Took car to dealership and paid $99 for diagnostic. Dealer said all 4 coils were bad and cat is toast.

Ordered coils from another dealership, because $60 each is too much. Replace them myself, because $200 labor is also too much.

Took car back for CAT replacement (under warranty) and now they tell me the car is skipping. 1st they claim I didn't replace the coils, then they say only two are bad. Then it is well the tech put it on a timing light and it is skipping.

Bottom line is they refuse to replace CAT because they claim it is skipping. BS!!

Car has 4 new coils, new plugs and wires (less than 100 miles) with 78,000 miles on the odometer. Hesitates between 4-5K rpm with loss of power above 5K, but no hesitation.

What is the deal? Shouldn't they replace the CAT period?

 

no they have to believe the underlying issue that is causing the cat failure is fixed or replacing the cat is just a bandaid that will have to be repeated.

im assuming by skipping you mean misfire? is the cel light on? did they tell you which plugs are "skipping"

 

You put new coils in? Well just take it to another dealer and say fix the cat and don't mention coils went bad. They won't know when U put them in /wink.

 

unless the last dealership reported on the vehicle online....

 

The service writer didn't say which plugs/coils were misfiring. There is no CEL on, or has ever come on.

I understand the bandaid analogy, but it is frustrating. I am taking my old plugs, wires and coils to the dealer this morning to pickup. I will have them just in case they ask.

At this point I am going to take home and inspect the plugs and wires again. Next stop is another dealership and see what happens.

I am thinking about busting out the cat and riding dirty. =)

 

Yeah, I am concerned that I am in the Mazda system and therefore cannot get a cat from another dealership. Has anyone heard of that happening?

 

Well just try it. Or maybe get a cat from salvage. You sure it's screwed?

 

Did you use the right plug in the right hole?

 

Yeah I got the right plugs and they are in the right holes. The wires are running correctly too.

Took the car from the dealer this morning. It ran noticebly better on the way home. I am thinking that they few miles (less than 100) I put on the new plugs with the old coils caused build up on the plugs. Thinking that the dealer noticed a skip because of some buildup. Driving the car home may have cleared up the plugs.? Hell I don't know.

Took battery cable off car for the day, hoping it may reset the computer or something that has been altering the A/F mixture due to old coils.

I plan to remove plugs, inspect and double check all connections, etc. After that I am stumped. I am afraid to ROMP on the gas with a stopped up CAT. I don't know that the CAT is stopped up for sure. I am only going with what the tech told the service writer after the initial diagnostic check.

 

Ok. Hooked the battery back up and checked the coils with a timing light. All work at idle. Had eleven yr old son rev motor to 5K rpms and confirmed no flucuations, etc with each plug wire. Plug wires are going to the right plugs.

Took for test ride. Still feels like the motor is being held back (probably packed CAT) but now there is no hesitation between shifts in the 4-5K range. Still need more power, but I do not think it is spark related. The tech said he hooked up a timing light and two coils were not working. I do the test and they all work fine.

Update: Took back to dealer with all old parts and timing light in box. Dealer replaces CAT no questions, no problems. I think resetting the KAM did the trick.

Right now all is good. Power is back!!!!