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View Full Version : Car died, extremely hard to keep running



Mitchell3
06-28-2013, 09:24 PM
As I've said in a few recent posts, I had the car towed to Forbes Mazda today after work. I don't know what it is. The past few mornings I have been having sketchy start ups first thing in the morning, and this started happening just recently. It sounds pitchy in the sense that it sounds as if I were revving it slightly repeatedly. Also in the exhaust note it cracks every so often.

Anyways that's the background info that I thought at first it may be related to. I pulled out of work fine, and as I start speeding I get this (not my video or car):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrXTGTv__yo

Basically it sounds like I am out of gas. Before you ask, I had a half tank. Anyway it kept running as I pulled up to a red light and I thought god I hope that was just a weird fluke. But I turn left up a hill and it worked fine through 1st and 2nd but when it hit 3rd it started again and slowly slowed down until it stopped and died. I tried turning it back on and it would last maybe 0.75 seconds before dying again. The only way I could get it to stay on was if I could get to high enough rpms by revving it. But I have less than 0.75 seconds to floor it at the right time so its hard as hell. Then it sounds completely normal. Its just the 3000rpm and lower. But if I let it drop lower it dies out again. So I tried a couple times. Letting it sit helped a bit but still couldn't get far.. So I got it towed. The part that worries me is maybe its because of all the rain and puddles EVERYWHERE and my CAI that maybe that is causing it. I did have to go through one bad one to even get in my office parking lot. But I am not convinced after watching a couple youtube videos and googling it a bit that its hydrolocked, it seems like different symptoms. Plus it seems consistent with the noises I hear in the morning but 100x worse.

Any clues?

Manpreet
06-28-2013, 10:09 PM
Did you ever clean the throttle body? Just a guess

stock3
06-28-2013, 10:26 PM
What a bout check engine light? Is it on?

Based on the description alone it could be many problems. If there are no codes you gotta start with basics. Check fuel, spark and air and get back to us.

Mitchell3
06-28-2013, 10:37 PM
Did you ever clean the throttle body? Just a guess
No I've never done that.

What a bout check engine light? Is it on?

Based on the description alone it could be many problems. If there are no codes you gotta start with basics. Check fuel, spark and air and get back to us.

No codes when its actually trying to start. Otherwise its just the standard every code light is on cause the car isn't on.

TheMAN
06-29-2013, 04:42 AM
clean the MAF sensor and check the connector for broken wires

Zuluwun
06-29-2013, 10:08 AM
Might add cleaning the battery terminals to the good starting points listed above.

SomeGuy
07-03-2013, 11:11 AM
Mitchell - what car is that? Obviously not your 3?

In any case, MAF sensor seems most likely...take it out, check for moisture in the intake.

mazdabetty
07-03-2013, 11:16 AM
Agreed with the MAF sensor and cleaning the throttle body.... give them a good cleaning, reset your ECU and try it again... helped mine out, not sure if it's quite the same situation but it couldn't hurt before spending hundreds at a dealership to diagnose :\

Noisy Crow
07-03-2013, 03:40 PM
Leaky check valve in the fuel system?

Mitchell3
07-03-2013, 03:42 PM
I got my car back from Forbes yesterday. They didn't find a thing. I'm assuming water was the issue and evaporated over time. Car still sounds weird on start up as it did several days before the break down, I will video tape tomorrow mornings start up and if that doesn't change your recommendations I'll start trying some of them.

Thanks guys.

baymoe
07-03-2013, 05:04 PM
Did you happen to clean the engine bay recently?

Mitchell3
07-03-2013, 07:19 PM
April I wiped off a few things with a wet cloth.. nothing serious

JonsMazda
07-03-2013, 07:22 PM
Get a MAF Sensor cleaner spray, turn on the car with engine running, spray the MAF wires with spray....if your car starts to boggle, it's the wires.