stalling, bucking, jerking...CEL

[///M]

For the past few weeks my car has been acting up with the engine providing very "jerky" (for the lack of a better word) power delivery, most pronounced at about 2000rpm. The car also idles weirdly on occassion, with RPMs fluctuating between 500 and 2000rpm.

Today it finally happened - the car stalled at a red light while in neutral. I proceeded to restart the car, and the CEL came on. Subsequently, the engine had problems going over 2000rpm unless I mashed the gas pedal. It stalled a further THREE times while I was parking the car (the rpms were fluctuating wildly while out of gear).

Could it be the throttle body, a bad MAF sensor, water in the intake or something else? What gives?

[JPAV8S4U]

For the past few weeks my car has been acting up with the engine providing very "jerky" (for the lack of a better word) power delivery, most pronounced at about 2000rpm. The car also idles weirdly on occassion, with RPMs fluctuating between 500 and 2000rpm.

Today it finally happened - the car stalled at a red light while in neutral. I proceeded to restart the car, and the CEL came on. Subsequently, the engine had problems going over 2000rpm unless I mashed the gas pedal. It stalled a further THREE times while I was parking the car (the rpms were fluctuating wildly while out of gear).

Could it be the throttle body, a bad MAF sensor, water in the intake or something else? What gives?

I would guess MAF... In any case, bring it to the dealer.....

[PlatMS6]

Most likely the MAF, also (you probably know this btu just in case) with the CAI, did you loosen the harness from the battery clips so that it is lose (lots of ppl originally had their wires streched and disconnected from the MAF causing similar problems)?

...if not the wires, then take out your maf...get a baggie, fill it with a shot of booze, close baggie, twirl around (be gentle), take out maf, let dry for a an hour at room temperature, place back the maf, reset ecu...see if it happens again...

[Skarbro]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you have a miss-firing spark plug...

[majic]

Most likely the MAF, also (you probably know this btu just in case) with the CAI, did you loosen the harness from the battery clips so that it is lose (lots of ppl originally had their wires streched and disconnected from the MAF causing similar problems)?

...if not the wires, then take out your maf...get a baggie, fill it with a shot of booze, close baggie, twirl around (be gentle), take out maf, let dry for a an hour at room temperature, place back the maf, reset ecu...see if it happens again...

+1 on both accounts!!!

[b]

My maf was shot. I had the same things happen to my car. I took it in and they replaced it under warranty. They didn't care that I had an injen cai installed either. No questions asked.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k233/blackman99/01-1.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k233/blackman99/02.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k233/blackman99/03.jpg

[///M]

My maf was shot. I had the same things happen to my car. I took it in and they replaced it under warranty. They didn't care that I had an injen cai installed either. No questions asked.


I also have an Injen CAI. Which dealership was this? If I'm reading correctly you got a free rental car?

[b]

I also have an Injen CAI. Which dealership was this? If I'm reading correctly you got a free rental car?

Yep I had the rental for the 3 days my car was in. The maf was an easy fix. It was the clock steering spring that was what I had to wait on.

Erin Mills Mazda.

Not really a rental... They just gave me a demo off the lot to drive for a few days. :)

Even when I had my car in for a new engine... they were good about it and gave me a demo for the last week.

[///M]

Yep I had the rental for the 3 days my car was in. The maf was an easy fix. It was the clock steering spring that was what I had to wait on.

Erin Mills Mazda.

Not really a rental... They just gave me a demo off the lot to drive for a few days. :)

Even when I had my car in for a new engine... they were good about it and gave me a demo for the last week.

Good to see that they've really improved on their service - I remember back in the days there were horror stories about the place.

I'd go there, but it's a bit far for me. I usually take my car to Mazda of Toronto, which is close and has great service. The only thing that irks me is that they charge $30/day for a rental, even if the car's in for warranty work.

Thanks for the info though!

[b]

Good to see that they've really improved on their service - I remember back in the days there were horror stories about the place.

I'd go there, but it's a bit far for me. I usually take my car to Mazda of Toronto, which is close and has great service. The only thing that irks me is that they charge $30/day for a rental, even if the car's in for warranty work.

