Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions

skweezer · June 2002

I have a 2001 MPV LX that has an intermittent hot start problem. Sometimes, but not always, the van will not start on a hot day (80F+). The problem usually occurs after having been driven then shutdown and try to start before it is cooled down. Starter cranks just fine. After cooling down it starts up without problem. Dealer
replaced the fuel pressure regulator a week ago and things were OK until yesterday, which was one of the warmer ones we've had here in upstate NY since I have had this problem. Anybody else have similar problem and found a cure?

bob57 · June 2002

Well, us ol' Texans in the deep south....
(80 is a cold front here)
I've seen the same thing after running in 95+ weather for 30 miles at 70mph and starting it again within 15 or so minutes - but it still starts - just takes a couple of more spins.
I suspect it's in the fuel injection system maybe some degree of evaporation or a slight fuel lock. At any rate, it hasn't bothered me. I've seen other makes that takes 20 seconds of cranking under the same conditions.
Shoot - I run my horses in heat and ...oh, nevermind.

)

jolly2 · June 2002

The MPV has four converters but there's no way to tell which one is bad so they have to replace all four to try to correct the problem. Each converter is $450.00, which is why the service manager was reluctant to do to the work. The smell was so bad before I don't think any of the converters were working; now maybe two or three are. It's an on-going problem.

alexv1n · July 2002

Sorry for cross posting but I decided that this info is more applicable to this topic...

There are some new TSB details available for 2000-2001 MPVs. Some of the problems that are discussed on these boards are addressed by them. You can find the TSBs with all the details from http://www.mpvclub.com/index.php?action=tsb

Hope this is interesting...

bob57 · July 2002

Re: Above mentioned TSB's site
Never saw the recommended 5W-20 oil viscosity. I'm not too sure I would go that route in Texas heat. I'm sticking with the 10W-30.
What's the current thought out there in MPV land?

beachnut · July 2002

I think the recommendation of 5W-20 was so Mazda could meet LEV standards. I always run 10W-30 down here in sunny/soggy FLA!

javadoc · July 2002

There shouldn't be an issue w/using 10W-30 really. Some dealerships don't even carry the 5W-20.

/j

joem8 · July 2002

I am a new member. We have a 2002 MPV LX about 3 months old with about 3000 mi. Thus far, we love it with one exception we . We find the front seats are quite uncomfortable. After riding 100 miles or so we can barely walk after we stop. We didn't have this problem with our old Villager minivan. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks

budmelon · July 2002

We had a '95 Villager as well before we bought our MPV. We never had any problems with our joints though. The only thing I can think of is that your body is used to the Villager seat and now, it is trying to adjust to the MPV seat. Just a thought. We had ours for about 4 months now and I don't find the seat uncomfortable at all.

alexv1n · July 2002

We have taken our MPV on some long drives these past two years (several times it was 5+ hour drive, once - 10 hours straight). I have never felt uncomfortable after driving for a long or short period. Either check if the seats are adjusted properly or just wait till you get used to them... But again, no two persons are equal.

beachnut · July 2002

I'm glad to get into the MPV after driving the Accord. Geez, talk about uncomfortable!

dbs2001 · July 2002

We quite often ride 4+ hrs at a time & several times 6-8 hrs. We are very comfortable & I'm much less tired compared to the same trips in our previous '91 Caravan.

Dennis

danandkat · July 2002

We concur with those who find the MPV comfortable. We typically do our SE Wisconsin to Pensacola/Gulf Shores trips straight through in 18-20 hours (I only like to stop when the gas tank needs a refill--attn: Mazda Corp., larger tank, please) and find the seats quite comfortable. Note that adjustments can be made to the seat, so verify that yours are not 'way out of whack'. Also, occasionally adjusting them while driving to vary your seating position slightly could help make the drive less tiring. Hope this helps. danandkat

alexv1n · July 2002

> Also, occasionally adjusting them while driving
> to vary your seating position slightly could
> help make the drive less tiring.

Make sure you are not adjusting the seats WHILE driving. It might be OK in most cases, but if someone's seat folds/unfolds suddenly while you are driving, the result may be an accident.

maltb · July 2002

I find it rather exciting to adjust the forward/aft position on heavy acceleration. Where is your sense of adventure?

alexv1n · July 2002

Ever tried to steer with feet and feed your baby sitting in second row seat behind you while driving down a heavy freeway in the morning? LOL

maltb · July 2002

I can actually remember my mom nursing my little sister while driving us to school in a manual trans VW bus. Downright scary especially since seatbelts were those little straps that sat there unused.

bob57 · July 2002

I love coming here and watching how seat subjects turn into breast feeding..LOL.

