I have a noticeable loss of power in the upper rpm range. It seems to be inconsistent though. Sometimes the car will run great and have full power, then sometimes it wont. Cel would come on for a bit and turn itself off a couple days later. Usually it would come on when I was driving hard in the upper rpm range and then it would have a loss of power. The code is a p0661. After starting, my ABS, DSC,....every light on the dash would come on and stay on. Sometimes this would happen and sometimes it would be normal.

It was becoming harder to start. At first only when hot, then all the time until it wouldnt start. I had to use if for work so I push started it a few times and that worked. There was one or two times where it took a couple tries and then smoked a good bit afterwards. It turns over and I can smell gas but it just wont start now.

-2004
-146,000 miles
-oil changed regularly
-Plugs and wires changed in December
-Coils changed at about 120,000 miles


What I have done:

-Took it to advance auto and had them test the battery, starter and alternator. Everything was OK.

-I took the starter off and took it in to put on the machine. It still checked out OK.

-I hunted down every ground I could find in the engine bay (aboout ten connections), removed and cleaned them.

-Removed and cleaned the SSV. It was terrible. There were little black (carbon?) chips sitting on it. Tried to upload a picture but it wont let me for some reason.

-Sprayed down the eccentric shaft position sensor with maf sensor cleaner, inside and out and reseated it. Did the same with the solenoid sensor clip by the oil fill neck because it was filthy as well.

When cleaning the SSV I did not put rags or anything in there to catch fluid and gunk from running into the intake path. I followed the mazda TSB for deflood then for adding oil through the intake service ports. After this I hooked jumper cables to another car and tried cranking. I heard a little pop in the exhaust for a second like it was trying to start but still nothing...

I thought about push starting it since im on a hill, but I do not want to get it to the end of the cul de sac and be stuck if it doesnt start.
Ideas?

 

check your compression.
Unfortunately, you are out of warranty, so it will be out of your pocket...

 

1. Check starter spinning speed.

2. Verify SSV, APV, VDI in working condition.

3. Every light on dash lighted up suggested the car could have been reseted as a result of losing battery connection either wiring or bad batteries.

4. Check your coils and cat.

 

Tomorrow I will check the coils out.

I dont know how to check the spinning speed of the starter...time to use the search function.lol