Something similar to this just happened to me tonite along with a few stalls.

I bought the car new in late 04. Its an 05 auto trans with 69k miles on it. It had 35k miles on it until about 3 years ago when I moved to the desert. Walking and the bus stopped being a viable method of getting around town so I started driving it regularly again.

The only problems I have had to repair over the years are engine mounts replaced about 4 years ago, the radiator about 3 years ago, and the fuel module replaced about a year ago right before the recall on that.

I've never had the plugs, coils, or cables replaced. I always stay on top of the oil, checking it every couple of weeks. Though in reality, you can just feel and hear it when the engine needs oil. I am hoping replacing the plugs, coils, and cables will solve the problem that cropped up tonight with the power loss, stalls, and CEL. For me the CEL flashes and sometimes stays solid, and there is an intermittent knocking that sounds a lot like the SSV knock people in these forums describe. It all just started tonite.

I hope replacing those fixes my problem, I had no intention of ever selling this car. I have really enjoyed it over the years, but if its going to start falling apart and cost me more than a few grand then it may be time to move on and find another sports car to last me a good decade or more.

I'll update this thread when I know more and hopefully get it fixed. I really love that car.

UPDATE: plugs and coils and cables replaced, runs like new again. Cheap and easy fast fix.

Engine is still excellent as is the compression. Everything has a bit more oomph with the new stock coils and plugs. The old ones lasted over 69.5k miles for the curious, more than double what mazda recommends for replacement.

Treat that engine right, run it the way its meant to be run, and it will last. I had a employer who got over a million miles on his rotary in his mazda truck from the 70's, and I had a friend break half a million miles on his old rx-7.