My 15 year old daughter flipped out last night when I told her that my first three cars did not have seat belts. This is on top of when I told her I saw my first TV when I was eight. Jurassic dad....

Oh yeah, back to seats.. Joem8; how tall are you? I wonder if your height plays a role in this? I find my '01 very comfortable at 5'8..and shrinking.

)

danandkat · July 2002

I keep my hands off the ejection seat button! ;<) And for the record, I too am about 5'8" tall. danandkat

beachnut · July 2002

I'm 5'8", 150lbs. soaking wet .... maybe that's why we average-sized folks like the MPV so much (straining for content)!

Malt: That's a more appropriate topic for the Cafe or maybe not!

Bob: Eight years old? Man, you were deprived! You missed a lot of good shows during the Cretaceous period, LOL!

danandkat · July 2002

Kat here--make sure that your hips are higher than your knees. For many people it can be quite uncomfortable to be seated in a vehicle with knees higher than hips. It may not feel uncomfortable while seated, but when you get out and try to walk you will really feel it. I notice this in our Accord, and it gets to me in less than 100 miles. People who have had hip replacement surgery are typically instructed by their physicians to make sure their knees are not higher than hips when sitting. Hope this helps.

danandkat
P.S. I am 5' 7.5" which we can round up to 5'8"!!

beachnut · July 2002

Alright you guys! This split personality thing has gone too far! Just kidding, of course!

I know what you mean about the hip-knee relationship. It also tends to place a lot of extra stress on the back of the hamstrings. Sometimes I can hardly get out of the Accord car, hehe! The MPV's seat bottom has a nice, flat deck all the way to the edge. I think that helps.

once_for_all · July 2002

I didn't like the standard MPV front seat, it seemed to have too much side support which pushes the thighs into the center of the seat. I break the curve lol at 6'3 but my rear isn't especially large (cafe talk?).

Anyway, I opted for the lux package which has the power seat, slightly better since the back goes up and down offering better lumbar support for tall guys. (ok, I just had to have the 16" wheels)

I have only been in the seat for 2hrs at a time, but so far no complaints. Wife finds the seat very comfortable, so I guess Mazda made them for the 5'8" crowd lol.

javadoc · July 2002

Wow, I actually work a day and miss out on this great seating ,ahem, other discussion.

Happy Independence Day to y'all!!

joem8 · July 2002

Thanks for the inputs. I'm about 6'1" tall and weigh about 185. I will be driving 265 mi. tomorrow and will try to ensure my hips are higher than my knees. I have the power seat and will do some more playing with it. It does seem the sides of the seat are a somewhat extreme.
By the way, has anyone else noticed the steering wheel is offset just a bit to the right? When you sit squarely facing forward, you have to twist just a bit to grasp the wheel squarely. It also makes it a bit difficult to use the left(door) armrest. Also, the right side armrest is too low for me.
I know this is all pretty knitpicky compared to sulphur smells, etc. And we are still in the process of adjusting to our new van after driving the old for 7 years and 100K mi. And the MPV is really a sweet machine.

bill124 · July 2002

Does anyone know how long it should take for the "check engine" light to go out if it went on due to the gas cap not being properly closed? Dealer said that's what it was and that car was safe since light wasn't blinking (car does seem fine). This light went on around June 23 and hasn't gone off. We have driven several hundred miles since then and filled up a few times. I'm wondering whether the cap isn't properly registering as closed. Any ideas?

Also, how hard is it to adjust the headlamps. One lamp is aiming higher than the other.

subearu · July 2002

...the gas cap CE thing will clear after 3 engine on/off cycles or by the time you get to 1/4 tank remaining (at least in Subaru's, but should be true of all ODBII vehicles). Make sure to tighten the gas cap past 3 clicks. I usually click it 5 times or so.

You could reset the ECM to clear the codes yourself (or get one of those code reading handheld units for ~$150 or so). Not sure of the procedure in MPV's, but usually involves removing the negative battery cable for a short while.

