VTCS = teh suck
 

(I think)

So last night, I'm driving home from work and merging onto a four-lane road. I rev it up to @ 5000+ shift, then shift again. As I shift into fourth
I hear clinkity-clink, not sure where it's coming from. I downshift as I head for a light and as soon as my car comes to an idle, the engine stalls. I'm thinking, WTF??
Start it up again and the clinkity-clink sound of something rattling around in the engine is clearer now that I'm at rest...whatever is jumping around is erratic, not steady and my idle is all over the place.
As soon as the light changes I find a place to pull over. I called Mazda Roadside Assistance and had them tow it to a dealer about five minutes away. The dealer better not give me any crap about my mods, this is clearly a warranty issue.
It's gotta be the VTCS, right? I'd love to know for sure but the stinkin' dealer service is closed on Saturdays.
Anyway, if that is what it is, I'm gonna ask the dealer to remove it completely, since I'm running the MP3 ECU...

sorry to hear about this.....it seems to be a very common problem. If you need someone to crap on their floor let me know.

LOL, I can send my crap in the mail if you need it.

They shouldn't give a hard time. I wouldn't say anything about the ECU.

I haven't told them about the ECU yet but if they are going to be playing around with my intake mani I'd just as soon have them remove the VTCS altogether. But then I'll have to explain that I have the MP3 ECU, otherwise they may refuse because I'd throw a CEL with the stock ECU.
This was promising though *sarcasm*: when I spoke to the Service Manager he said, and I quote: "What is VTCS?"

uh oh :tool:

Any updates so far? I'm very curious on this one.

what is this VCTS thing ive been hearing about??? sorry havnt been on here in a while got a job at an independent shop plus school stared up again

Bump for the update:

The service manager finally got back to me this morning. They will cover the repairs under warranty and I'm picking up my rental in the morning. *whew*

They are going to replace the intake mani and of course the plugs. I asked about further damage such as the pistons and he said there was none. I tried to talk him into an MP3 mani without mentioning the fact that I had the ECU but he said the replacement had to be the same part.
Allegedly the newer manifolds have the VTCS secured by rivets now instead of screws. We'll see.

Ok I don't know what the VTCS is either and I'd like to know, but the fact that the SERVICE MANAGER asked what that was is a shame...

Variable Tumble Control System...or something to that effect.

Yeah, 'cept I was wrong, it's the VICS that loses the screws, not the VTCS.

Update:

I should have my baby back on Monday. They are replacing the intake mani, injectors and fuel rail, plus the plugs. They claim there was no damage to the piston/combustion chamber. I suppose that's possible since I only ran the car for a few minutes after this happened.
Anyone know what I should look for/hear if the piston is damaged? Erratic idle or anything?

BTW, I got an '05 Focus sedan as a loaner. It's ok except it's got the most uncomfortable driving position I've ever used.

thats what i had as a loaner when i totaled my car, unlimited mileage, so i took it through the mountains, think i ended up putting like 700-800 miles on it in a week HAHA

The latest is I probably won't have it back till next Tuesday now....the service guy said when they opened up my engine they found a cracked 'emissions tube' (--wtf?) and had to order a replacement. I tried to get him to give me a better description but he's kind of a moron. Anyone know what he may be referring to?

maybe he saw a reflection of his butt? thought it was broke... :evilgrin: