3rd gen Engine/Drivetrain Engine/Drivetrain Modification Discussions for 1999-2003 Models Only (BJ chassis)

Running a bit sluggish

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Old Jun 13, 2003 | 01:15 PM
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Running a bit sluggish

I thought it was just the heat when it happened yesterday, it was like 80 something degress and humid here, but it happened again today.
The car is running diffrent, like I was pumping in some cheap gas or something. normally I hit like 5-6k rpm easy just by pressin alittle harder on the petal but now I have the thing flored for a while before the rpm's get up there.
It also feels like the stering is much stiffer. And the engine sounds like its working harder.
Old Jun 13, 2003 | 06:18 PM
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did you do your 15K and 30K maintence recommended by the dealer.

I did the 15K a month ago, cost me a fortune, but, it runs way smoother now. I yet to hit 20K on my car, but, hopefully, as long as I invest in keeping my car running good, it shouldn't be a problem.

but, from the sounds of it, just looks like it needs to get some maintinence.
Old Jun 13, 2003 | 11:28 PM
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It cost you a fortune because Mazda rips you off for that supposed 15K miles maintenance. All it consists of is an oil change and a check of your fluids and a chassis lube. They also may replase your air filter and spark plugs but the plugs i doubt it highly. probably not until 30K miles anyways. I did it at 20K miles and will soon be going to either a platinum (Neither Denso or NGK makes a platinum plug for our engine) plug from Bosch or an iridium from Denso (my personal favourite).

the platinum plug wont help performance but it will allow me to go longer between plug changes. but the iridium will help performance ever so slightly & allow me to go even longer between changes than a platinum plug does.
Old Jun 14, 2003 | 12:20 AM
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unlesss you car's running terribly, i wouldn't take it in for any major service until 30k miles. others are just oil change and tire rotation, air filter check only the usual stuff.
Old Jun 14, 2003 | 06:53 AM
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have you run any additives to clean out your system? i was having problems until i cleaned out the system
Old Jun 14, 2003 | 12:04 PM
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15k thats a good one im at like 50k miles. but that does not bother me. Because it was all working good until one day thats why I noticed a sudden change.
I just got into it one day and it was like it was all messed up.
Really wired.
Old Jun 15, 2003 | 08:48 AM
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Allright - sorry if this one is too obvious, but you DID say it was a rather hot humid day.

Were you using the A/C? I'm not trying to offend, but please tell me that you know that you can and will have noticeable and significant loss of engine power when the A/C is cranking.

~HH
Old Jun 19, 2003 | 01:08 PM
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Re: Running a bit sluggish

Originally posted by zerocover
I thought it was just the heat when it happened yesterday, it was like 80 something degress and humid here, but it happened again today.
The car is running diffrent, like I was pumping in some cheap gas or something. normally I hit like 5-6k rpm easy just by pressin alittle harder on the petal but now I have the thing flored for a while before the rpm's get up there.
It also feels like the stering is much stiffer. And the engine sounds like its working harder.
mine did that too.....dealer replaced MAF...works great now
Old Jun 20, 2003 | 01:30 PM
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OF couse I waasent using the ac. Its not that cold anyway, I should get that cheked out later.
Weirdest thing now its working good again. Better maybe. I just dont understand it. Its reving like normal hey as long as its good.
Old Sep 29, 2004 | 02:18 PM
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Thumbs up Cure to a poor running Engine

I just found a SURE cure for a sluggish engine.
I walked into the local Auto Zone looking for iridium plugs. They only had Denso, which is a spec'ed replacement for the NGK's, the Iridium plug # is IK16. The idle speed is down to about 500 to 600 rpm, and it purrs! The pickup & throttle response is phenomenal! I was suitably impressed with these suckers!

For those that want to know (if you can believe the 'hype' from the manufacturer) - iridium is a harder metal that platinum and is supposed to be hotter burning. Acceleration is supposed to improve (I can second that!), as is the fuel economy (yet to be determined).

The downside is the cost - a dollar each more expensive than the highest priced platinum I had been used to - $12.99 versus $12.00 each. Means a $50 bill is shot to replace plugs, but on the basis of improved driveability, it looks to be a winner. (Granted, I had a set of copper plugs which were showing their age at 33K.

If you got the bucks, Go for it! It will be worth it!
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