Runnig Bad
 

Hi All,

I have a 2004 Mazda 3 S 2.3L. It has around 130K miles on it so I decided to change the Plugs and air filter. After I performed this the car was running bad. It does not seem like the engine is missing, but it has a "throaty sound and rumble" during acceleration. I thought it the air intake box might have been jammed open so I made sure everything was put back together correctly. I also thought it could be a vacuum leak, but cannot find anything. The plugs I put in were Autolite XP104...I did not look at what I took out and the trash was picked up before I could get them back out. I seems to idle a little rough and rev differently during acceleration with the "throaty vibration sound" All I did was change the plugs and air cleaner. Could this be the plugs? I saw some other posts that recommended using the NGK ITR6F13 or ITR5F13? Also I had a code that it was running lean, before and after I changed the plugs.

Thanks

Make sure you didn't unplug something else when changing those things... but I'd bet the code is your problem, could be a plugged fuel filter or something else causing the lean mix - air intake leak could do this too.
Looking on the autolite site they are the correct ones, if they are the wrong ones that could cause problems too, but I doubt that's it.
Any chance you cracked a plug when putting it in? that could cause issues too.

have you checked your plug wiring to make sure you don't have any cracks in them? if your wire has a small ark in it it may run slightly rough or will run fine untill you try to accelerate and you may get a slight miss there. or you could check the gap on your plug if the gap is to much it will run lean. plugs are supposed to come pregapped but that doesn't always mean it's gapped correctly for your engine setup. (whatever mods you may have) if it happened after you changed the plugs and filter odds are it's something to do there unless it just happened at that exact moment. in which case it could be a number of things from needing a timing adjust to a fuel problem or even (rarely) an ecu problem or i don't know if it's possible that maybe you got a cheap filter that may be to dense to circulate the proper amount of air?? i would go with checking out your plugs and wires firstoff.

another user with a similar issue - https://www.mazda3club.com/mazda3-mazdaspeed3-99/changed-spark-plugn-now-car-wont-start-55989/

if your wire has a small ark in it it may run slightly rough or will run fine untill you try to accelerate and you may get a slight miss there.
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Mazda 3's do not have wires, they have coilpacks directly on each spark plug.

For diagnosis;

1. What LEAN code did you get?
2. Did this issue only come up after you changed the plugs/filter?
3. Did you gap your plugs properly?
4. Did you disconnect the MAF to remove the air filter?
5. All coilpacks are properly plugged in?
6. Have you washed your engine bay recently? If so check for arcing on your plugs/coilpacks.

It really comes down to if the issue just arose or if it was there before you changed the plugs/filter.

Hope that helps, and let me know the code!

Regards,

Braden

so in order to change the spark plugs do you unscrew the 8mm bolt that attached the coil pack and once i pull the coil pack off will i be able to pull the plug as normal?? do you have any pictures of a plug replacement or anywhere i can get more info on the process....

Yes, and I think you need to unplug the coil pack from the wiring harness to get it out too, but I don't recall 100% on that. The packs can go back in any location, as long as the wiring is connected to the proper plug it'll be fine.
To get the plugs out, you do need a removal tool, many of the spark plug sockets have a rubber grommet or something to hold onto the plug to pull it out. Otherwise a magnet or grabber tool may be needed.
Just don't drop anything in that hole when the plug is out - that could be a big problem :)

Good luck