Ten most recent topics http://mazda626.net Fri, 18 May 2012 02:49:40 +0000 10 http://mazda626.net/topic/41376-2001-bad-acceleration-sputtering-from-air-inlet/ I have replaced the plugs, wires and coil. No help. cleaned the egr fully, no help. the idle is smooth as can be, its just once you give it gas. parked or idling at a light. seems to lose speed as well while driving, rpm stays the same. Fri, 18 May 2012 02:49:40 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41376-2001-bad-acceleration-sputtering-from-air-inlet/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41374-siphon-gas-2001-v6/ So my 626 finally kicked the bucket a few days ago at the beginning of a trip and I had filled up the gas tank. What is the easiest way to get the gas out of the gas tank and into another container? Fri, 18 May 2012 02:36:47 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41374-siphon-gas-2001-v6/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41378-motor-blown-after-only-3-months-of-ownership/
I am new to this forum and I stumbled across this site in my quest to find out what happened to my 626 and get it repaired. Keep in mind I am NOT a car person so if I sound ignorant it is because I am in this subject. Sure I know how to do the basic common sense stuff (check fluid levels, change the tire, jump start, etc) but I don't know about the big stuff, although I would like to learn. Ok with that put out there let me tell my story and maybe someone can give me some advice or explanation. Thanks in advance!

I bought my 1997 mazda 626 about 3 months ago. Other than needing a new exhaust and the heater not working it seemed to run like a top, I even had my mechanically inclined friend check it out and he gave the thumbs up so I brought it home. We fixed the exhaust and we fixed the heater, both where simple fixes and I was a happy camper. Even though I don't know a lot about cars I do know that when you first get a vehicle it is a good idea to be checking the fluid levels quite frequently to develop a baseline and see if there is any "using". It became apparent after about the first couple weeks that it was using a bit of oil. I was driving about 250 miles a week and it was going through about a half quart a week. Not great but I wasn't going to get up tight about it because I have had older cars over the years that use oil here and there and I just needed to keep it topped off. I checked to see if I could find where it was coming from and couldn't find a leak. It didn't appear to be burning anything off either (no tell tale smoke out the tail pipe) Soon after I brought it to my mechanic (an actual certified mechanic for anyone that wants to know) and he put it up and looked around and he too couldn't really find a leak. We did an oil change and spun on some new filters just because who knew when it had been done last and added a additive to help the engine seals. I was told to keep a close eye on the oil level and I took it back home.

At first it was better but after about a couple of weeks we where back to using a half quart a week and it continued to become even more of a user as time wore on. As per the mechanics advice I brought it back in because it was using more oil. This time we found a leak coming from the main seal? I was told that we where looking at a $400 repair eventually but maybe we could buy some time by putting in a special treatment again and to just keep the oil topped off as I had been. I will admit there was a couple times that I didn't check it and I could hear the engine lightly change its pitch and as soon as that happened I pulled over and topped it off (those times required 2 quarts yikes!) After the second episode I began to check the level every 2 days so I can honestly say it wouldn't get the chance to go low after that.

About 3 weeks ago it started sounding rough, you know like what happens when you get water in your gas tank? So I put in some dry gas stuff to see if that would help. It didn't improve it one darn bit and it began to stall when I idled into parking spaces (very irritating!). A couple days ago now the check engine light came on (I pulled over immediately and checked my fluid levels, everything was fine) so I called my mechanic and again we took a good look at the engine. This time the news wasn't so good. I am not exactly sure what all he said but I did pick up the words "lost a cylinder" and something about my pistons? or head?

The verdict is that the engine is ruined and needs to either be rebuilt or replaced. To say I was upset was an understatement but after the initial damn it phase wore off I started looking for answers as to what happened and more importantly if it was worth the time, effort and money to fix my car or would it be better to scrap it and get something else, hence why I found your site. After researching about the car and re-evaluating its kbb (not taking into account the bad engine) I have decided to go with putting in a used engine that I found that is in good condition with just over a 100,000 miles on it. I wanted to go with a rebuilt at the very least but I can't find anything for under $1900 and if I add the cost of putting it in (again I am not mechanically inclined and I don't know anyone who is able to do the job as a "friend") I am looking at about $3000 which is way over budget for me at the moment. Buying a decent used one and getting it installed will be $600+$1000=$1600.....much more doable and within my budget.

