Something bad has happened...

[brentmc79]

On my way home, just as I was parking in front of my house, I get a CEL and then engine goes into like limp mode or something. I pop the hood and get out to take a look and immediately I can hear what sounds like loose change in the dryer. I'm not sure what it is, but I know that something bad has happened. I figure it's either a VICS screw has made it's way into a cylinder, a rod is knocking, or there's some sort of crazy valvetrain issue going on.

I'm somewhat new to the area, so I don't yet have a trusted mechanic, so I'll be having the car towed to the local Mazda dealership in the morning. Let's hope my engine isn't totally ******.

 

[alexcited]

lets all have a moment of silence, and hope for the best. good luck man!

 

[crashed]

Have you gone to the dealer for the intake recall?

 

[idrift4wd]

i can take my p5 anytime for the intake recall?

 

[crashed]

Call you local dealer and ask about the recall on the intake manifold. They will replace both the intake manifold with a new style injector rail. Just need to give them your VIN number so they can check to see if it has been done. The dealer would have to order both.

I got a free rental when I was getting mine done.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Recall was for a certain VIN range for 03's - March thru July production dates IIRC. Search on recall or go to Mazda site & find it there. Machine gun/change in dryer sound is most likely VICS whether your car is in recall list or not. If not just means you may have to fight them about it or fix it yourself. Don't drive it. The CEL is probably due to the smashed electrode in the cylinder where the screw is giving a misfire code. Try number 4. Seems to be a popular one.

 

[stx195]

open recall

Hope you get that squared away.

I've got an '03 with 78K on it... purchased used in April '07 with 21K on it... I just called Mazda to check on this recall and my car needs to go in... so it's scheduled for next Tuesday...

Again... good luck!

 

[brentmc79]

I called Mazda this morning and they told me there was no recall, that it was just a TSB which is only covered if you're still under warranty, so I thought I'd take a stab at it myself.

Check out what I found in cylinder #4

Once I fished all the bits of metal out of the cylinder and replaced all 4 spark plugs, she ran like a champ. I'll pull the IM off this weekend, check the VICS and tighten all the screws. Hopefully there isn't any hidden damage.

 

[nullbyte]

^^^ WTF. Weird. Hope there is no other damage!

 

[pasadena_commut]

Once I fished all the bits of metal out of the cylinder and replaced all 4 spark plugs, she ran like a champ.

How did you "fish" those tiny pieces of metal out of the cylinder? I have a few "grabber" tools, but none that would have been very easy to use through a spark plug hole.

 

[nullbyte]

^^ you use a magnet tool to do this. A good Magnet pickup tool is one of the most important tools when working on cars!

 

[alexcited]

pffft, all you need is duct tape and wd-40 to work on a car!

 

[nullbyte]

IIRC

If it moves and it shouldn't.....use the duct tape

If if doesn't move and it should......use the wd-40

 

[xtrememps]

You might want to do a compression test after that!

 

[justanothermp5]

there was a intake mani recall? this is the 1st ive heard of it....

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Yours is an 02. Recall, yes recall, not TSB, is for certain 03s. Looks like 2 screws & 2 pieces of the electrode from the plug or 3 smashed flat screws & 1 piece of electrode in the pic.

 

[stx195]

Right on the recall call...

I called back my local dealer this morning to verify ( I've got an '03, and he hasn't asked yet what my mileage is ) and he told me that it's a recall and I will not be paying for the work performed... which I happen to feel pretty good about.

 

[mx-p5]

Good deal!

Just make sure the dealership tightens all the hoses back down.

I took mine in for the recall and got it back with a shiney new intake manifold

Got a few miles down the road and the car overheats with plumes of steam everwhere

they failed to reconnect a coolant line which in turn spewed all over my engine bay

 

[alexcited]

im calling right now!

 

[mp3-79bronco]

where did those pieces come from?