-Brian

bob57 · July 2002

Bill124:
If you are still under warranty I would take it back to the dealer to adjust the headlight(s).
The last car I adjusted the headlights on blinded the birds and incoming aircraft......It's hard to eyeball without the proper equipment.

bill124 · July 2002

Reply to subearu. Thanks. So if I understand your reply, my light should have gone off on its own, which it hasn't. I have an appointment for an oil change this Thursday and will tell them it needs to be checked. This isn't the first time it's happened and each time they tell me that it's due to the cap. Anyone else having this problem?

Reply to Bob57. They are under warranty but the last time I had them adjust them, it didn't seem like they did anything, so I thought if it isn't difficult, I'd just do it myself.

subearu · July 2002

It should go off on it's own if it's from the gas cap anamoly. As long as it's not blinking, you're ok to drive along and get it checked when you can. All ODBII vehicles are more sensitive to gas caps not being just tight enough now, not just the MPV (or Subaru's for the matter). Perhaps your gas cap is faulty? Or maybe another component of the emissions system is the culprit? They should be able to read the code(s). If it's emission related, it should be covered under warranty, correct?

-Brian

bill124 · July 2002

Reply to Brian,

Thanks. On 2 prior occassions the dealer initially suggested that it wasn't covered because it was my fault but then agreed it would be covered. It probably will show up as not tightening the cap but this time I'm sure it was done correctly so it may be a defect with the cap or the system that triggers the light.

alexv1n · July 2002

There is another cause for the problem which is related to the gas cap being loose but is something else. There is a wire going to the purge valve solenoid that may break on 2000 MPVs because it is too short and when powertrain moves during acceleration it eventually breaks the wire and the light is turned on. Obviously the MIL will not go out by itself until the wire is replaced. Please refer to the following page for more details: http://www.mpvclub.com/index.php?action=showprb;PrbID=9

Have the dealer check this. I had the problem and MIL never went on after this had been fixed.

Hope this helps.

bean3422 · July 2002

Mazda makes very firm seats. My Protege was no exception, just like our 02 MPV, it has very firm seats. This is actually a very good thing for long term comfort, but only if you are used to it. I had been used to a GM vehicle with very soft seats, and it took about 4 months before I got completely used to my Protege seats. Once I got used to them, I could ride much longer than my GM car and not be stiff and sore. But there was a breaking in period for my body (and I am a youngster relatively speaking). I tried to get the age discussion started on the mpvclub board, but got nowhere. I am curious about the youngest/oldest MPV owners in this group. I am in the 25-30 year old bracket. Most people my age think I am nuts for already having 2 kids, much less owning a minivan. I am rather proud to be responsible and man enough to have been happily married for 6 years, with 2 kids and a minivan. Anybody heard the "country" song, "Goodbye 20s hello minivan". Pretty funny stuff...

Anyway, just wondering how many other young, minivan owners are out there. (No offense to anyone who chose to wait on their families...we all have different time tables, and it doesn't make us any more or less mature than the next person. Matter of fact, if you are not ready, it is more mature to wait!!)

By the way, the content of this mpv "problems" board still cracks me up. I keep feeling better and better about my purchase...the ***** crash test rating was icing on the cake.

beachnut · July 2002

I don't recall seeing your post over there about age, otherwise I'd have jumped in there. Why don't you post again under the OT forum? Sounds like a good topic to me 8-) For the record: um, is there a 30-39 bracket? I'm in there somewhere ...

danandkat · July 2002

Hi--I ended up taking our minivan back twice for headlight aiming the first couple of months we had it. In the end I found that it was helpful to be very specific about what the problem is (i.e. "the passenger side hl is aiming high and causing xyz problem....") instead of just asking that they re-aim the headlights. I suspect that being within specs may mean that you are in an acceptable range as opposed to being exactly at a specific point. Also, the way you use your van may affect headlight aim. Putting a lot of weight in the back, for example, will make the headlights aim higher. In any event, I'd recommend letting someone with the proper equipment handle it especially since it is still under warranty. Dan

alexv1n · July 2002

Were there any problems with posting at mpvclub? I'm just curious because I didn't see a post like that. Or are you talking about the older mailing list on Yahoo?

