Author Topic: Mazda Protege 5 stalling...please help (Read 5388 times)

flex72 · « **on:** October 22, 2004, 06:05:46 pm »

I have a 2003 Protege 5 automatic with about 7000 kms and it keeps stalling. So far, it stalled about 5 times. First few times, I was stopped in traffic at a red light, I rolled into the intersection before turning left, it stalled. Another time I was stuck in traffic and it stalled right when I was about to accelerate. Recently, it stalled again at a red light but this time I was going straight and the engine started to vibrate. Everytime it stalls, I shift to N or P and I can start it again. There are no warning lights on the dash, but I noticed that this happens when the fuel tank is approaching half. The dealer ran the diagnostic on it three times now but it constantly shows no codes. I don't feel safe in this car anymore. What else should I do?

Brigitte · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2004, 06:14:26 pm »

Welcome to the forum, Flex!

I'm sure one of the experts will be along shortly to offer suggestions.

Brigitte

davidm · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2004, 07:05:06 pm »

I had one with no issues so I'm just going to spitball here:

It never happens when the tank is full, but always happens once it's lower than a certain point? If so, I suspect the fuel pump/filter or something to do with where the fuel line runs out of the tank (ie not enough fuel pressure, or something like that so the engine runs lean to the point of stalling).

At 7000 km everything is under warrenty so I would try to narrow down exactly the situations where it does and doesn't happen then push it onto the dealer. If you are getting no traction with the current dealer, try another Mazda dealer. If you are in Vancouver I can make some recommendations as I know a few of the dealers quite well (as you can see from below I've had a few Mazdas).

Thoughts from anyone else who actually is mechanically inclined?

flex72 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2004, 08:49:44 pm »

Thanks Brigitte.

Davidm: Thanks but I'm in Toronto and it's currently at the dealer. I had them check everything today again and I got a call from them this evening saying that the diagnostics didn't show any codes - yet again. This is a leased vehicle and with this situation, its getting very frustrating.

Roadrunner · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2004, 09:11:06 pm »

The dealer is too stupid to take the vehicle out for a road test to find the problem? Wait, I already know the answer.
Their attitude seems to be, if no codes show there's nothing wrong with it.

flex72 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2004, 09:18:42 pm »

I have to agree with you Roadrunner. The other problem is that this isn't something that happens daily. It happens out of the blue. Prior to this last incident, it happened about a month or two before.

barrie1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2004, 10:42:22 pm »

The problem sounds like a bug bear that even the dealer can't make happen. Its a glitch that they can't recreate to find the root cause. I agree try another dealer when this occurs again as there is something they are missing. I almost suspect a Overheating issue as you were in heavy driving when it happened last. How long were you in the que before your turn?

Roadrunner · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2004, 11:19:34 pm »

Flex, is there a chance you filled up not too long ago and the fuel perhaps had water in it? Just MAYBE the fuel pump is picking up water as the fuel is low enough at 1/2 tank to allow it to slosh around.

suds · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2004, 11:20:20 pm »

hi. its more likely the 02 sensor is bad .ive had the same problem with a 98 subaru forester.
same stall with left hand turns. same problem with dealer not finding it because there was no code. ask them to replace the 02 sensor.

Roadrunner · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2004, 11:30:16 pm »

OY! Those babies are expensive . O2 senors can be tested while in the exhaust. You don't want to start rebuilding the vehicle without testing to make sure the part NEEDS replacing.
The engine and exhaust must be at full operating temp to get a correct reading on the O2 sensor.

Suds, you may be right but I think it's wise to test first.

suds · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2004, 11:51:35 pm »

ya,roadrunner, but ive had the same situation with my forester. it sucked when i turned left and it stalled. the mazda hopefully is still under warrenty

.so asking them to find and fix the problem wont be an problem right
?.

Roadrunner · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2004, 12:05:36 am »

Uh-huh. Not if the dealer gets off his ass and does a little more than do a diagnostic, 3 times and found no codes. They don't DO anything else.
Go figure.
It's pretty sad when the customer has to take his vehicle to a dealer (UNDER WARRANTY) to have a repair done and has to tell the goof behind the counter WHAT the mechanic has to do to fix the problem.
There MAY be some good dealerships out there but I haven't heard of any lately.

suds · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2004, 12:28:23 am »

well mine was not under warrenty.and it cost me close or above 350 dollars

.which would have been alot less if i had an idea of what the problems of an 02 sensor had been.
sometimes they go bad fast.other times they take a very long time to die. like in my case, 2 years of no problems, and than a logging truck moving towards me when my forester went stallies out of my driveway

suds · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2004, 12:45:06 am »

the biggest brightside, is that now i know what happens when a 02 sensor goes bad or semi bad.
no light in dash
or it feels like u have realy realy bad gas.
stalling when u make left turn.
u feel like u have a banna up your tail pipe
chugg,chuggg,chuggggg,______stall

suds · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2004, 02:00:09 am »

flex72
take your car to your dealership.
ask them could a 02 senor be giving u these problems???.

flex72 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2004, 08:53:20 am »

Thanks everyone.

Roadrunner I filled up at Esso recently so that could be the problem. I'll try filling up at another station and see what happens.
Suds I'll do that today as well when I go back to the dealer and see what happens.

inco · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2004, 09:59:34 am »

The next time it does it, document everything. Time, place, temperatures etc. and even the gas you were using.

Then go to the dealer and ask them for another car to use while they try to duplicate conditions and keep the car until it's fixed.

If they are not prepared to budge it's time to bring in the second team - newspapers, radio, tv and start exploring CAMVAP or whatever it's called to have the car declared a lemon and have it replaced.

multipath · « **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2004, 01:00:17 pm »

I still think trying another dealership first is the better route to go.

johngenx · « **Reply #18 on:** October 25, 2004, 09:09:03 pm »

I still think trying another dealership first is the better route to go.

ABSOLUTELY. You need to find a better mechanic. Pronto.

As to it being an emissions control problem, like an O2 sensor, I doubt it. The P5 is an OBD-II compliant car, and a failing O2 sensor will trigger a CE light.

Based on your observation that it does not happen when the fuel tank is full, I would get busy on things like fuel pressure. I'm not sure about Mazda's diagnostic system, but fuel trim is an OBD-II generic requirement, and a rich or lean condition should also trigger a CE light. Now, the system has to exceed a certain threshold before the CE light is triggered, but codes are stored even if the CE light is not lit.

Fuel trim problems make for a stumbling, stalling car, just as you described. I would examine the fuel pump, filter, and possibly the pressure regulator. Could be a metering problem, meaning an Air Mass Meter (Mazda might use a flow sensor, but it's similar) or O2 sensor, but those are usually very sensitive and trigger CEL's fast. If it's a metering problem, it means that the FI system fails to match fuel input and air flow.

flex72 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2004, 12:19:22 pm »

Thanks for all the advice.

Given that there were no codes during the diagnostic test, the second level service support at Mazda Canada suggested that the mechanic change the ERG valve - which they did. So far it's ok, it's like new because the engine is not as noisy as it was before while its idling.

If it happens again though, I will definitely take it to another dealer as many of you suggested. It's still under warranty so I'm lucky.