I've been lurking around this board for awhile, I've been having issues with my 04 AT with about 37500 miles on it, having rough starts, rough idles, loss of power, no starts etc. Usually the dealership associates it with a bad plug, the ecentric shaft being out of alignment or something else. They claim to fix it and then a thousand miles or so (couple months or so) later something else happens and I have to take it back in. I go though the whole thing over again and a thousand or so miles (couple months or so) later I'm back in the shop.

Like I said I have an 04 AT, bought it at 14k or so miles from a certified mazda dealer. I don't drive very many miles, probably a thousand or less a month, I always get her warmed up and then drive her as recommended on these boards. Get the revs up at least twice per drive and I'll even take the long route to close places just to give her time.

In any case on to the issue at hand. Last thursday I took a few hours off work to take care of some things. I get on the interstate and everything is fine, I get to my destination, take care of what I need to do, come out get in and take off. Its 5 o'clock, traffic is insane (since i'm in the busiest part of town) and its about 95 degrees out. I have the air on and come to a stop light, I slow down and then all of a sudden as I'm approaching 0 mph the car sputters and stalls out. I turn the key and nothing, it just keeps cranking without firing. So I sit there for a minute, did I mention its really bad traffic and people are honking at me and a few other things? Finally after a few minutes I get it started up. I'm close to the dealer (15 or so miles) so I call them up (he says he'll take a look at it but has to warn me that he's had several AT 04's in that had to have new engines) and I start to head that direction. On the way it again stalls out three more times at different intersections the same exact way. I'm coming to a stop and complete loss of power. It seems like there is less power in the cruising range while I'm driving (30-45mph) but I can't really tell cause of traffic and just trying to keep it from stalling. I do notice when I push on the gas it doesn't get up to speed like it normally does.

Every time it stalls its pulling up to a light, I stop and it stalls out and stops. At one point I kept it from stalling by just keeping the car rolling at like 5mph. Another time I tried to do that and I pushed on the gas and there was a huge delay (over 10 seconds) from the point I pushed on the gas to the point it responded and actually accelerated.

I get it to the dealer as their closing so they can't take a look at it right then (I should have insisted they go drive it with me right that second to prove it was happening). They wait till friday/saturday/monday to test the car. According to them it doesn't exhibit the stalling or lose of power. They put some miles on it, drove it around, even a tech drove it home for the night and didn't have an issue. The only thing they notice is that its idleing a bit rough.

So, they replace the motor mounts, call me up and tell me my car is ready. The tech on the other end says he isn't confident that this solves the problem, but there isn't anything he can do because they couldn't reproduce the stalling. I talk to him a bit about the fact that he's giving me back a car that he isn't confident is fixed and that I could be sitting in the middle of traffic again and it stall out and I not be able to get it started. He says there isn't anything he can do about it till it happens again, at which point he'll actually take my word for it and replace the engine. The one difference from thursday to the rest of the days they had it, was that it wasn't as hot out, it was in the 80's or so with a cool breeze (rainy one or two days).

So here is my question/issue, how can a motor mount cause a car to stall? It wasn't that it was excesive rough idle. The car wasn't jumping around from the rough idle. To me, with this car rough idle has almost become the norm. Also, wouldn't you think that a motor mount stalling the engine would occur for them if that was true. It would seem like it would happen all the time as opposed to something happening only under certain circumstances.

I've read all the posts about this and other issues being the primary symptoms of engine failure and replacement. I personally don't even want a new engine, I just want it to be fixed. I want to drive my car with the knowledge I'm going to make it to my destination. I'm so tired of starting to drive some place and my car just dieing on the way. Getting some place and my car not starting, so I can't get back.

I've started to drive my gf's honda civic places because I know I'll at least be able to get home afterwards, where before I used to always drive my car. When it runs its one of the most fun and amazing cars I've ever been in, but boy its becoming more problems then its worth. Especially for the price I paid.

Anyone have any ideas? Anyone think the motor mount can cause the engine to stall or are they just making excuses again. I hate to say it, but at this point I dread driving my car because I don't know whats going to happen next.

 

Motor mount cannot be the cause

It sounds like your engine has overheated. and/or having some poor sealing issues.

and you have an 04 AT ....

The only way to fix it is to get a new engine. Even after you get a new engine, I suggest you to at least add another oil cooler. And start using Synthetic oil.

 

Thanks, thats what I think. I don't see how a motor mount can cause a car to stall at all. Let alone if a motor mount was that bad and the idle that rough it would be stalling every single time you turned the car on.

Here's my problem how do I get them to fix the car the way they should?

They kept it another day because its supposed to be hot out today and are supposed to test it again. But whats my next step if it doesn't stall for them today? Drive it till it stalls for me and potentially get in an accident sitting in the middle of a busy street? That seems like a bad way to do their job for them.

 

Well I would suggest you to do it yourself

find a hot day, take your car out for a spin, as soon as the *symptoms* Show up. drive it to the dealership, pull the service writer out (dont turn your car off), let him experience it first hand. So they cannot pull any bullshit on you.

 

I called them up today and the service guy said the drove it around agian and no issue. So I asked if I could get a copy of the tests they ran (supposidly they ran a whole slew of tests that my car passed with flying colors) and according to him I can see them, but I'm not allowed to have a copy of the tests run or their results.

Is this right? If my car passed all the tests why wouldn't I be able to get a copy of them? Do I have the right to see the tests and results and get a copy of each for my records or am I missing something?

 

Well, Im not 100% sure about this issue BUT, as a customer, I think I have the right to know what my car is up to.

Why they can let you see but not take? obviously something is fishy there.

if I were u Im not going to take that.

 

You need a motor. The next day it's hot as hell, just drive it around near the dealership till it exibhits the symptoms and let it die, stall, no start etc in the dealer parking lot. If you make the service writer help you push it into the bay, they might get the point.

Option number two, trade it in on a new 6-Speed, redline it 4 times a day...

Problem solved. Sorry to hear that you are another '04 AT victim.