To try to ensure I was making the best possible decision on the subject we thoroughly vetted out the car for anything else on the verge that we could find and at this point the only thing we found besides the engine is that I will need new breaks sometime this fall. That's it. The paint is faded and the leather seats are a bit cracked and worn (like I care about that if the car can't take me anywhere) but there is no rust and everything else works. Considering my budget is limited I figured I could A) scrap it, get another car for 1500 and getting god knows what problems, maybe even end up in the fix I am in now or B) put in a different engine and quite possibly end up with a car that gets me down the road for quite a few more miles. Yeah I take the risk of the different engine (I am careful not to say "new" because it is used) being clunker BUT the place I am going through does test the engines out prior to sale and guarantees they run an furthermore they have a 90 day warranty if something does go wrong they will fix it free of charge. Because I am one who has been burned too many times I checked the reputation of the company and it seems rock solid with an over 99% customer satisfaction rating ( ebay-Shorty's Used Auto Parts)

I said all of the above to ask the following, has anyone run across something like this? My mechanic said he is surprised that it happened to a mazda, especially a 626 because they are known to be tough enduring cars. Also can anyone maybe give me an explanation of what probably happened? From the sounds of it the oil leak might have actually been coming from the cylinder or something all along and not from the main seal, and it just eventually gave up the ghost so they say. As I said I am not really a car person but I do enjoy learning about this sort of thing so I am not such a "girl". I've found that learning all I can about cars has helped me get out of some rather blatant rip offs that some shops try to pull due to my supposed ineptitude over the years, although it hasn't always saved my butt. Any ideas or words of wisdom would be great! Thanks for your time.]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 02:31:26 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41378-motor-blown-after-only-3-months-of-ownership/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41377-mass-air-flow-sensor/ I need to replace my MAF sensor and was wondering what sites to go to for a decent price? Fri, 18 May 2012 02:03:30 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41377-mass-air-flow-sensor/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41274-wtb-ecu-from-a-manual-90-92-probe-gt-or-mx6626-gt/ . I'm having a heck of a time finding one that fits so hopefully one you wonderful gentlemen have one running around.

GIve me your price and I'm sure we can work something out.

Robert]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 00:26:05 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41274-wtb-ecu-from-a-manual-90-92-probe-gt-or-mx6626-gt/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41358-vacuum-hose/ I found a broken vacuum hose in my 1997 mazda 626. So when I try to connect a new one the cars engine looses power and it turns off. But when I leave it off it stays on. What could be the problem?? Have anyone encounter this situation before?? I appreciate the feed back. Thu, 17 May 2012 21:11:57 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41358-vacuum-hose/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41295-1999-626-no-tranny-line-pressure/ Thu, 17 May 2012 20:56:39 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41295-1999-626-no-tranny-line-pressure/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41361-should-the-fuel-line-have-pressure-when/ i have posted a few topics but this is one i believe may be the source of all my problems today i tried to start my car and wouldnt even run at an idle . so i stuck a key in the place where u would put the pressure tester at and nothing came out ??? my question is isnt the pump suupose to prrime the line while the engine is turning over so if no gas come out could the be the relay fuel filter and or pump? and does the line have pressure while u are cranking the engine? Thu, 17 May 2012 18:47:04 +0000 http://mazda626.net/topic/41361-should-the-fuel-line-have-pressure-when/ http://mazda626.net/topic/41375-how-to-remove-tint-the-easy-way/

Soooo, you know the drill. You just bought a 20 year old car, it has 19 year old tint, and it's all purple! You hate it, but don't know what to do. What you should do is get rid of it!

No, the tint, not the car!

What you'll need:

Windex, or other window cleaner
Something to scrap with (I used a 10-in-1 paint scraper)
A steam cleaner
A delicious snack (I recommend fried mac and cheese, but feel free to experiment)
Some patients
And a tinted window(s)!



So, here's the window



I was able to stick the edge of the scraper under the tint and lift it up to start with, and I got a little ways in there, but the scraper quickly sliced through the tint like rice paper, leaving me up a creek.



Now that's some steam! My buddy bought a steam cleaner to steam clean his engine bay (don't mind his OCD) and let me borrow it to do my tint. OMG I am so glad that I was able to use it for this project; I can't imagine doing it without a steamer.

Here's the steamer on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Multi-Purpose-Sanitizing-Portable-Steamer-Attachments/dp/B0040ZCRZC



Blast away! Yeah! Lazers at full power! Pew pew!



Gently pull up on the tint and continue spraying/steaming. You'll notice a few small spots where the backing or whatever stuck on the glass.



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