Anyway, long time back we did a poll about the age of MPV owners and here are the results (50 respondents in total):

20 or less: 0 0.00%
21-25: 2 4.00%
26-30: 2 4.00%
31-35: 15 30.00%
36-40: 16 32.00%
41-45: 8 16.00%
46-50: 1 2.00%
51-55: 2 4.00%
56-60: 2 4.00%
61+: 2 4.00%

I hope it helps

bean3422 · July 2002

Sorry Alex, yes it was the old Yahoo list. I have not had time to get involved with the new site, except that it looks really good. Is there an emailing feature yet? I am very busy, so it is easier to check a quick email than hit a website.

Thanks for the data...well looks like there are a couple of younger tykes than me. Pretty cool...a lot of 30-40 year olds. Makes sense...

Well, catch you all later.

bill124 · July 2002

Thanks for the reply. I previously had a real problem with the check engine light where there was a loose wire that caused the light to blink and the transmission to sort of shut down but that was fixed around 16 months ago and hasn't happened again. Does the problem you identified result in problems in addition to the light going on?

alexv1n · July 2002

No, it is just the Check Engine light that is on. There is no threat of damage or anything (of course, if your problem is what I'm talking about). Anyway, never hurts to check.

When I had the problem, the MIL went on on a highway and stayed on. I remember the manual saying that the light could be also caused by the blown ROOM fuse, so I pulled it out and it was OK. I reinstalled the fuse and the MIL didn't come back. But after twenty minutes of driving it was back on. I went to a dealership the same day and they replaced the wire in 20 minutes. No problem ever since.

joem8 · July 2002

Ref: My seat problem. I appreciate all the inputs. We drove about 600 mi. last weekend and after adjusting my power seat, I was much more comfortable. My wife, in the passenger seat, is still experiencing discomfort.

We are in our 60's. We have 6 kids in 6 different states and 6 grandkids. One of the main reasons we chose the MPV was the nifty 3rd seat. The flexibility it provides is great.

dave234 · July 2002

(Already posted this on the MPV club site, but would like some feedback from all of you here, also)

Well, I picked up my MPV today with a dealer installed DVD player. I was told an Audiovox unit was to be installed. When I got there, the overhead monitor is made by Myron & Davis (apparently a fairly good name; I looked them up on some websites).

Now for the good part. The player (installed under the DRIVER'S seat!) has NO brand name, not even in the owner's manual or on the back of the unit. The only thing I can figure out is that it is made in Korea. (That really narrows things down.)

There is a small button installed near the fuse box (on the MPV), which when switched allows the sound to come through the speakers when the radio is tuned to 88.5 FM, but they did not provide any wireless headphones and told me that to get them would cost an extra $100. Needless to say, I made a scene and got them to give me the headphones for nothing and will pick them up tomorrow. At that time, I am going to make an issue of the fact that the player has no identifiable brand name. I wonder if it's hot!

It does work, however.

tboner1965 · July 2002

88.5

I wonder if a standard AM/FM headset radio, tuned to 88.5 would work as a much cheaper set of wireless headphones?

Might be something worth checking out. If children are involved with the headphones, I don't give them a long life

TB

big_guy · July 2002

Is the DVD player you had installed a dealer installed accessory? Is that how Mazda does all of the DVD players when you order the DVD entertainment system for the MPV?

I was hoping that the unit would be a manufacturer installed item and be an in-dash DVD player with the corresponding accessories to pump it through the stereo system wireless head set.

dave234 · July 2002

Big Guy,

As I said in my post, the DVD player was dealer installed. Even though Mazda's website, Edmund's and other sites lead you to believe that the MPV can be delivered with a factory installed DVD system, at this point no dealer in my area (central NJ) could find one.

I am not sure if an indash system is available that would fit the MPV's space. Believe it or not, having it under the driver's seat is not that bad. It is certainly better than having it installed under the third row seat, which I was told was originally going to be done.

Went back to the dealer today and lo and behold, he gave me 4 pairs of wireless headphones which actually worked independently of the FM radio. Free of charge, after I complained.

owr084 · July 2002

If you are trying to identify the DVD player, try looking for an FCC ID# somewhere on the box. You can look up the number at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/

RBB

slikrik · July 2002

hi all,
i was driving at 75mph on the mountainous road of montana going uphill when i noticed that my speedometer was going down to 50mph, so, i stepped on the gas pedal to speed up but it stayed up to 50mph only. after like a minute of driving at 50mph, the van drove normally. this happenned a lot of times but only when going uphill. Is there something wrong with my tranny or that is just the way mpv drives? any comments?

billmckinley · July 2002

How steep were those mountains? I can't believe this is normal for the MPV. I take mine up some pretty long, steep mountains in the Alleghenies and Blue Ridge Range and it doesn't even breathe hard at 75. I mean, short of climbing the north face of the Matterhorn, that van should take any hill you can throw at it. I'd have that checked. It doesn't sound right to me.

