engine issues

[benzing]

Hi everyone. i have i 2003 mazda protege es 5 speed, i am having some weird issues with my car running. i was wondering if i could get any feedback on this to see if its a normal thing. i do have my check engine light on and i have scanned it multiple times. it throws a random misfire code and the bottom o2 sensor. also, when i am driving my car it jerks really hard repeatedly for a few seconds like its not getting something. if my cat was clogged up, would it mess anything up with how my car runs and throw a code for my o2 sensor after the cat?
thanks in advance!

 

[hornsfan10609]

How many miles on the car? It could be a clogged cat but most likely the car needs new ignition coils, wires, boots and spark plugs. I would start there first, as well as a new secondary 02 sensor (preferably Denso brand)
If you think the cat is clogged you can unbolt it and run the car with an open exhaust (temporarily of course) down the road to see if it feels normal.

 

[benzing]

it has 142,000 on it. i have replaced the spark plugs, the wires coils and boots look perfectly fine to me except for one boot. i dont know if its a big deal but one of the boots was torn off the wire connecting to the spark plug. just the seal but the boot looks fine so i put it back in. oh also! before i bought the car, it was sitting in a garage for two months. after driving it for a few months weird things have been happening. just like the jerking its doing now, and its baad.

 

[DVD]

Hi Benzing,

I had this issue occur to me numerous times, and the fix was usually changing out the spark plugs and coil packs.

I changed both coil packs and the engine light would still stay on but after running the car for a while then it would stop stalling and jerking.

Hope this helps,

Best Regards,

DVD

 

[hornsfan10609]

I would replace the torn boot, the misfire is likely from a failing coil or bad wire. Could also be from a clogged/dirty EGR valve.

 

[03protolx]

Those boots are on there for a reason. If you don't have the boots secure to the coil packs/spark plug wires, then the spark will arc onto the cylinder head and could cause a misfire.

At that mileage anyways, you probably DO need plugs, wires, and coil packs. Coil packs are like $30 at auto zone and wires about the same. I suggest the NGK copper spark plugs as that is what came stock.

 

[benzing]

thanks for the help guys. but unfortunately i was t boned the other day, and it is totaled.

 

[03protolx]

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm glad you're alright...

Cars can be replaced, Lives can't.

 

[benzing]

thanks, i am glad too. hopefully i will have another mazda in the future