Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I'm sure he does. But, it's my understanding that unless you are towing or engaging in other similar strenuous driving conditions a fluid change is not necessary. A visual inspection of fluid every 6 months should be fine.
My dealer recommends an oil change every 3,000 miles. The owner manual recommends to change it every 7,500 miles.I change ours between every 4,000- 5,000 miles.
I am having the same problem. I got it to start and the engine light stayed on, so took it to my mechanic who read an air flow sensor error in the computer. Took it to Mazda where they replaced it (free, it's part of pollution control system, so under longer warranty than the rest of the car). A week later, same problem starting the car, even worse than before. Had it towed in and they have spent two days trying to find the problem. They reprogrammed the ignition but that didn't fix anything.
Did your problem get resolved?
The starting problem (cranks but won't stay running) showed up once months ago, but has gotten bad in the last month. Like others who have posted, I can keep it running by stepping on the gas. Also noticed the exhaust smells a little strong.
Important lesson learned: bring a description of the problem in writing and hand it to the service rep. The dummy at Alhambra Mazda (CA) listened to my full description of how the engine cranked, but would not hold idle. I could keep it running by stepping on the gas but it would turn off as soon as I released the pedal. Most often a problem when cold. All he wrote down on the service request was "Engine won't start. Advise." So the mechanics started with the computer, tried igniition reset and who knows what else. They had the car for 3 days. Tonight when I picked up the car, the mechanic -- the second guy to look at it -- said he tried starting it, stepped on the gas, saw that it would run until asked to idle, then new right away it was the idle valve. So the mechanic knew what to do and probably could have solved the problem in 10 minutes if he had been given some description of the symptoms.
The local friendly dealer has been procrastinating on this thing for 8months now and mentioned the rack, but said that Mazda Corp would not cover it.
Did they cover your issue under warranty??
They told me that this is 'normal' and that GM vehicles have the same issue!!!
It started to run rough so I took it to a local mechanic (not dealer) who diagnosed a misfire in one cylinder. Six new platinum plugs later (and a few hundred $$$) I'm on the road again.
A few weeks later we have the same problem. This time they find water in one of the coils!?!? Several hundred $$$ more and I head home again.
Two days later, the Check Engine Light comes on and it's running rough again. Now the mechanic advises that 2 cylinders are misfiring.
I called the dealer and they professed to be unaware of any chronic problems with the '02 minivans.
My mpv has overheated once because of a radiator hose had a hole in it, a little smokey, replaced it, was all good.
Now my van will overheat if its not filled with water. It needs to be refilled everyday. But when it is filled it starts up and can drive for atleast 100 miles before I have to put water again. But drives ok, still has power. I'm thinking my radiator is cracked. Boyfriend says blown head gasket. I say its not blown,...yet.
[I had a 91 sentra that a friend was driving, overheated, majorly smokin', given time to cool off the car did not start up again. Had it towed, and my mechanic friend said "yep, its blown, alright...big job...".
That is my experience with a blown head gasket, car=not driveable.
My boyfriends brother also was driving his car, overheated, tons of smoke, pulled over, let it cool down, couldn't get it to start, left the car to be towed and never driven again.]
(As far as I am concerned, blown head gasket = :sick: major damage, big expensive(to me) job, car cannot drive, must be towed and fixed before it is drivable again. Or is it that 2 out of 2 incidents was the extreme experience?)
So,..... I need to know...
After a blown head gasket, is the vehicle still drivable?
If it is, would it run differently, would you be able to tell just by driving it? :confuse:
Let me know if you need more info.
Thanks so much for hearing me out.
My, since traded, '92 MPV did the same thing. Radiator went south and it overheated immediately. I replaced the radiator but compression check showed the left head gasket had blown.
Good luck!
Should it be driving any differently? It feels just about the same, and no unusual sounds and the check engine light dont come on.
Thanks for responding so quickly. Much appreciated!
This is so frustrating! It sounds like it's coming from the steering shaft and seems so cheap. Can't believe there are only a few MPV's making this noise. The dealer says they have never heard of such a thing....!!
I just bought a '98 MPV without a tow package and want to upgrade it as a tow vehicle. Your post about the Monroe air shock sounds like an excellant solution for that part. How well has it worked? What other items are included in the Tow Package? Thank you,
Ron Hawke
THANK YOU,
thank you
Host
G
Discover few days ago my MPV was overheating, after really checking it thoroughly everyday, found a little dripping of coolant at the front pass. side. Brought it to a mechanic that I usually go to and told him of this and he mentioned that he just did another one of these last week, same year and model. It was a cracked plastic radiator wher the double fan mount is. He showed me the one he took out last week and it was a vertical crack about 3 inches long. I couldnt see mine until he takes it out, but it was wet in the same area. He said the other one took him 8 hours labor. And he's done 3 (2000 & 2001 MPVs)already this year and mine is the fourth with the same problem. Oh yeah he said the other thermostat was stuck on another MPV and overheated and might have caused the crack. I saw and felt this toy radiator he pulled out and it's so thin that when I squeezed the big hose connector,it cracked. This sounds like another typical problem for these MPVs.
Any ideas, please? Thanks
Anyone have any ideas? I called Mazda and they're insisting it come in to the dealership. In my case that involves towing it over 50 miles.
Thanks
I hope this helps.
Have you had any luck with your starting problem? I've been experiencing the same problem for the past few weeks - and, of course, at THE most inconvenient times! Have had the 2000 MPV at the dealer, but again, of course, the van started right up for them every time...
:mad:
Thanks!
Marsh
Has anybody else come across this/does anybody have ANY idea how to fix it.
Thanks!