Ignition/Valve tap and MPG issue

[vielster]

I am driving a 2002 PR5 with 8k on it. Love the car, but I have a few things goin on that I wanted to see if were normal. First of all, I haven't been able to reach the EPA mileage markers, even on long highway trips. The most I've ever seen in 29mpg. Additionall, on cold days, when I start the engine, I hear what sounds like either injector ping or valve tapping. I don't know if it's stereotypical of the engine, or if I just have a sticky lifter or something. If anyone has had the same issues, let me know.

Additionally, I was wondering how the roof rack is removed. I didn't receive the instructions with my vehicle.

Thanks

 

[HADA 11]

By 8K it should have loosened up to the point that you start getting decent mileage. How the nut behind the wheel? Are you driving in a manner that would promote good gas mileage?

That knocking racket on cold start-up is normal. Do a search and you'll find lots of info.

Can't help you on the roof rack. Being Canadian, my car didn't come with one. Try a search on that one too.

 

[vielster]

Not tooo crazy

Thanks for the info. Guess being from Canada, you'd have a lot better idea about cold starts than I would. I'm currently at Cornell University in upstate New York, and it's been a cold year. I was just worried that it was possibly an injector problem or something of sorts. Anyhow, I'm not much of a nut behind the wheel, shift around 3grand -3500rpm through normal acceleration. The thing that threw me was that even on Expressway driving, I don't get rated fuel mileage, which has nothing to do with how fast I'm drivin. The guy who had the car before me (put first 5k) actually put Bosch Platinum 4's in the car the day he bought it (left the receipt in the glove box), so I don't know if it's possible that they have an effect on the running of the engine. I've heard that bosch spark plugs run hotter, which would make the engine not as efficient.

Appreciate the info, if anyone knows anything about the spark plugs, do let me know.

 

[fastdrvr23]

For the pinging, if it happens at or around 2500 to 3000 RPM's for the first few minutes the car is driven when it's been sitting for a while. It's normal... Its something related to Emissions, even thought it sure doesn't seem like it. It won't hurt anything at all, but it is quite annoying. There is actually an ECU fix that the dealer can do to correct it. (My car is in the shop right now having this done)... For more info. look up "cold start rattle".

For Gas Mileage, here is a Log of my car since I bought it, that might help a little...


To remove the roof rack... I am going to have to go by memory, but it isn't hard to do at all.

First: Start by removing the plastic peices at all four corners that are held on my Phillips head screws. Remove the plastic pieces by pulling off the top and bottom pieces seperately. They sort of snap off.

Secondly, to remove the front rack, all you need to do is remove the bolt on each side... It lifts right up.

Third, On the back there are two small pieces on each side that snap down into the channel the cross bar can be adjusted on. They just snap out... Loosen the bolt on both sides and slide the bar all the way to front so that you can just pull it up and out...

Finally, once all the plastic and bars are removed, simply snap the 4 covers in... They are labeled LR, LF, RF, and RR. Nothing to it, just set them in and push until they pop in solid. If you don't have them, I think the dealer can order them.

Oh yeah, welcome to the site!

 

[mazdadan]

You probably want to replace the plugs with NGK's or DENSO's. Both of these plugs should give better performance. I'm not saying that BOSCH makes bad plugs, but Mazda engines run best on NGK in my opinion.