a can rattleing??

 

50 miles on new engine..., like driving a new car, I did not realize just how bad the old engine was performing..

 

I now have 1000 miles on new short block (46000 ) I have o4 A/T
I was told bad rotor at the time but replaced the block as well (they paid)
A few issues (oil leak,coolant leak,ECL-code said misfire rotor#1

Look up new engine club tread the list is growing
Car is running well and picked up 1 MPG
The dealer will have to duplicate before they will do anything.
Try short trips 10 min or less let set for 5 min then city traffic idling stop and go.
Hot weather makes it happen easier.
good luck