I know this is probably on here, but I have looked and looked and cant find it. I bought a blue msp with 118k on it, the car blew an engine last year and i have receipts from the rebuild from mazda for almost 8k dollars. the new motor/clutch/timingbelt.... (you get the idea) only has 3k miles on it. the interior is perfect and I would say overall the car is 9/10. with that being said...here is the problem. when the car hits 60 MPH it has fairly violent shutter/misfire and after 60 mph runs kind of rough. it will also misfire randomly under strain but without a doubt everytime at 60. the guy I bought it from said they put platinum plugs in the car when they put in the motor, I did some research and found that platinum were too hot and downgraded back to copper NGK plugs today. I also found that the guy has been running regular unleaded in the car since the rebuild ( AND BEFORE ) and he had no clue that the car required premium. I put a bottle of octane boost in and a half tank of premium which mixed in with the regular already in the car. it runs better, but it is still not fixed. I read a car and driver article about the MSP hic upping ( spelling ) during its road test and thats exactly how I would describe this. I read also about a free ECU flash that mazda put out to fix a hesitation problem....Im wondering if this is what they referred to as hesitation. sorry to be so long winded, but I love this car and want to see it run the way its meant to. if anyone has had this problem or has advice on what to do....let me know!
help! just bought this car and need advice! 03 MSP
- Thread starter chuckdbd
- Start date
- :
- 2003 mazdaspeed protege
Probably fuel, probably bad gas.
I have been running premium thru since my post, it didn't fix the problem. I have also put copper plugs in as well as changed the coil packs and crank sensor. I keep reading about this ecu flash, and I have to wonder if it will fix the problem. The car is gone stock and I want to leave it that way. I love this car and don't wanna trade it off over something potentially trivial.
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- 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege
sounds like a bad tune from mazda. you could try getting a splitsecond af. If i were you i would get a haltech standalone and get the car on a dyno to get a good tune and the car will pull like a mofo. You could also try installing a front mount intercooler. Have you checked you intercooler pipes? it is possible that the nipple is cracked going to the bypass valve whitch would cause the problems you are describing. You can order replacement pipes off of corksport.
Stupid question... What does the nipple look like? Where is it? Yes I get the joke.
hornsfan10609
Certified Mazda Tech
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- 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege x2
What are the plugs gapped to? They will be gapped too wide at .044" when you buy them and you have to gap them down to .028-.032".
jeremy irons
Member
the "hiccup" you are talking about occurs as you pass 4000rpm. not really before or after.
and there is a big thread about the re-flash. If you plan to do mods, don't get it.
and there is a big thread about the re-flash. If you plan to do mods, don't get it.
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- 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege
lol the nipple is the plastic peice that the bypass valve connects to on the hotside pipe. On the stock intercooler pipes this can crack causing a vacume leak and makes ur car stumble and run really bad. You might wanna geta boost gauge too