Thanks for the info though!

No Prob.

[RedRaptor]

Most likely the MAF. I would give a cleaning with some Electrical Contact Cleaner found at CTire for $7 bucks. My Ford Windstar is having the some jerking and stalling issue and I'm suspecting the MAF as well. Be happy that our MAF is easy to take out and clean in 5 min. The Ford Windstar MAF is much harder to get to!

[CoolColombian]

I agree on the dirty MAF sensor, as raptor said you can do it yourself on 20 min. good luck.

[azn_outlaw]

Glad you pointed this out..

I get something similar too this, well the bucking and jerking

well the days that have been really really cold...

but it feels like the car as well has no power and is about shut off..

give it some gas, and its jerks...or feels like its going to turn off..

well of too the dealership, that makes two things in total too fix

[MidnightSpeed]

I have the same problem. It was the MAF, but severed wires. The dealership, convienently will not replace this under warranty. Its gonna cost me about 200 bucks. Lucky T-doters.

[Wild Weasel]

Why won't they do it under warranty?

[whodilly]

It's the MAF... I had the same problem, same symptoms. It turns out one of the wires broke connecting the sensor to the harness.

BTW most stealerships will not fix it under warranty if you have an aftermarket CAI... damn asshats!

[majic]

so where did you get yours fixed?

[PlatMS6]

It's the MAF... I had the same problem, same symptoms. It turns out one of the wires broke connecting the sensor to the harness.

BTW most stealerships will not fix it under warranty if you have an aftermarket CAI... damn asshats!


Well I agree with the dealers...the reason the wires severed is because the maf is at a different location puting stress on the wire harness...with the engine flying aroun (damn mounts)....the wires litteraly rip out...thats why you have to unclip the harness from the battery box and give it enough slack...

why should the dealer pony up the cash for something that is your fault directly or the CAI manuf that left out that crucial step?

[whodilly]

^^ but as you can see, some will do it for you and some won't. It all depends on whether or not they are willing to help you out or not.

[b]

^^ but as you can see, some will do it for you and some won't. It all depends on whether or not they are willing to help you out or not.

Yea. I've had great luck with erin mills. Mine was faulty. They said cleaning mine wouldn't help because it was toast. Don't know why. They said my wires were still hooked up so it had nothing to do with my CAI. They've been great...

[M Cube]

I've noticed my 3 was doing this starting last week. I thought the cold weather was the cause of this but lucky I see this here. I am taking it to the dealer after my vacation.

I went to M of T for service before but the charge me a $20 extra fee just because my car is lowered. Maybe I'll speak to flip next time I am there so he can have that waive for me......LOL

Can you keep us posted on this AutoExe?

[wtom]

How many kilometres you guys with the bucking/jerking/stalling have on the engines? Beyond 100,000 km?

[b]

How many kilometres you guys with the bucking/jerking/stalling have on the engines? Beyond 100,000 km?

Mine was at 60,000km.

[///M]

I've noticed my 3 was doing this starting last week. I thought the cold weather was the cause of this but lucky I see this here. I am taking it to the dealer after my vacation.

I went to M of T for service before but the charge me a $20 extra fee just because my car is lowered. Maybe I'll speak to flip next time I am there so he can have that waive for me......LOL

Can you keep us posted on this AutoExe?

88000km...I took it into MofT to have an oilchange and a bunch of other stuff done as well.

They scanned the CEL and it was traced to a fault in the MAF sensor wiring harness - $190 to fix.

Hopefully I'll be able to pick up the car today or tommorow.

[majic]

i guess you don't have extended warranty right? if you did would it be covered?

[MidnightSpeed]

Thats what happened to me the other day.. also 190$.

I'm at 42,700 kms.

[majic]

i guess not covered b/c you have a CAI eh?

[Steven]

i have that same problem for the longest time...and i never knew what it was....and i was getting to the point where i was gonna take it to the dealership.....i thought i was the only one....hey Autoexe keep me posted on this as well..

