Mazda :: 2004 - Idle Bounce While Coasting After Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

I've got a 2004 Mazda 6 with the 3.0L V6 & a 5-speed, with about 128k miles.

The car runs fine, but was leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold and so I recently had the valve cover gaskets replaced. the mechanic could not get replacement gaskets from Mazda, and so changed the valve covers themselves also, and consequently needed to replace a couple of hoses that connect to the valve covers.

Since the repair, the car drives fine - acceleration seems normal, I don't notice any performance issues. The CEL is NOT lit.

1) When the car is in neutral, but rolling, the idle consistently bounces back and forth precisely between 1250 & 1500 rpm. This occurs always, and happens whether the gearshift is in neutral or the clutch is depressed. With the radio off I can hear the engine surging when this is going on. As soon as the car comes to a complete stop, the idle immediately drops to the a rock-steady position just below 1000 rpm, as it always has.

2) I assume related to the above, but since the repair my gas mileage has dropped from its usual 18-19mpg to 15.7-15.9mpg as recorded at two fill-ups, and my current tankful is looking to return equally low mileage.

I brought the car back to the shop and the mechanic took the car out for a drive with me, with his computer hooked up while we drove. He found nothing wrong, nothing out of whack, and saw no evidence of any air leaks.

1) Seems strange to me that the valve cover gasket couldn't be obtained, and new valve covers were needed. I want to believe the garage is being straight with me. Is this really plausible?

2) What could cause the idle to behave this way? I understand what a valve cover does (in my earlier years I changed the cylinder head on my old Saturn) and can't figure out how or why changing the valve covers would have an effect like this.

That leads me to conclude this is more likely caused by the new, slightly different hoses attached to the valve cover, but I don't know exactly what those hoses do or why they connect to the valve covers, so I'm stuck here.

View 9 Replies

Mazda - Mazda6 :: CEL Is On - Codes State That Catalytic Converter And O2 Sensor Not Ready

I just failed inspection because check engine light is on. The codes state that catalytic converter and O2 sensor are "not ready". I understand it has to do with the computer but not much else. Someone on Mazda 6 message board provided a complicated sequence of driving instructions including maintaining various speeds and RPMs for specific lengths of time which they said would reset the computer. My mechanic is at a loss. This car is a lemon and I would just like to get the inspection done so I can trade it in and get something that doesn't keep breaking.

View 6 Replies

Mazda - Mazda3 :: Hard Starting After Filling Up / Error Codes P0177 And P0446

I have a 07 Mazda3 with 120k miles. I had a staring problem first time in gas station like 2 weeks ago and since then only anytime that I go to gas station. After car leave the gas station every thing is normal. Since then the check light popped on too. I have diagnosed it, it gave me two errors P0177 and P0446. I have check the gas cap, it is sturdy. Even I replaced the cap and have reset the check light. But it came back on still same errors.

As I've mentioned there is an old discussion in in your website, but it's closed. For refresh you can check it here if needed [URL] ....

View 2 Replies

Ford 6.0L Power Stroke Diesel :: 2004 - CEL On With No Codes - Erratic Readings - EGR Valve Stuck?

I have late 2004 with 130k with a bpd egr cooler and new oil cooler and new ficm from Ed. Cat delete with no muffler. Everything else is stock I have a dash boss and was noticing some weird numbers. My check engine light came on but I couldn't get any codes with the dashboss. I started monitoring the egr error and saw some erratic readings really high negative numbers after I let the throttle off. The truck runs okay but was kinda starting slow. Could my egr valve be stuck? Could my short modified exhaust be messing things up?

View 7 Replies

Ford Ranger / B-Series :: Poor Idle - Codes P0171 And P0301 - PCV Valve Elbow?

2001 Ranger 4-cylinder 2.5L engine, 180K miles. I have been getting PO301 for months now, on and off so it's probably not related to this one.

It started idling awfully a week ago but does not die. Some vacuum problem. I heard the PCV valve elbow is the likely problem but where it is located? A pic or a diagram would be really useful, I did a search but keep getting 4L engine and other makes/years.

It's currently throwing P0171 code. A code P0171 may mean that one or more of the following has happened:

The MAF (Mass Air Flow) Sensor is dirty or faulty

Note: The use of "oiled" air filters may cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. There is also an issue with some vehicles where the MAF sensors leak the silicone potting material used to protect the circuitry.

There could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor
Possible cracked vacuum or PCV line/connection
Faulty or stuck open PCV valve
Failed or faulty oxygen sensor (bank 1, sensor 1)
Sticking/plugged or failed fuel injector
Low fuel pressure (possible plugged/dirty fuel filter!)
Exhaust leak between engine and first oxygen sensor

View 5 Replies

Ford 7.3L Power Stroke (1999-2003) :: Codes For Exhaust Pressure Circuit Valve / Intake Air Heater Control Circuit

I have an emissions test coming up. I have 3 P codes that I'd like to eliminate before then. I don't want to "fix" the issues they are telling me about. Just make the codes go away. I know why they're there I just need to get rid of them.

What I have coming up is:

P0475 Exhaust Pressure Circuit Valve (result of EBPV delete)
P0541 Intake air heater A circuit low (result of aih delete)
P0640 Intake air heater control circuit (also result of aih delete)

What resistors I'll need and where to put them in?

