I can't figure what the hell is going on here, so I wanna get some input from you guys. I'm having a slight issue with my idle and I can't quite put my finger on what it's being caused by, cuz it only happens every once in a while.

Usually I'll be driving for about 5 mins or so then come to a stop. When I'm at a complete stop and waiting for a couple seconds it kinda skips a beat and "coughs" or buckles for a second. Then it runs ok. Then another 5-10 seconds later does it again .. but just one little cough .. that's all. I start accelerating and it gives me another same little cough at 1500 RPM and then it's fine from that point.

It doesn't happen at every single stop, but about 70% of the time I get it. It also seems to be correlated with me doing the Sea Foam treatment as that is when it started happening. I thought it was the Sea Foam that was left in the fuel tank that was causing it so I drove all week hoping it would go away when I fueled up again, but nothing different happened. I changed the plugs, replaced the PCV valve and it's still happening.

Any ideas?

 

Check your plugs - you may have gunked one up when you seafoamed. Or you have a coil going bad...

 

I replaced the plugs. Nothin. I'll go replace my coils too, cuz I just happen to have a spare set lying around

 

I had that, tried everything, plugs included.

It was the EGR valve, craps out on our Proteges randomly.

Mazda has made an 'updated' one, so if it needs to be replaced, get the better one.

 

Yea I had to clean it once before but this doesn't seem to be the same kind of problem as last time. I'll check that last cuz it's a serious pain in the *** to take out.

 

My EGR valve got so bad after multiple cleaning efforts that the car would sputter when trying to start, and often wouldn't be able to. Real pita for remote car starter, haha.

 

Well I just swapped plugs, wires, coils, and PCV valve. No change .. still doing the same ol' ****. Air filter is also clean as a whistle so it shouldn't be an airflow problem. There's no CEL either so that makes it 10x more difficult to pinpoint.

I guess the EGR is next .. I'll be back in an hour or two.

 

Have fun

Do you have the old EGR, or the revised one in your car? If you have the old one, call Mazda, they may replace it because it's a known trouble spot.

They wont call it a recall, but they replace it for free as a 'customer courtesy'.

I think they avoided putting it out as a recall, because alot of people had no problems.

 

I have the old one, but I really doubt my local Mazda dealer would do jack squat about it. Even if they were gonna I'd have to wait a week for it to come in cuz the guys running the parts are complete idiots. They have NEVER ordered me the correct part before .. EVERy single time I've had to wait an extra week cuz they get something random.

Anyway, the EGR is freakin disgusting!! I guess all that stuff that the Sea Foam cleaned up ended up getting stuck in the EGR valve. I'd take a pic but I just wanna get this over with so I have it sitting in a buncha carbon cleaner. Hopefully once I reinstall it after cleaning it will make the damn sputtering go away.

 

don't rule out some water may be in with the gas

 

you should do some how-to's w/ pix

 

There is one kicking around somewhere... I remember reading it before.

Also, I'd like to note that I HATE the person who designed the EGR. It's such a pain in the *** to take out, and it's such a clog magnet and choke spot for our cars.

 

hmm.. i need to find it then...

 

It was the EGR after all. It was pretty evident once I even pulled it out and just saw how nasty it was, but it was just confirmed after I reinstalled it. Car runs like a champ again

 

I normally would, but I just wanted to get this done and over with today. Maybe next time .. I'll probably have to do it next spring anyway.