[MidnightSpeed]

i guess not covered b/c you have a CAI eh?

I have the MS CAI, unless the dealer installed it then they will not cover it.

[b]

I have the MS CAI, unless the dealer installed it then they will not cover it.

Try erin mills. They didn't care that I have a cai and it was not installed by them!

[MidnightSpeed]

I...uhhh.. live in Ottawa, blackman. Otherwise, I'd be all over Erin Mills like a fat kid on a slice of three-layer chocolate cheesecake with fudge on top.

[FLIPDADY]

i guess you don't have extended warranty right? if you did would it be covered?
He's passed already.

No MAP.

[Chuckie]

Alright guys...

Tonight I just started having this problem also!
My check engine light came on tonight
The car is struggling to keep itself alive, when in neutral it will throttle a bit to try to keep itself alive as the rpm's drop off but ultimately after like 5 seconds.. it will stall.

I drove the car around the block, and there is alot of bucking and jerking as indicated in the thread.

Now, here's the thing. I got the mFactory Magnetic DP put in at 6000km (im at 8150km right now). I rent the place im living at right now and the landlord is telling me that one of our cars is leaking oil because there's oil stains where we park our cars. I check the dipstick tonight after this all started and found that im at the low mark.

I've also noticed that the car seems to be on the sluggish side and is lacking power recently.
Overall, lately the car felt different, it didn't feel as smooth as if something was wrong.

At anyrate. Im going to get it towed to MoT on tuesday to figure this shit out.

-Chuckie
This better not have risen because the tech didn't put the DP in correctly.. *angry

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Alright guys...

Tonight I just started having this problem also!
My check engine light came on tonight
The car is struggling to keep itself alive, when in neutral it will throttle a bit to try to keep itself alive as the rpm's drop off but ultimately after like 5 seconds.. it will stall.

I drove the car around the block, and there is alot of bucking and jerking as indicated in the thread.

sucks to hear man...either dirty MAF (ever cleaned the MAF?) or a break in the MAF wire(s). was the MAF wire loom unclipped from the battery box when your AEM CAI was installed?




Now, here's the thing. I got the mFactory Magnetic DP put in at 6000km (im at 8150km right now). I rent the place im living at right now and the landlord is telling me that one of our cars is leaking oil because there's oil stains where we park our cars. I check the dipstick tonight after this all started and found that im at the low mark.

I've also noticed that the car seems to be on the sluggish side and is lacking power recently.
Overall, lately the car felt different, it didn't feel as smooth as if something was wrong.

At anyrate. Im going to get it towed to MoT on tuesday to figure this shit out.

-Chuckie
This better not have risen because the tech didn't put the DP in correctly.. *angry

could be a number of reasons why your oil is low and unlikely any would cause the jerking and stalling (unless you lost all oil or oil pressure and your engine went up shits creek without a paddle):

1) rev to 7000rpm? ...someone on M3F noticed that his car consumed oil at a quicker rate when reving to 7000rpm vs. 6500rpm.

2) drain plug not torqued down properly?

3) plastic oil filter cap cracked or cross-threaded? this guy had it pretty bad with a cracked oil filter cap (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=64106.0)

4) oil seeping past the piston rings...would need to pull the spark plugs to see if any are oil fouled

best thing to do is check your oil weekly, regardless of the kms you put on a week. that way, you can see how quick you're losing oil and if it is due to driving style or consistent with a leak.

what oil are you using? mobil1 is 'known' to drop in oil level (i.e. be consumed) between oil changes.

[Chuckie]

With regards to the intake, I honestly don't remember.

I do not redline my car. I shift at 2500 - 3500 for normal driving. 4000-5000 if i drive a bit spiritedly.

As far as the oil is concerned.. I don't know what oil I am running.. what ever MoT dino juice they gave me on my last oil change is what I got in there right now. I should really start bringing my own oil in so I know what I am putting in her.

[b]

Hope it gets fixed for ya. It was amazing. I couldn't believe the MAF could make such problems a car. I thought my car was about to die and once the MAF was changed... Felt as good as new.