View 12 Replies

Passat (B5) :: Axles Have The Wrong Hub End

So I've visited the dilemma of trying to replace my axles 4 times now... going on a 5th... apparently, my car is one of a kind, its a 2000 5 speed 1.8t fwd... so my issue... the axles for the 2000 5 speed 1.8t are not right, no where near close! The v6 manual axles have the wrong hub end, but the correct tranny side..... the 1.8t automatic axles... are about 4 inches too short but everything else is right..

View 13 Replies

Passat (B6) :: Inserted Wrong Key Won't Come Out?

Dont ask how but i put in a wrong passat b6 key. And now it wont come out. How do i take it out??

View 9 Replies

Golf/GTI VII :: Headlights Aimed Wrong?

So Ive had my GTi with LP for a week now, and every nite on my way into work the guy in front of me or the middle lane (if I'm in the left) Gets behind me and throws on his high-beams....as if I have my high beams on and they are trying to get even....It sometimes happens 3-4 times on a 30 mile trip. I know they are dynamic and adjust themselves left/right/up/down but I was wondering if they were possibly aimed wrong from the factory?

View 24 Replies

Prius (Gen 2) :: 2005 - Wrong Type Oil In Engine?

i have been using 5 w30 in my 2005 Prius with 155 k. Made a mistake of picking up 5 w20 this last time. I have 4k on current engine oil in car. Both are full synthetic ..I change I change my oil every 8 k and the oil filter, at the halfway point 4k . Plan to go back to 5 w30. Would it be advisable to switch back to the 5 w30 now, or run car another 4 k, when oil change is due.

View 19 Replies

Golf IV R32 :: Cable Shifter Adjustment Gone Wrong?

Ok so I was putting a drill bit into the home slot under the shifter boot. I didn't realize it was so deep and the piece dropped all the way down the hole. Is this bad? If so, what can I do to get in there and get it?

View 5 Replies

Prius (2004-09) :: Compressor Went Out Because Of Putting In The Wrong Oil

I have a 2008 Prius. In 2009, I got into a collision, and the car required extensive body work. This week, I took my car to the mechanic to repair the air conditioning system - only warm air was blowing out. According to my mechanic, the compressor went out because the auto body shop put in the wrong oil in the air conditioning system and re-installed the fans backwards. I got my car back today, and the air conditioning works really great!

However, my family spoke to their mechanic (different person from my mechanic), and he indicated that used compressors are dangerous due to the high likelihood that contaminants will be leaked. This sounds completely ludicrous to me. My mechanic said that the other mechanic's concerns are unfounded.

View 12 Replies

Nissan - Versa :: Accidentally Put Wrong Gas In Tank

By accident i put E85 in my nissan versa. according to manual book my engine is not fitted for this kind of fuel- can i still drive to my mechanic and get the tank drained or do i need to tow the car or can i use up the gas.

View 19 Replies

Passat (B5) :: Transmission Slipping - Oil Change Gone Wrong

Alright so yesterday I changed the oil for the first time in my 1.8t B5 Passat and when I went to drive it the transmission slips a little. When I was changing the oil filter, I did drop it and oil spilled bellow. I am really confused why the Trans would have a problem. There is plenty of Trans fluid, and It had no problems what so ever before.

View 20 Replies

Touareg :: Wrong Key Into Ignition - Tumbler Is Toasted

Gal Pal of mine put the wrong key into the ignition. I was in the middle of no-where when this happened. $600 tow and it's in Gunnison, CO. The "tumbler" is toast. I cant even get the key in the ignition.

I'm sure I will need to buy a new ignition, My question is... does VW offer a new ignition with a programed key, and if they do, is this something I can install myself.

I'm looking at $1000 to have it towed, and I cant be without my "egg".

View 1 Replies

Prius Plug-in 2012-15 :: Gas Gauge Is Wrong

Display says i have only used 5 gal of gas, but i only have two blips left on my gas gauge. Something has to be wrong.

Wonder if something is wrong with my tank.

View 10 Replies

Ford :: 2006 - Safe To Use Wrong Oil One Time?

I was changing my oil in my 2006 ford freestar 4.2 litre v6 and I had it drained and the drain bolt back in with the new filter and I relied I bought the wrong oil my van calls for 5w20 and I bought 5w30 but I had no water to get to the store to buy the correct oil so I was forced to use the 5w30 will this hurt the engine or can I just use it till my next oil change....

View 19 Replies

5 Series :: Exterior Thermometer Giving Wrong Temperature

My digital exterior temp reads -40 degrees in May when it's toasty warm outside.

View 4 Replies

Camry :: Battery Hooked Up Wrong / Change120-amp Fuse

I did my biggest screw up today I went to hook up a new battery and didn't notice the terminals were opposite of the old one. I hooked up one and as soon as I touched the other terminal it sparked and the horn honked. I straightened it out but now the car won't start. I checked all the fuses and found one blown. Changed it still no good. What should I check now To all who come to this thread needing the fuse how to, it is on page 2. It is also on a gen 6 Camry 2009 le.

View 14 Replies