I <3 CEL's. P0102 FMFL!

[Default User]

Let's go back about a month ago, when I had a wire pop out of the harness plug. Which was fixed and everything has been fine since. We even loosened the strap holding the loom to the battery box to avoid any more "pull-outs"

But now my CEL came back on the way back from Cayuga over the weekend.

Car started bucking and stuttering throughout mid RPM Ranges and hard acceleration

Had it scanned at a local shop and came back as P0102 (which is MAF Circuit to low or something like that). The tech advised the MAF was pooches. He tried to clean it as best he could, but it didn't work. Ordered up a new MAF, threw it on, and presto - still didn't work. Actually it helped a lot - but it's still stumbling and CEL isn't going away.

So reading the boards all day, we suspect it's the notorious "stretched wire" which is super common with our cars w/ an aftermarket intake. Problem is - which effin wire!?!! No visible cracks, or cuts. And nothing loose.

The tech suggested perhaps we need a new harness plug, as we may have "compromised it when we fixed it last.

Any idea where to get the harness plug, without having to buy the whole damn harness?

Or any idea how to find a stretched wire?

[-RJ3-]

Check my thread

Questions:

Last time you:

Replaced spark plugs
02 sensors
Throttlebody clean
Tune up

If you answer no. Looks like you had same issue.

[Default User]

Which thread? LoL

The P0102 code says it's MAF related, though. Spark plugs and O2's should throw a different code, no?

Throwing on the stock intake for a while once the sun is out. Hopefully it solves the problem. If not, it looks like I'm hitting up the wreckers this weekend for a harness

[Donutz]

Don't waste your money. Just rewire it. It's easy peasy. Just search and you will find threads on how to find the broken wire. Then search for threads on how to repair the broken wire. Actually replacing the length of wire won't take more than 10 minutes, unless you decide to solder in a section of wire as opposed to replace the entire length. FYI, start with the black and the brown wires.

[Default User]

Don't waste your money. Just rewire it. It's easy peasy. Just search and you will find threads on how to find the broken wire. Then search for threads on how to repair the broken wire. Actually replacing the length of wire won't take more than 10 minutes, unless you decide to solder in a section of wire as opposed to replace the entire length. FYI, start with the black and the brown wires.

Thanks for the tip, buddy. You're always knowledgeable with this stuff (which tells me your car's broke down way too many times LOL J/K)

iPhone / tapatalk search sucks LOL
and FML - my plan was to tug on some wires and see which is the culprit on my lunch break - but looks like its gonna rain

anyone know what Gauge size these wires are? 18G, 22G?
Looks like I'm hitting up crappy tire to grab a soldering iron and re-do the wires.

Hoping I dont need to replace the square pins in the plug harness.

[baymoe]

It's most likely 22 gauge or higher as it's thin as heck. Even more so than the speaker wires on the car. I haven't looked into myself, but is the other end of the wire harness detachable from the vehicle? I would try rewiring the entire set of wires with multi-strand stuff to avoid this issue down the road.

[Donutz]

Thanks for the tip, buddy. You're always knowledgeable with this stuff (which tells me your car's broke down way too many times LOL J/K)

iPhone / tapatalk search sucks LOL
and FML - my plan was to tug on some wires and see which is the culprit on my lunch break - but looks like its gonna rain

anyone know what Gauge size these wires are? 18G, 22G?
Looks like I'm hitting up crappy tire to grab a soldering iron and re-do the wires.

Hoping I dont need to replace the square pins in the plug harness.

Just be careful when you depin the MAF, and you should be able to use your original pins. They are hooked in with barbs, so you need to depress the barb before pulling out the pin. I bought a spool to repin my MAF; I'll try to remember to look at the gauge when I get home. Like Baymoe said though, it's thin stuff.

[Default User]

could an aftermarket intake throw a CEL a year and a half later? Keep in mind I only drive 14,000km / year
I've read ppl getting a CEL after 3-4 weeks.

[Donutz]

Mine tossed a CEL more than 2 years after installing it. It happens.

[cwp_sedan]

Mine tossed a CEL more than 2 years after installing it. It happens.

+1, mine as well.

I had my MS accessory intake on for 3 years with no issues and just got a CEL a couple months ago. Dirty filter or something because once I changed it I haven't had the light come back.

[Default User]

Well, I started playing with the wires after work.

Carefully wiggling each wire leading into the harness plug to the MAF. Then the same closer to the cable tie connected to the battery box. Then again at the fuse box. Nothing. No change in idle.

Went over it again, this time tugging each wire a little harder

BOOYAKASHA!!! The centre white/red wire came loose right out of the square connector. BUT - the exposed copper wires looked weird...some longer than the other. So I started tugging those and they were sliding out with ease.

So not only did I have a loose connection, I also had a stretched wire. I went back about 3" and stripped it clean there. Grabbed 6" of some spare wiring I had lying around and temporarily twisted and taped it.

Now, the plug-connector inside the harness is stuck. And unfortunately do not have anything to pull it out. Tried to McGuyver a pick-out tool out of a safety pin, but no luck. So, I stripped a fat piece of wire and jammed it in there as best I could - trying to, and hoping it'll hold until I get a better tool. (the shop next to my work is really cool about lending me a tool to work with)

So in case anybody pulls a P0102, check the wiring first.. Right now, I'm almost certain the MAF itself wasn't the reason behind the code

[Donutz]

I'm glad you found the problem! Look here for instructions and tools that you need to depin your maf: http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=64661.0

[TheMAN]

dude, just buy the repair kit from mazda and be done with it!
http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/01-006-06.html

[Default User]

dude, just buy the repair kit from mazda and be done with it!
http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/01-006-06.html

Wicked!
How much is the repair kit (if you know off the top of your head) I'll call Agincourt tomorrow - but now it seems like such a long time from now LoL