*sigh* shes dead jim

[Ian]

Well, my astinas out, and i dont know why. Saw it comming too. Repair bills going to be nasty id say and this comes just after i paid for those disc brakes.

I might get it on warranty. The problems have only been happening since I had a new clutch and exhaust put in.

Let me describe the problem:

Problem 1: Backfiring.
My exhaust is getting nasty backfiring.

Problem 2: misfire
Theres a misfire, I suspect on the 4th plug, that you can feel reverberate throughout the whole car

complication 1: Clutch. Theres no misfire, nor is there any reverberations or backfiring if the clutch is in or (I believe) it is out of gear.

Complication 2: Heavy engine breaking and undrivability. Just now, on my way home from tims, the car was allmost undrivable. Whenever I tried to put any power on over about 2000 RPM it backfired and shuddered baddly. I had to limp home. also, this has happened just recently, I can feel the whole car lacking power or breaking heavily as in you were breaking with the gears(i call it engine breaking).

The reverberations have been happening since I got the new clutch put in and I suspect its dodgy, I may have grounds for a warranty claim but it was 2 months ago. I felt it the day I got it but my friend (who knows nothing of these matters) assured me it couldnt possibly be the new clutch.

Oh well. Im hoping for a warranty claim to fix my car, but im doubtful. Does anyone have any idea what it could be?

[DrSilver]

I dont think a new clutch or exhaust will cause backfiring! A faulty clutch will cause shruddering or slipping. A faulty exhaust will only cause noise & loss of power. DO a computer check for misfiring. I reckon it has something to do with spark plugs, ecu, fuel pump, fpr, or any sensors not working properly.

[DrSilver]

when doing the clutch job, they might have damaged some sensors or wiring!! Do an ecu check at mazda dealership!

[mazdamanik]

yeah i would go for an error check....i had a kinda of similar thing with my car and that ended up being a O2 sensor was shot so the computer was going heywire...could be any number of sensors ...the onyl thing i did notice is that mine would only happen evernow an then so unless it was hapening when the ecu was being checked it wouldnt register as an error so just watch for that incase urs does the same.

[chicaboo]

Could it be a distributor rotor? The only car I had a with a dizzy was my old Subaru, and when the rotor went it was all over the place, would start (eventually) but the revs were erratic and it was undriveable.

Hope it work out man,
Gav.

[KittyKatSmack]

Ian,

We all hope that your Astina will pull through this, and that it is a simple and non-expensive fix.

*fingers n toes crossed*

[CRA23]

check is there is any oil in the spark plug wells, when my rockercover gasket leaked the symptems were similar but not as bad prolly cos i had 2 more cyl then you

[Cosmo Dude]

Also check that their is no water in the plug wells. It is a side effect of washing the motor (ask Deruss)
We blew it out with a compressor but you could just pull the plugs, clean them and put them back in. Water will enter the engine but once you start the engine the water will burn away quickly.

[geetee]

there is a switch on the clutch pedal which is connected to the ECU.
i don`t know what its for, but it might have something to do with it.
it might be grounding or something when it shouldn`t be.

[Dogo]

Thats the clutch switch !
* congrats to the genius who named that *

It and the Neutral Switch ( on the gearbox ) help the ecu know when its going to need to hold idle.

[Ian]

methinks its teh plugs. had a look at it today and its not the sensors, the computer or (afaik) any mechancial problem. Its going to get looked at by a profesional soon (2morrow) and we will all know then...

im hoping he comes back and goes nah dude it was just ur plugs being gaybar and weve replaced em and its all good..

but we shall see!

[Ian]

Okey: heres what the mechanic said

He doesent know whats causing the miss. He wanted to replace:

Timing belt
leads
dizzy rotor
plugs
air filter
cat converter


I told him to do the service and the timing belt as it prob needs replacing. Ill do the leads myself later on today and the dizzy rotor later. The cat can go fark itself as I dont think its an issue. The air filter I will replace myself later as I dont think its an issue just yet altho granted it could do with a replacement.

He also wanted to do an injection system clean but I canned it due to too expensive (150ish)

Thoughts? Conjecture? Should I have just let him go ahead with everything he wanted to do?

[mazdamanik]

spose it depends on weather it fix's the problem or not....change the spark plugs as well as the lead if i were u....and make sure its clean in the hole and ur tapper gasket isnt leaking oil into them....

[Ian]

heee it works again!

I got a new timing belt, a new cap and button for my dizzy and a full service inc. new plugs. It goes again!

Anyway, new leads 2morrow and then back to the upgrading. (disc breaks comming soon, when they come im putting lucas pads on all round)

[andrewgrazier]

cool

my car had a bit repainted once

n we were talking to the guy
and we were saying to him how much of agood car its been and how much power its got, n hes like
what r u talking about it sounds like its almost dead
anwayys
fouind out that he had left the bonnet open the night it was left there
and water had ran into the engine where the spark plug things go in, the plastic seals werent enough to keep the water out, called the nrma, they had a air gun n blasted the water out n it was fine after it
but still annoying.