Sputtering/hesitation at low RPM

Sveivo

Member
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2002 Protege5
Recently I noticed that my car hesitates and sputters if I put the pedal half-way or more down under 2,000 RPM in pretty much any gear.

At first I thought the clutch was slipping/chattering, but now I think the clutch is OK, and it's the motor that is bogging.

Do you guys think spark plugs or coil packs are the problem? I should check the air filter, but I don't think it would cause it.

No CEL, btw.
 
Recently I noticed that my car hesitates and sputters if I put the pedal half-way or more down under 2,000 RPM in pretty much any gear.

At first I thought the clutch was slipping/chattering, but now I think the clutch is OK, and it's the motor that is bogging.

Do you guys think spark plugs or coil packs are the problem? I should check the air filter, but I don't think it would cause it.

No CEL, btw.

Interesting because I have the same problem... I think its a fuel map issue for me cause of all my mods and no tune, but I wanna see what the other theorys are.

-Jeff
 
No mods here! This just popped out of nowhere. Maybe it's carbon build-up? I recently ran seafoam through the gas, so that should have taken care of most build-up.
 
Sounds like clogged injectors or a weak fuel pump. Pull the plugs and tell us what you see.

Do a pressure and volume check on the fuel system.

Is the cat clogged? Unbolt the exhaust (and support it) and go for a quick drive - if it runs 100% better - there you are!
 
Haha, well I know my problem is not a clogged cat cause I don't have any!! My fuel pump and injectors, etc. have 119k miles on them, so it is entirely possible that they are going bad. I have some diagnostic work to do... haha
 
Sounds like clogged injectors or a weak fuel pump. Pull the plugs and tell us what you see.

Do a pressure and volume check on the fuel system.

Is the cat clogged? Unbolt the exhaust (and support it) and go for a quick drive - if it runs 100% better - there you are!

Thank you for providing some ideas. I will be looking into this soon.
 
Well, a new premium air filter from CarQuest did not make a difference. My old filter was gummed up pretty bad though, so there's probably some benefit that was realized.

I will continue to check stuff out and post updates, if anyone is interested.
 
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I 100% promise it's your plugs from the seafoam. It's very common for it to foul out plugs.

Not saying seafoam is bad since I use it myself, just that it even states on the can that it may foul them out.

Change them out and you will be good to go!
 
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Or clean them. I cleaned mine with noncunductive cleaner/MAF cleaner and they were good to go. I use Seafoam as well.
 
I haven't checked plugs yet. I don't have the plug socket for this car. N00b, I know (lol2).

I will have a mech look at the car. I appreciate the comments, and I will keep this thread updated.

PS: Wouldn't bad plugs cause a CEL?
 
Plugs are the first thing to check. New plugs gapped properly do wonders for any motor!
 
Plugs are the first thing to check. New plugs gapped properly do wonders for any motor!

I hope my car makes it through tomorrow until my appointment on Friday. I feel bad because I'm so loaded with HW and classes and can't make time to attend to the car :(
 
Update

Got back from the dealer, and here's what they found:

  • bad plug wires
  • low fuel pressure (suspecting a failing pump)

They have to order the wires, so I will start with replacing plugs and wires, and then go from there... (fight)
 
Now go buy a socket set so you can pull the pugs next time. The tools will more than pay for themselves.
 
Hey, I know it's been a while but I'm hoping you guys are still part of Mazda247.

Background: I have a 2007 Mazda cx7 that I purchased in 2009 with ~13,000 miles on it. It's been a great car and now has roughly 77,000 miles. The only minor issue is that every now and then it sputters between gears. Recently, that problem has become more frequent. Since I have had the car, I have twice taken it to Mazda for this issue to be researched and both times told that there were no issues.

I dropped it off this morning for an oil change at the local dealership and told them about the sputtering (first time with them, I usually go with Firestone) and 7 hours later they call to tell me it took them all day to change my oil and they need to keep it over night because it is smoking. To be fair, I let it go 7,000 miles since the last oil change. Would this cause the oil filter to jam and them to have to cut the oil filter off? Would it cause it to smoke afterwards? I know the sputtering, which did come with some black smoke, only happened at most 3 times a week, and the guy is making it seem like it's constant now.

The more I think about it, the more I am sure that this guy is trying to screw me over. I think I know enough to know that the only reason a oil filter would stick is because the o-ring was not greased before it was put on, right? Also, knowing that the sputtering happens between gears does not lead me to believe it has anything to do with the motor. Is that also right? I also can't imagine that a corporate dealership would spend 7 hours attempting to change the oil on one car. That does not make business sense to me.

Either way, I called them tonight and left a voicemail telling them not to touch it. I plan to pick it up in the morning. I'm just looking for validation or for someone to tell me that I'm wrong and their right. Hope you're still out there. This was the closest thread I could find to my issue.
 
Hey, I know it's been a while but I'm hoping you guys are still part of Mazda247.

Background: I have a 2007 Mazda cx7 that I purchased in 2009 with ~13,000 miles on it. It's been a great car and now has roughly 77,000 miles. The only minor issue is that every now and then it sputters between gears. Recently, that problem has become more frequent. Since I have had the car, I have twice taken it to Mazda for this issue to be researched and both times told that there were no issues.

I dropped it off this morning for an oil change at the local dealership and told them about the sputtering (first time with them, I usually go with Firestone) and 7 hours later they call to tell me it took them all day to change my oil and they need to keep it over night because it is smoking. To be fair, I let it go 7,000 miles since the last oil change. Would this cause the oil filter to jam and them to have to cut the oil filter off? Would it cause it to smoke afterwards? I know the sputtering, which did come with some black smoke, only happened at most 3 times a week, and the guy is making it seem like it's constant now.

The more I think about it, the more I am sure that this guy is trying to screw me over. I think I know enough to know that the only reason a oil filter would stick is because the o-ring was not greased before it was put on, right? Also, knowing that the sputtering happens between gears does not lead me to believe it has anything to do with the motor. Is that also right? I also can't imagine that a corporate dealership would spend 7 hours attempting to change the oil on one car. That does not make business sense to me.

Either way, I called them tonight and left a voicemail telling them not to touch it. I plan to pick it up in the morning. I'm just looking for validation or for someone to tell me that I'm wrong and their right. Hope you're still out there. This was the closest thread I could find to my issue.
It might help to put this question in the CX-7 section http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?230-Mazda-CX-7-Forum

But yeah, 7000 miles between oil changes isn't a problem, but keeping an oil filter on for a long time may make removal more difficult. I had that problem when my commute was really short and so it was 11 months between oil changes.
The sputtering issue would not be onset due to a long time between oil changes. It could be several issues. Ask your question in the CX-7 section.
 
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