Engine vibrating and engine light is orange

Justin1982

Hi,

I have a Mazda 6 2003 1.8 Saloon. Yesterday I noticed that the car engine seemed to be vibrating a bit more than usual and when I stand behind the exhaust its making more of a vibrating sound also. Also noticed that the engine light is orange (i think). Car seems to be running fine apart from constant vibration which seems worse when car is running on lower revs. Temperature gauge is normal and oil level is about minimum.

Any idea what the problem could be before I bring it to mechanic? I feel it might be either engine mount or harmonic balancer is gone. Or could it be a misfiring piston? Either way, any idea of the cost of repair either DIY or mechanic?

Thanks

Avns1s

Ignition coils perhaps?

What mileage on the car? Service history?

Justin1982

140km now. Had 98km when I bought it. Have it 6 years so I put < 10k on it a year and service it each year. Went through NCT fine last May.

Can you explain how it might be ignition coils?

brianwalshcork

Have the same thing with my wife's a4, rough idle, engine management light on, diagnostics throwing lots of errors and difficult to diagnose. So far coil packs have been replaced and a faulty temperature sensor. Can shaft position sensor is sowing errors too, mechanic said that should be done next, but he also said that the lamda sensor is showing faults and it could also just be a loose/leaky hose somewhere.

Hope yours is simpler to diagnose!

Avns1s

A failed coil pack (ignition coil)would cause the symptoms you describe. The car would be down on power too. You need to get someone to read the fault code associated with that yellow engine light and take it from there. If its a coilpack, it wont cost too much.

I doubt very much it's any of the possible diagnoses you mentioned which is good news for you!!

Justin1982

Thanks for the info.

By the way the light is flashing rather than staying on. I heard that's a sign that you shouldn't drive the car at all before you possibly kill the engine as its something serious when light is flashing.

Any comment on that?

joujoujou

If its flashing its for 99.999% misfire, so more than likely ingnition coil or spark plug. Go to any indy garage nearby to read fault codes.

Running it like now will damage catalytic converter quite quickly.

Justin1982

Thanks guys. It was spark plugs apparently. Guys in Mazda garage have her running fine now.

Avns1s

Justin1982 wrote: »

Thanks guys. It was spark plugs apparently. Guys in Mazda garage have her running fine now.

Thanks for reporting back. All's well that ends well and that is a very good ending. As a matter of interest, when were the plugs last changed?

Justin1982

I do much less than 10,000 km a year with my Mazda 6 and get it serviced same time each year. I thought they were changing spark plugs each time but probably they weren't so I'm not sure. Could have been in it a long time.