Posts: 32,462
Threads: 3,127
Joined: Apr 2025
Reputation:
0
I'm more familiar with them than I'd prefer. My regular car forums have thus far failed me. Hope me MRF-Kenobi, you're my only hope.
By "familiar," I mean, what would cause them to go bad repeatedly?
It's a 2004 Mazda MPV, and "bad coils" are a known-issue with second-gen MPVs, and according to my auto parts store counterman, many other Duratec V6s.
It had been misfiring very noticeably, if somewhat intermittently. Couldn't pin it down anything weather related. I replaced all 6 at 80K miles. Didn't get a CEL but 6 new coils and plugs got it running perfectly for another 20K miles.
And then I got the exact same symptoms again, but with a CEL this time: misfiring at #1. The back bank (cylinders 1-2-3) I replaced again, again with new plugs.
That got it running perfectly for 1 glorious week. Now I have a CEL for two of the three in back, #1 and #3. I want to set the vehicle aflame and call it a day.
Rather than go get another 3 free coils for back there again (lifetime warranty at O'Reilly) I have swapped 1,3 with 4,6 to verify that the problem moves to 4,6 upfront. But I want to find a cheap scan tool now so that I can verify that at home myself.
Posts: 1,246
Threads: 67
Joined: Jan 2018
Reputation:
0
I can't help much, deck, but I have read a lot about the coil over plug on F150 trucks. Is the Mazda the coil over plug? Did you try a youtube search for those things? I learned a lot on youtube about my truck.
Posts: 32,462
Threads: 3,127
Joined: Apr 2025
Reputation:
0
It has 6 coils, yes, coil over plug, i.e. distributor less ignition. Didn't find anything on YouTube about it.
Posts: 1,246
Threads: 67
Joined: Jan 2018
Reputation:
0
If your car forums for your car has not helped yet, I don't know. I really depend on my car/truck forum for guys there to help out, and they are great about it. It might be a shot in the dark, but there is a car section on my very favorite forum, http://www.mytractorforum.com/
Right, it's a forum about tractors mostly, but other sections too and like it says, it really is the friendliest forum (well, this one is great too!) there is. Check it out, scroll way down to the car section, sign up so you can ask your question, and maybe someone there can help. Or, I will ask your question for you if you want me to and let you know what I find out.
Posts: 32,462
Threads: 3,127
Joined: Apr 2025
Reputation:
0
Be my guest! I was a member there last year for a lawn mower question but canceled it when I didn't see a continuing reason to stick around.
Posts: 738
Threads: 13
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
deckeda wrote:
I want to set the vehicle aflame and call it a day.
Probably the best course of action with any American automotive technology over 100K miles. :fawkdance:
Posts: 13,051
Threads: 906
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
I replaced all 6 on my MPV at about 75k as they all started going out one by one. That was ~55k miles ago, they are still going strong.
A quick google search
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=mazda+mpv+coils+problems&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
shows coils are a pretty common problem, but not usually recurring. Check your vacuum hoses, I had a leaky one (Texas Heat) and duck-taped it until I had time to replace it. I love my MPV, largest car I've ever enjoyed driving.
I just drove my Father's Ford 500 (same engine) 1200 miles and even though it handles GREAT (lower, wider), the MPV just felt livelier even though its about 90 lbs heavier. But if you know a "Ford Mechanic" have him take a look at it.
http://autos.msn.com/research/compare/engines.aspx?c=0&i=0&ph1=t0&ph2=t0&tb=0&dt=0&cp-documentid=0&v=t102714&v=t100770
Posts: 32,462
Threads: 3,127
Joined: Apr 2025
Reputation:
0
Regarding the most common vacuum issue. My PCV hose went bad, as they all do in these. I made my own replacement after reading about it at mpvclub.com (great How To for the coils there as well ...) but that failed as well, and so eventually bought the latest design (!) from the dealer once the price went below $40.
Another crappy design that still doesn't fit well and made more complicated than necessary. They went through what, 3 PCV hose designs? And it's still weird. Noticed it also pulls a lot more oil into the intake than I recall PCV valves allow doing in other cars. But again, the PCV valve is another thing I've replaced recently.
I'm like you; the thing is great when it runs right, and handles much better than a van has any right to do. Makes you wonder "what would have been" had they brought the next-gen here in 2007.
Posts: 10,409
Threads: 1,069
Joined: May 2025
When did cylinders start having individual coils? My wife's '07 Subie developed a misfiring problem, and time was tight, so I had the local shop deal with it. They diagnosed a bad coil, and ended up replacing the coil unit (containing all four, claiming that their experience was that when one went, the others were likely to follow) and the plugs, for about $500. Good grief! I've had plenty of cars with just a plain ol' coil and a distributor, and if the coil started to go you usually go plenty of warning, and you could just check the color of the spark.
/Mr Lynn
Posts: 4,666
Threads: 130
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
Are your replacement coils genuine Ford replacements, or a third party? My 2002 Ford Escape with a 3.0L Duratec V6 has 167K miles on it and I've only replaced two coils - one at 100K and another at 160K.
|
