Mazda 323F 1.5 16v (saloon) 2000 - Help my car wont start sometimes!

doktormesmer

Hello all, I am an old visitor but a first time poster. My Mazda 323 (2000) with 52,000 miles on it has been acting up for the past 2 weeks. First, I had trouble with a cold start, the engine would turn normally but nothing, I would return after 15-20 minutes to try again and then it would start. However, the engine seemed to be "coughing" as in stalling or trying to stop, it would do this until the temp. went up, afterwhich all was smooth.

Took it to a local mechanic who said it maybe the air mass meter. When the car wont start at his garage he disconnected the meter's lead and turned ignition, as the engine would start to "catch", plugged the air mass meter lead back and the engine would start. I was going to order a new one and get it installed but it was all taking time and in the mean time the car became absolutely fine for a week or so.

I had it booked at Mazda for a full diagnosis (because I sort of wasnt a 100% sure about the earlier diagnosis) and then all of a sudden whilst driving the car just went dead - engine stopped but all electrics fine. Tried the air mass meter trick but it didnt work. Didnt try jump leads or bump start because I was in the middle of no where. Got it trucked to Mazda Finglas, the recovery guy said that it must be the chip in the car key or the immobilizer. The immobilizer and central locking have been busted for a long time.

Anyway, the car started at Mazda once it got there within an hour or so with no issues. They have had it now for 2 days, did all their diagnostics, cant find any errors. They reset all the codes because initially they got errors for the air mass meter but they told me that it may only be due to the air mass meter being disconnected and reconnected. After code reset they have kept the car started all the while and have driven it but no error codes or the engine stopping. Now they are telling me that the only solution is for them to keep the car until problem recurs in front of them. This could obviously take forever.

I am at a total loss. This is my only car, I need to take my kids to school daily and I am stressed, taxis too expensive, buses and trains not an option. Can anyone please advise, I will be very grateful!

Nissan doctor

The air mass meter is the most common problem problem with the mazda 323, I would be very very surprised if a replacement mass meter didn't sort it.

Whet it begins to fail it can be very intermittent.

doktormesmer

Hi Nissan Doctor, I finally got hold of a used air mass meter today from a specialist Mazda yard. The owner was referred to be quite knowledgeable (from this website www.irishautorparts.ie) about Mazda problems generally. I bought it at Euro 90 and was told that I could install it myself. Seemed pretty simple.

But as I was driving back, the car's engine stopped on the motorway, slightly worrying :eek:, but I used my clutch to sort of re-start the engine, but the revs were stalling and the engine was trying to cut but I kept my foot down and after 20 odd seconds the revs stabilized again and I drove back without incident. I called up the first mechanic to take his opinion on what had just happened and then the Ashbourne fellow, both now think the air mass meter would not cause the engine to stop when the car is running. It would cause starting trouble when engine is cold.

Very baffling, now I have two choices I suppose: go back to Mazda dealership or the Ashbourne guy's garage. By going to Ashbourne atleast the 90 euro I spent might be refunded or adjusted but then I cant be a 100% sure of his credability. But the final bill might be much lesser with used components.

Any words of advice will be much appreciated

vw4life

its worth gettin the throttle body checked/cleaned,I've seen your kind of problem on low mileage 1.5 and 1.3 mazda 323's.doesn't sound like the air mass sensor or the immobiliser is the cause.
hard to say really without checking the car meself

Nissan doctor

The last 323 I had with this problem I had to collect and bring my place, It kept cutting out or loosing power on the small motorway trip.

The problem with a used parts is that, as I said, its a very common failure so chances are the used part will have issues too.

A new mazda part is in the region of €200+ but I got a new spurious one for around €100. Car ran perfectly then.

doktormesmer

Thanks for this doc, sounds exactly like what happened to me, can you please tell me which part you had to replace?

Nissan doctor

doktormesmer wrote: »

Thanks for this doc, sounds exactly like what happened to me, can you please tell me which part you had to replace?

It was the air flow meter. Its just behind the airfilter housing, you just have remove the 2 small screws on the top and it lifts out.