Stalling and power loss after long trips
 

Hey guys, I've got an 04 with 66k on the odometer, new coils, new plugs, and a new cat, all done within the past 10k miles. I drive to my parents about once a month which is a 290 mile trip. After around 200 miles of solid driving at ~75-78mph the car begins to feel extremely sluggish. Then, if I get off the interstate and slow down, the car usually dies and sometimes will not allow me to start it again for 15-30 minutes. Also, if it does start back up, it only allows me to rev to about 6k before it stops. The marbles in a can sound is also more pronounced at this time.

This happens EVERY time I drive that distance and with a trip from Louisiana to Michigan coming this summer, I'd liek to have that issue resolved.

It's been to two dealers in two difference cities and neither of them could diagnose the issue. One locally said it could be the heat causing the seals to expand causing the loss of power, but their Mazda USA rep said they couldn't do anything about it unless they replicated the issue, which of course they could not because they weren't going to drive it 200 mi. It's been to each dealer multiple times to no avail.

Help would be greatly appreciated.

See the updated TSB about *Engine lack of power* issue.

and Search is ur friend.

I just looked immediately after posting and saw the information I needed I think. Looks like the newest TSBs cover my issue. Didn't find this subforum until I made the post. Apologies.

Print out the TSB's and bring it in and let us know how it goes.

I printed out the TSBs and brought them to my local dealer. The lack of power TSB I brought the dealer said they had just gotten the day before themselves. This morning, they went to reflash the computer with the new timings and such and said my PCM already had the latest flash. Needless to say this was confusing. They said that the TSB just brings to light a condition that has already been seen, not necessarily a new programming and I that I might already have the new reflash. Apparently, I did. So in other words, I already had this done long ago since the car hadn't been to the dealer in 4 months and it didn't fix my problem. Now I'm stuck again with the same problem and a fix that doesn't fix.

Suggestions?

To add, now I think there's a problem with the PCM probably. Could it be defective and its sending wrong signals to their computer at the dealership? They said it would show something like that, but I know when dealing with software anything can happen. They said they downloaded the new flash that morning on their computer so they had the latest downloaded. I'm sketchy about the process now and am thinking about trying another dealer to see what they say.

Its more like the morons at that dealership screwed something up.

Did they flash your computer last time ?

If your car has never been to a dealership in 4 months ... This flash *actually* came out about 3 months ago. Its just that no one really notice its existence, and they had no word about what it does Until now.

Try another dealership and see what they say.

Oh for the TSB, The ECU flash is just *part of the fix*, the other fix requires them to go order a Can of Engine cleaner from the M-store, and clean ur engine thru the nipples on the side of the engine.

They have no record of it being flashed since the 4206F recall about a year ago.

Sounds like they have no clue to me.

Run Away From That Place!!!!

Get a copy of ur warrty service record from mazda ,it tells u what has been done

A compression check is your friend. Spend the $100 and sleep sound.
Railton

After checking the door jamb sticker it indeed says the last reflash was on 2006. Even though, I just made the trip and the car has never run better. Ran smooth and had power all the way to 9k even at the end of the trip. Another interesting note, my low oil light came on for the first time ever. I know that latest flash pushed more oil into the motor, so couple that with the fact my oil hasn't been changed in 2k miles, I think actually they made the update but the moron at the computer didn't realize it. They also told me they had put a new guy on the computer so he probably did not know what he was doing. When I make the trip again in a month when temperatures rise further I'll let you know how it goes.