2003 Mazda6s 168k miles
A quick overview of the issue follows but first I would like to say that I have had the car at an independent garage AND the dealership and NEITHER could find anything wrong with the car or even replicate the issue. The issue is intermittent and may go several days without happening and then happen 3 times within an hour.
While driving (locally and interstate speed) the car with cut off; the car loses all engine power, the tach and speedo drop to 0, the headlights, turn signals & fog lights go out, the power steering goes out, and finally nothing happens when you attempt to restart the car (no starter click - nada). It appears as if the alternator or battery (or both) are dead EXCEPT some things still have power. WHILE THE CAR WILL NOT START the battery and check engine lights are on.
What does work: the radio, a/c, other gauges, windows, door locks
What corrects the problem temporarily: If I open the main fuse box and push down on the relays and main fuse and generally fiddle with stuff the car will often start again. There does not seem to be an explanation for which push or wiggle will be the magic one. I am able to tell when the problem is resolved because the headlights come back on. The battery and CEL lights go out.
This has been happening for about 3 weeks and it is making me insane. I am happily driving and then BAM - no power. I pull over and fiddle with the main fuse box - sometimes for 2 mins and sometimes for 15.
Mazda Service has told me that they have run every possible diagnostic and checked the stored memory of the computer. The computer does not have any stored events even though the CEL has been on. They can not find ANY issue with the car and as a matter of fact said that the vehicle performs extraordinarily close to spec for a car with that many miles on it.
HELP HELP HELP!!! Suggestions (other than getting rid of it when its having a "good day")? Has anyone else ever experienced this type of failure? I am going nuts and my Mazda Service guy thinks I am C-R-A-Z-Y.(help)
A quick overview of the issue follows but first I would like to say that I have had the car at an independent garage AND the dealership and NEITHER could find anything wrong with the car or even replicate the issue. The issue is intermittent and may go several days without happening and then happen 3 times within an hour.
While driving (locally and interstate speed) the car with cut off; the car loses all engine power, the tach and speedo drop to 0, the headlights, turn signals & fog lights go out, the power steering goes out, and finally nothing happens when you attempt to restart the car (no starter click - nada). It appears as if the alternator or battery (or both) are dead EXCEPT some things still have power. WHILE THE CAR WILL NOT START the battery and check engine lights are on.
What does work: the radio, a/c, other gauges, windows, door locks
What corrects the problem temporarily: If I open the main fuse box and push down on the relays and main fuse and generally fiddle with stuff the car will often start again. There does not seem to be an explanation for which push or wiggle will be the magic one. I am able to tell when the problem is resolved because the headlights come back on. The battery and CEL lights go out.
This has been happening for about 3 weeks and it is making me insane. I am happily driving and then BAM - no power. I pull over and fiddle with the main fuse box - sometimes for 2 mins and sometimes for 15.
Mazda Service has told me that they have run every possible diagnostic and checked the stored memory of the computer. The computer does not have any stored events even though the CEL has been on. They can not find ANY issue with the car and as a matter of fact said that the vehicle performs extraordinarily close to spec for a car with that many miles on it.
HELP HELP HELP!!! Suggestions (other than getting rid of it when its having a "good day")? Has anyone else ever experienced this type of failure? I am going nuts and my Mazda Service guy thinks I am C-R-A-Z-Y.(help)
