HELP PLEASE!!!...Rough idle\bad sulphur smell

[Jigga2-3L]

Hey! I ve been having this problem for a while now and can’t seem to figure it out...at first it was the rough idle and poor performance. I changed the plugs had motor vac done cleaned the TB I even used Lucas injector cleaner...the performance is wicked but I still have this idle problem along with this smell of sulphur…any ideas?????

Help Please!!!!!

[Donutz]

The stink is mostly like a bad cat. You might also have a crapped out o2 sensor, altough I suspect you'd be seeing a CEL if this was the case.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Hey! I ve been having this problem for a while now and can’t seem to figure it out...at first it was the rough idle and poor performance. I changed the plugs had motor vac done cleaned the TB I even used Lucas injector cleaner...the performance is wicked but I still have this idle problem along with this smell of sulphur…any ideas?????

Help Please!!!!!

Probably a bad Catalytic Converter, but out of curiousity, do you always fill up at Esso or Petro Canada?

[Jigga2-3L]

Probably a bad Catalytic Converter, but out of curiousity, do you always fill up at Esso or Petro Canada?

I always use petro...

[Jigga2-3L]

but no CEL....

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

I always use petro...

I used to have this problem too with my old Protege and 323 when I used to exclusively fill-up with Petro Canada. Not so much the rough idle, but definitely the sulphur smell. Try running your current gas tank down to almost empty and then fill up with Sunoco for the next 3 or 4 fill-ups and see if you notice a difference. If you don't have a convenient Sunoco station, use Shell.

[Jigga2-3L]

I used to have this problem too with my old Protege and 323 when I used to exclusively fill-up with Petro Canada. Not so much the rough idle, but definitely the sulphur smell. Try running your current gas tank down to almost empty and then fill up with Sunoco for the next 3 or 4 fill-ups and see if you notice a difference. If you don't have a convenient Sunoco station, use Shell.

ill try that..another thing that happend today....is my driver side air bad light came on...mazda is saying 103$$$ just to look at it..but thinks its a wiring problem..

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

ill try that..another thing that happend today....is my driver side air bad light came on...mazda is saying 103$$$ just to look at it..but thinks its a wiring problem..

Probably is the wiring. However, what year is your car? If under warranty, you shouldn't have to pay to have this looked at.

Also, the airbags fall under the Mazda safety restraints warranty which is 6 years and 100,000km. If your under the 100K mark, they should look at this free of charge as part of a warranty coverage.

From the Mazda Canada homepage:

Safety Restraints Parts List: Seatbelts and related components, Supplemental Air Bag system. 6 years/100,000km coverage. Exclusions from coverage for Mazda3 are limited to maintenance items or adjustments (repairs not requiring parts replacement) on vehicles over 12 months old or 20,000 km and repairs due to normal wear and tear.

[em3]

do you have AC on? because my car idles rough with it on

[Malcolm991]

Sounds like a plugged up CAT, I wouldn't worry about what gas station you fill up from!

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Sounds like a plugged up CAT, I wouldn't worry about what gas station you fill up from!

It is a lot cheaper to change gas stations for a few fill-up's and see if the problem dissipates, or is mimimized, than it is to take it to the dealer and say, look at my Cat converter. Especially if you are out of warranty.

In the end, if the change of gas does nothing, than agreed, the CAT is probably on the way out. This said, the Mazda CATs seem very sensitive to high sulphur gas, which is why there is a TSB out on the problem throughout several Mazda models and why changing gas just might help the OP. Worst case is, he's no better off trying this.

[Jigga2-3L]

It is a lot cheaper to change gas stations for a few fill-up's and see if the problem dissipates, or is mimimized, than it is to take it to the dealer and say, look at my Cat converter. Especially if you are out of warranty.

In the end, if the change of gas does nothing, than agreed, the CAT is probably on the way out. This said, the Mazda CATs seem very sensitive to high sulphur gas, which is why there is a TSB out on the problem throughout several Mazda models and why changing gas just might help the OP. Worst case is, he's no better off trying this.

Well...i changed gas...and im using sunoco now, and haven't noticed any bad smells..but the rough idle is still there. the car is an '04 and jus hit 121000..no CEL..and fuel consumption is not that great i filled up on the 30th and im at half tank already and only drove 130km...

im thinking fuel injector?...but would that cause a CEL???

[Triznox]

Well...i changed gas...and im using sunoco now, and haven't noticed any bad smells..but the rough idle is still there. the car is an '04 and jus hit 121000..no CEL..and fuel consumption is not that great i filled up on the 30th and im at half tank already and only drove 130km...

im thinking fuel injector?...but would that cause a CEL???

I had a rough idle problem too. It would jump between 750 and 1000 RPM, but not always. Odd smells once in a while, awful fuel consumption, and CEL.
A leaking EGR valve was the problem. Find someone who can do a 'smoke test' to see it if leaks. If so replace the sucker and reset the electronics.