fasta76

Hey guys...


Just a quick Q... I have a 2003 P5 and ive been noticing sometimes when i am Stepping on the gas form a light or taking off from a place. if i am really on the gas my car seems to surge like it has a power surge or loss? Not huge but enough that you can tell even the sound of the car seems to change? I was wondering what this might be or if anyone has noticed their car doing this? was wondering if it might be somthing to do with the Alt or Regulator? I herd that the early models had some problems with the same kinda thing? ( POWER ) loss and lights dimming?

Please Help...

Thanks....Tom

Omron

I have had something similar, my ride is at 97,000km Protege 2001

But I recently installed a sound system, There is a slight dimming of my lights but I am not convinced, I will install a capacitor to see if it still occurs, the power loss driving (acceleration) happens rarely but its there.

anyone else

Roddimus Prime

Is your AC on?? Whenever my AC is on I notice power surge problems. I can't wait to just remove all of that crap and drop it all together.

fasta76

Thanks for the replys..

The ac is not on.. and as for the sterio.. It kinda a funny thing. I nver noticed it until i put my sterio in. Everything is done right. but that is when i began to notice my problem. The guys at my dealer said that it might have to do with the regulator being build into my ECU? dont know why the hell they would do that but they said that the early models ecu had to be flashed with updates?

It feels like the brakes are on then off then on agian. but fast like.

Thanks for the ideas guys...

Tom

Roddimus Prime

the MSP's had to be flashed with an update...there is no ecu updates for any other mazda. The msp did have a partial throttle stumbling problem, but it doesn't sound like what you're describing.

Sias

I have an 02 ES 5 speed with 20k miles and have exactly the same problem, wish I could find out what it is. Don't tell me to visit a dealer, I will rather sell the car before I do that again.
Sias

Roddimus Prime

Sias....you and I are going to be good friends!!

The dealer is the biggest rip on the planet.

Like I mentioned earlier the onlyt ime I've experienced ANY driving problems with my P5 is when the AC is on. I have the MSP aftermarket stereo, but do not notice ANY dimming of lights or anything like that.

Also, a stereo will have 0 effect on the ECU. 99% of all stereos are wired up to the battery. The ECU recieves it's power from the Alternator.....does your car seem to "surge" around 4500rpms?? If so this could be in part of your VICS (Variable Intake Control System). This is designed to switch the intake runner length to make more power in the higher rpm's. This is common. I just feel my car tug, but if I'm going to run it up that high I'm sure to have the pedal floored. If you are going that high with the pedal NOT on the floor then you ,ay experience weird surging problems.

Does this make sense?

Sias

My car is a standard 02 ES, no mods. I have the problem around 4500 rpm and also at around 2500 rpm. If I floor my car it seems to be worse, under light throttle is is just a slight tug as I go through the mentioned rpm ranges. It appears to be worse under load, such as hard accelleration, hills etc.
I'm thinking that it is a fuel delivery problem of some sort?
Sias

Roddimus Prime

how many miles are on your car? I would recomend some sort of Fuel system cleaning every 25K miles or so. Personally after having worked for both Mazda and Mitsubishi I can tell you NOT to use the dealer for this.

My local Honda dealer carries a product called "BG's 44K" It's a fuel system additive that is amazingly strong and shouldn't be sold over the counter. It works very well though. Just one bottle in a tank of gas should clean you out....BUT make sure to replace your fuel filter first....no sense in running a cleaner through a potentially bad fuel filter.


p.s. This is not some Over-the-counter fuel cleaner. This is high end stuff. It usually runs about $22 a can here...if you're a little cheap then you can try the "Berryman's" fuel system cleaner. I've heard good things about it, but I don't advise o-t-c additives often.


p.s. BG's MOA is another great product. Just add it to your engine oil.

Prote-J

I had this problem too with my Pro, and I had it checked, it came down to bad wires and fouled spark plugs. I had put in some octane boost and it fouled a plug, swapped out the wires and the plugs and voilla... no more problem. It was quite a hassle for me cause the dealer wanted me to put the OEM intake back on it, and they verified that the MAF wasn't malfunctioning, that can be a problem too, and I was told if you use carbeurator cleaner on it, VERY CAREFULLY, then you can clean it, but be very careful, the MAF is like 300 bones to replace should you mess it up.

Sias

By car has only 20k miles on it and has had the problem for the past 10k at least. I will start with new fuel filter (screen) and then use a good fuel system aditive. After that i will try plugs and then wires etc.
Question, I see a high pressure fuel filter in schematics of service manual, but I don't see a part number for it anyware, nobody seems to know about it or sell it? I have not taken the pump out to see if I can find it, but does anyone know more about this high pressure filter?
Sias

Prote-J

plugs are cheap like the filter, I would swap them at the same time, the dealer (big confidence there) had told me 30k for the plugs, and that sometimes sooner, it won't kick codes or anything, so I swapped them and haven't had the problem since. I've had my car from the showroom, and put 35k on it in a year, so.. drive it a lot and watch for any types of abnormal tendencies.

Roddimus Prime

It's fine to replace the plugs since they are so cheap, but you should carefully inspect the condition of the plug that you are removing. That will often times tell you more about your car than the OBD-II port will.

Omron

lol check that airfilter , lol obstruction will get ya everytime lol hahah

Christma

Are you sure it is a throttle problem and not a clutch or flywheel problem. Mazda has a service bulletin to cover the replacement of flywheels on 2001- 2003 proteges because of surging problems. I brought my car in and had them replace the flywheel under the warranty and in accordance with the unannounced service bulletin. Downtown Mazda in Toronto knew instantly that it as the flywheel that was the problem, even before they test drove it, because they have had so many cars in.