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Need some advice on car maintenance (lack of power + need new brakes)

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Old 04-20-2009, 12:25 AM
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Need some advice on car maintenance (lack of power + need new brakes)

Hey guys.

I've been noticing that my 2006 doesn't seem to have as much power as it used to. I'm thinking that it might be in my head? (i'm hoping) but it seems really really sluggish. For example yesterday I floored the car off the line and was neck and neck with a CAMRY for god sakes!

I'm thinking of having an engine compression test done, but aside from the perceived lack of power i'm not really noticing anything else wrong with the vehicle. No miss fires or anything like that.


I've currently got about 68,000kms on my vehicle. I've done the regularly scheduled maintenance and oil changes at the dealership. Have not done anything in addition to that.

With that said I've noticed that alot of people change their "plugs, wires and coils". Is that something that would have been done during my most recent service? Is it something that I should definately be doing? And if so what do I need to get that done?

Also with regards to brakes. When i was in for my last service they advised that I'll need to look into changing my brake pads very soon. They quoted me around 500-600 dollars.

Are these the factory mazda brake pads?

http://www.buyourmazdaparts.com/inde...duct_list&c=81

Is this the cheapest place to purchase them and if so should I go for it?

Thanks in advance guys!
Old 04-20-2009, 12:57 AM
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I believe that is in the typically "plugs, wires and coils" replace window. I think it is usually done around 70k. Thats what I would I have them check out first. You have a warranty, use it!
Old 04-20-2009, 01:10 AM
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Originally Posted by rubberduckie
I believe that is in the typically "plugs, wires and coils" replace window. I think it is usually done around 70k. Thats what I would I have them check out first. You have a warranty, use it!
Wouldn't that that stuff be wear and tear items? I dont really want to pay ~1000 dollars to have the dealer install new plugs/coils etc. Or is this a warranty issue?
Old 04-20-2009, 04:26 AM
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You should do the coil and plug replacement yourself. You to mazdatrix.com and they have coild for 29 each ( 166 + tax ) and plugs for 80 ish I think for the set of four. Both these jobs are ridiculously easy to do. I bought racing brake brake pads, they were cheap and worked very very well.....look around before purchasing anything. None of the coils or plugs are covered under warranty.
Old 04-20-2009, 07:05 AM
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these are simple jobs to do, i just changed my plugs and it took all of 20min. I would go with racing brake pads as well, simple enough job to do in your garage with a jack and jack stand.
Old 04-20-2009, 07:22 AM
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so at my milleage the issue with power could possibly be my coils and spark plugs correct? and regardless they should definately be changed at this milleage?

Also with regards to racing brake pads. Where can I buy them from and will they effect the cars feel negatively in anyway way?

Thanks alot for the help guys!
Old 04-20-2009, 12:23 PM
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Do the coils and plugs and come back and msg your response. Don't bother with anything else before that. If it isn't that, doesn't matter cause it is better for your car anyways so you aren't losing out. Just DIY and it won't cost much.

I have a different philosophy on breaks that ppl may not like, so I'm not posting it
Old 04-20-2009, 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Thumper3322
Do the coils and plugs and come back and msg your response. Don't bother with anything else before that. If it isn't that, doesn't matter cause it is better for your car anyways so you aren't losing out. Just DIY and it won't cost much.

I have a different philosophy on breaks that ppl may not like, so I'm not posting it
Please post your views. we're all adults here. I haven't really had an issue with the OEM brakes so i'm wondering what the difference between the OEM ones and racing brakes would be?

Thanks guys!
Old 04-20-2009, 07:16 PM
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U gonna go to the track or not??

IMO...if u are NOT going to drive it hard, track it breaking hard etc...I would go with better stronger rotors and cheaper pads. This is merely a cost saver. U can get cheap pads for $30-$40 for fronts and same for rear. When u get racing pads they are way tougher and therefore will eat rotors which are way more expensive even for cheaper ones. Purely a cost affective way IMO. If you are tracking, breaking hard etc...do not do that and get the right stuff.

Who is gonna be the first one to rip on this IMO lol.
Old 04-20-2009, 07:18 PM
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Hmmm makes sense to me. If you are driving hard enough to need racing braked on the street then you have other issues going on...
Old 04-20-2009, 10:53 PM
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i just ordered OEM plugs and coils for $235usd shipped, so about $285cad shipped.
pretty good deal compared to the canadian dealer prices.
Old 04-21-2009, 07:46 AM
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No offence..but that still seems high. Where did you order them from?
Old 04-21-2009, 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by rubberduckie
I believe that is in the typically "plugs, wires and coils" replace window. I think it is usually done around 70k. Thats what I would I have them check out first. You have a warranty, use it!
+1 ^

This is a common issue.

Friend of mine in the club has a really impressive set of new coils. He says they cost about the same as a regular replacement set, but have much better longevity with maintaining power. Shop around, maybe you can find "premium" quality coils for near the same price. Sorry, I wish I remembered what they were called... I too need to replace the same "3" items in my car.

Completely agree with everything else mentioned on this thread, except for the brake rotor suggestion but only because I have no experience with high performance brake rotors. Seems like a good idea though.
Old 04-21-2009, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Thumper3322
U gonna go to the track or not??

IMO...if u are NOT going to drive it hard, track it breaking hard etc...I would go with better stronger rotors and cheaper pads. This is merely a cost saver. U can get cheap pads for $30-$40 for fronts and same for rear. When u get racing pads they are way tougher and therefore will eat rotors which are way more expensive even for cheaper ones. Purely a cost affective way IMO. If you are tracking, breaking hard etc...do not do that and get the right stuff.

Who is gonna be the first one to rip on this IMO lol.
Seems like common sense to me. Racing brake does offer street pads that have very high quality. Infact, all thier products are excellent. But thumper is right.....you need to choose the right pad for what you are going to be doing. The are tons of options out there. Just take a look at racingbrake.com , thier et500 pad ( which I was using for street and one track day with thier slotted rotors- highly recommend these ) has a guarantee no fade rating of 1000F and is cheaper then the competitors....literally they have a wide rang of choices and have other pads on there besides their own as well.

heres a link to mazdatrix for the ignition stuff http://www.mazdatrix.com/8ignition.htm ...you are looking at 255 plus shipping for plugs and coils.

Last edited by Gecko69; 04-21-2009 at 01:59 PM.
Old 04-21-2009, 02:55 PM
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U can find them cheaper than that around $80us for plugs just have to look and I don't have the time to look for u right now.
Old 04-21-2009, 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Thumper3322
No offence..but that still seems high. Where did you order them from?
it was from fluid
spark plugs = 80
coils = 135
shipping = 20
Old 04-21-2009, 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by RXallan
it was from fluid
spark plugs = 80
coils = 135
shipping = 20
Spark plugs
Coils cardinaleway mazda $104 (free shipping) cheapest on the net.
Save about $40-$50us. So u didnt do to bad!
GL with the install!!
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