RJ

bill124 · July 2002

I had an experience akin to this with my 2000 MPV on a long trip about a 16 months ago. When it happened, the check engine light came on very briefly (not a minute like you experienced) and then when acceleration resumed the light went out. The first time it happened, I wasn't even sure the check engine light went on but it happened again and I saw for sure it did. They checked the codes and determined I had some loose wire.

pd10 · July 2002

Been awhile since I visited/posted to the Town Hall...sure is good to see so many of the 'old-timers' still around and still lovin' their MPVs!!
(Hi!..SilverDriver, Javadoc, msg, bill124 & Tboner!)
Bought my '00MPV LX in 10/99...34k mi now....and still as happy as day one!! It's been a pretty uneventful (almost) 3 yrs.of ownership in the PROBLEM dept.,I'm proud to say! For the sake of potential MPV buyers here's my list:
~ brake glazing...dealer fixed @ no charge
~ "floppy" rear wiper blade...quick fix w/ a wrench
~ "strangling" passenger seatbelt...dealer replaced @ no charge
~ front left lean...NEVER has caused any problems w/ pulling or handling tho.
All the other "problems" are self-inflicted: dings/dents/scratches/carpet stains....arghhh!!!
LOVE my '00 but ready to update to the '02..want that power seat! moonroof (which I shoulda' got the first time) and a new color!
Soooo...any of you guys got any suggestions for covering up the bumper scratches...wanna' make this baby look better for the trade-in ritual!!!
(Ugh!) Thanx, Trish

joeyi_sys · July 2002

For anyone inquiring about the DVD...
While both Mazda's website, Carsdirect.com and other internet sources tell you that it is a Mazda option, I have yet to find a dealer that says you can order it from Mazda that way. Most dealers say that it is not even available. I found a dealer in New Jersey that offered the DVD and I had it added to my deal upon delivery. They said that it would be sent out to a custom audio place but couldn't give me details on the type of unit. They did show me a spec sheet that showed the very same spec's as the one found on carsdirect.com. The dealer also gave me the option to install it under the passenger side seat and said that it would look nicer. They wouldn't tell me where it would be installed or what brand, spec's...I just trusted that it would be done correctly. Well, I just picked the car up yesterday...here's the scoop:
It's the Audiovox MVP301V - Complete Audiovox Mobile package. (On the web $850.00)
It includes the following:
Audiovox VOH681A - 6.8" flipdown screen
Audiovox 1181300 - Trim ring (grey to match my interior)
2 Audiovox MVIRHS - IR Wireless headsets
Audiovox MVDVD4 - DVD, MP3, CD Player
Audiovox FMM100 - FM Modulator
Remote Control

Note: Installation of the DVD Player under the passenger side seat obviously replaces the tray. It also protrudes slightly forward so remember to tell your passengers that you've got some stuff under there...

I personally like the placement of the DVD under the passenger seat...my wife sits in the 2nd row with my 3month old so the passenger seat is moved forward a bit for legroom in the 2nd row.

So after about 30 min of tinkering with the whole setup...I like it. The "mini-console" that the screen sits in is matched to my interior and you can't see it when the screen is closed from the rear view mirror. It has a set of lights (on/off/door) so now the 2nd row is illuminated. There's an additional set of RCA input jacks in the passenger column right near the power passenger door switch. In addition, there's an additional 12V jack for connecting the PS2, XBOX or whatever. The Remote Control operates only the DVD (you have to manually turn the screen on) and there are IR sensors everywhere (in the front and rear of the screen and in the dash). The IR Headsets are pretty cool, they power off when not used. There is a switch underneath the steering column that activates the FM Modulator. When on, tuning to 89.1 FM will output audio from the screen. (Note, the screen must be powered on if using the FM Modulator so MP3 CD's and regular CD's require the screen to be powered on...odd, but that's the way the Audiovox system works...but the MP3 titles come up on the screen and you can use the remote to scroll through them)

All in all, I am happy with the DVD system.

Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Mazda MPV: Problems &amp; Solutions

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Mazda MPV: Problems & Solutions