Is my MAF bad?

[JasonLHall]

Ok, so the wife's car sometimes dies after a cold start or stutters for a short period of time after a cold start. It does not do this all the time but, enough that it has become annoying. Is this an issue with the MAF? or something else?

2003
42,000 miles
Automatic

Mods are:
OBX Stainless Steel Race Header
Cast Single Runner Intake Manifold
removed all air intake piping up to the stock box

 

[JasonLHall]

Ok, so the wife's car sometimes dies after a cold start or stutters for a short period of time after a cold start. It does not do this all the time but, enough that it has become annoying. Is this an issue with the MAF? or something else?

2003
42,000 miles
Automatic

Mods are:
OBX Stainless Steel Race Header
Cast Single Runner Intake Manifold
removed all air intake piping up to the stock box

Ok, did a search and found out it could be my EGR. I will try to clean it this weekend and give an update.

 

[pr5owner]

clean your IAC too, my car was idling like s*** and was burning rich but was stuck on rich even though it sometimes idled normally, so i cleaned my EGR to a mirror finish, reset my ECU and the same thing kept happening so i shelled out a little cash for the T25 security bit (napa auto parts is a total rip off but the only place that has it in stock) cleaned my IAC plunger also to a mirror finish (didnt need to reset the ECU) and now my car idles so good its like brand new.

when taking the IAC out, DO NOT LOSE ANY PARTS,

this 3mm round plastic white thing fell out and i didnt notice, so i put it back together and my car idled at 4000RPM, im like WTF, so DONT LOSE ANYTHING.

it should be solinoid valve > white small plstic bit > spring > plunger

 

[JasonLHall]

Ok, so I am missing the gasket on the EGR. I did clean it an put it back together. Seems to help, but I will order a gasket probably tomorrow and rip it all apart next week.

 

[bazooka joe]

clean your IAC too, my car was idling like s*** and was burning rich but was stuck on rich even though it sometimes idled normally, so i cleaned my EGR to a mirror finish, reset my ECU and the same thing kept happening so i shelled out a little cash for the T25 security bit (napa auto parts is a total rip off but the only place that has it in stock) cleaned my IAC plunger also to a mirror finish (didnt need to reset the ECU) and now my car idles so good its like brand new.

when taking the IAC out, DO NOT LOSE ANY PARTS,

this 3mm round plastic white thing fell out and i didnt notice, so i put it back together and my car idled at 4000RPM, im like WTF, so DONT LOSE ANYTHING.

it should be solinoid valve > white small plstic bit > spring > plunger

ya, don't forget the IAC!!

 

[JasonLHall]

ya, don't forget the IAC!!

educate me on what an IAC is.

 

[javanc]

Idle Air Control. It regulates the amount of air that enters when then throttle plate is closed. It was going nuts on my P5, made the idle go nuts, especially when slowing down and pushing in the clutch.
Its attached to the throttle body. It takes a star bit if i recall correctly, or maybe not. My problem was the solenoid that was bad. Its an expensive part but you can get them used.

 

[JasonLHall]

Idle Air Control. It regulates the amount of air that enters when then throttle plate is closed. It was going nuts on my P5, made the idle go nuts, especially when slowing down and pushing in the clutch.
Its attached to the throttle body. It takes a star bit if i recall correctly, or maybe not. My problem was the solenoid that was bad. Its an expensive part but you can get them used.

cool, I have a few star tools if needed. Next week I will check it out if I can find the damn EGR gasket

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I ditched the star nuts & replaced with regular phillips head screws.

 

[TheMAN]

hmmm.... illegal modifications... I wonder how that's going to affect how the engine runs

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

.......................when I cleaned the IAC, not instead of cleaning it. Are those screws like mattress tags or something?

 

[Shadow102]

Mods are:
OBX Stainless Steel Race Header
Cast Single Runner Intake Manifold
removed all air intake piping up to the stock box

That is your problem right there. Everybody i know with that manifold has the exact same cold start problem. Make sure the AC/Defrost is off when you start the car and it shouldnt stall other than that just gotta live with it until the car warms up.

 

[JasonLHall]

That is your problem right there. Everybody i know with that manifold has the exact same cold start problem. Make sure the AC/Defrost is off when you start the car and it shouldnt stall other than that just gotta live with it until the car warms up.

thanks for the heads up!! will let the wife know that. One more (amoung hundreds) to get rid of that POS mazda

 

[Shadow102]

thanks for the heads up!! will let the wife know that. One more (amoung hundreds) to get rid of that POS mazda

No problem...i guess mazda had a point to the VICS (or VTCS i cant remember which one). I like the performance gain though so cant complain. Guess you have had alot of problems with the P5 though

 

[JasonLHall]

No problem...i guess mazda had a point to the VICS (or VTCS i cant remember which one). I like the performance gain though so cant complain. Guess you have had alot of problems with the P5 though

The P5 is honestly the worse car I have ever owned. Maybe we got a bad one (doubt it) but, it will be our last Mazda. Will stick with the Subies going forward.

 

[Shadow102]

The P5 is honestly the worse car I have ever owned. Maybe we got a bad one (doubt it) but, it will be our last Mazda. Will stick with the Subies going forward.

ahh i hear ya. my mom has a subbie and i was gonna buy a wrx before i bought my speed. i guess it just may be your car. I wouldnt mind buying more mazda products after this car as it has treated me very well compared to my last cars.

 

[gottacatchup]

The P5 is honestly the worse car I have ever owned. Maybe we got a bad one (doubt it) but, it will be our last Mazda. Will stick with the Subies going forward.

I'd say you got a bad one. Ive had a grand total of 0 problems with my car. On the other hand maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[mp5acp]

has anyone had an issue with stalling at an abrupt stop, or power loss when the clutch is engaged in a second gear coast??I just had the IAC or idle cotrole valve with gasket changed and it still stalls out. Also when i installed my headers the rpms shot down from 800 almost to 500. When the car stalls i sometimes ahve to wait five minutes b4 it will start again, its as if it needs to cool of or something