My 2003 Mazda Tribute stalls in gear, no power, rough idle, not the plugs, oil fouled black, clean maf and idle air valve
Check engine light was on so I went down to AutoZone and have them run the computer. the codes said that the spark plugs were faulty so I replace the spark plugs then the engine gets worse than before so I took the spark plugs out and reinstalled the old ones now the oil is fouled and black, engine has no power, car is rough idling and stalling, and everytime its put in gear it stalls, idle vetween 500 to 1500 rpm and fluctuating, already cleaned the maf, insulated all electrical connections, cleaned plugs and plug wells and added dielectric greAse, cleaned idle air intake and throttle body,
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. I would start by scanning the vehicle for codes and checking to see if all of the sensors are reading correctly. If everything looks good then chances are it needs a new computer. I have seen the computers fail on these vehicles over and over again causing the ignition circuits to not work correctly which causes the vehicle to run just like this. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the vehicle is running like this] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-idle-is-rough-inspection
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Mazda Tribute engine stalling are the fuel system, the air intake system, or the ignition system. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
Failing Electrical Components: A problem or failure in the ignition system or various electronic components can cause a rough idle. If this is the case, the problem will usually get worse as RPMs increase. Common culprits include the ignition control module, plug wires, coils, and spark plugs.
Many system malfunctions can cause misfires or rough idling. Ignition system components, including spark plugs, plug wires, ignition coils and ignition timing are culprits as are lean air/fuel mixtures and mechanical issues within the engine.
The most common reasons a Mazda 3 has rough idle are a vacuum leak, an issue with the spark plugs, or a problem with the ignition coil.
Stalling. When your transmission doesn`t have enough fluid, you may experience it stalling at red lights or stop signs. Though it should start right back up, taking your car to an auto shop for repair is key as your transmission lines may be leaking and may need to be replaced.
There are three major causes for a stalled engine: A lack of fuel, a lack of air flow and improper ignition. Running out of fuel is one of the most common causes of engine stalling, but dirty fuel injectors or a plugged fuel filter can also be the culprit. Your engine needs air to run properly as well.
With respect to our problem of rough running, an EGR valve can be a cause if it becomes fouled with carbon. This causes it to stick open, causing a rough idle or engine stall. As explained earlier, in many cases, the computer may set codes that can lead you to the EGR valve as the problem.
Oxygen (O2) sensor
An oxygen sensor monitors and analyzes the amount of oxygen in a vehicle`s exhaust system after combustion. A dirty, damaged or malfunctioning O2 sensor (or sensors) affects the air/fuel mixture, causing the engine to idle rough.
One of the most common causes for a rough idle and poor acceleration is a dirty or bad throttle body.
Fuses – If the car dies while idling but restarts, there`s a possibility that there might be an issue with the fuses of the car. It`s conceivable that one of the fuses has blown. Take each fuse from the box and hold it up to the light.
The most common reasons a Mazda 3 engine stalling are the fuel system, the air intake system, or the ignition system.
Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.
Bad solenoid may be causing vehicle to stall.
When the idle air control valve fails, it inhibits the flow of air through the engine. When the car can`t receive air, it leads to engine stalling. The severity of this symptom can range from occasional stalling at first, to stalling immediately after ignition.
Bad Sensors
One common culprit for this problem is the crankshaft position sensor, which measures the position and speed of the crankshaft. The computer uses the information from this sensor to know when to fire the spark plugs. If the sensor isn`t working, the spark plugs won`t fire, keeping the engine from starting.
Shaking While Idle
Your car shaking while idling is another sign your car needs an oil change. Old or dirty oil thickens and does not allow the oil to do its job of lubricating the engine parts. This metal friction can create vibrating or shaking if bad enough during the ride.
If your vehicle keeps stalling while you`re driving, it could be a problem with your fuel pump, ignition coil, or mass airflow sensor. On the other hand, if it keeps stalling while you`re stopped, it could be a problem with your camshaft or crankshaft position sensors, air readings, fuel pump, or fuel filter.
For cars with an automatic transmission, shift into Park; for cars with a manual transmission, shift into Neutral. If you`re able to get underway again, get to a safe location off the road and call AAA, your roadside assistance provider, or a tow truck in case the engine stalls again.
If your vehicle keeps stalling while you`re driving, it could be a problem with your fuel pump, ignition coil, or mass airflow sensor. On the other hand, if it keeps stalling while you`re stopped, it could be a problem with your camshaft or crankshaft position sensors, air readings, fuel pump, or fuel filter.
For cars with an automatic transmission, shift into Park; for cars with a manual transmission, shift into Neutral. If you`re able to get underway again, get to a safe location off the road and call AAA, your roadside assistance provider, or a tow truck in case the engine stalls again.
Fuel injector nozzles can become clogged over time, which can lead to a sputtering engine, slow acceleration and the car not having enough power. Fuel injectors can be cleaned if the problem is caught early, but as the conditions worsens, the injectors may have to be replaced.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My 2003 Mazda Tribute stalls in gear, no power, rough idle, not the plugs, oil fouled black, clean maf and idle air valve
ANSWER : Hello. I would start by scanning the vehicle for codes and checking to see if all of the sensors are reading correctly. If everything looks good then chances are it needs a new computer. I have seen the computers fail on these vehicles over and over again causing the ignition circuits to not work correctly which causes the vehicle to run just like this. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the vehicle is running like this] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-idle-is-rough-inspection
High idling, jumping while idling, idle air control valve code
ANSWER : Hi there. This can be caused by the issues that you mentioned or a number of other things. You need to make sure all of the connectors are making good contact. I would then need to know what codes are in the computer to know if this is a circuit issue or not. Most of the time, it is not the circuit but instead a vacuum leak.
If there is a vacuum leak, then the vehicle will act like this and the computer cannot control the idle. Most of the time it is a bad hose or an EGR valve that is stuck open. That is the most common cause for this. I typically remove the EGR to check it to feel the diaphragm on the bottom of it to see if it is moving correctly. If you need to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose and repair your car’s idling issue.
Rough idle with DTC P0171, engine stalls unless MAF sensor is unplugged – 2007 Volvo S40 2.4i
ANSWER : Your mass air sensor has most likely gone bad and/or is not giving correct data to the computer. Replace the sensor, clear the codes, and retest this.
My manual gear box is starting to get a little bit "clunky" as i change gears, is there an additive i can add to the gear oil?
ANSWER : The first thing to do is to drain and check the oil to see if it has any broken chunks of metal or a lot of brass metal pieces that indicate the gears and synchronizers for the gears are bad. If no metal is found then replace oil with recommended oils for transmission. If metal is found then an internal transmission repair is needed.
lost all oil pressure, replaced the oil pump, low oil sensor, oil pressure sensor, oil pan gasket,
ANSWER : The fuel pump will not stay on if you loose oil pressure. This is why it is shutting off. The loss of oil pressure may be from bad crankshaft bearings or camshaft bearings. The engine oil pan should be removed and the oil pump needs to be checked to ensure that you put in the pick up tube seal to the pump and connected the pump to the block. Then remove at least one main bearing cap and inspect the bearings for excessive wear and crankshaft damage. If you need some help with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help diagnose the issue with your oil pressure firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.
Oil consumption. Burning oil. Oil light turns up on idle.
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in. The valve stem seals are the most common cause of this on your engine. When they fail, it requires that the cylinder heads be removed and rebuilt to fix it. The piston rings can also cause this but they are not as common. Unfortunately there is not anything, not even heavier oil that will fix this. You will need to have the heads rebuilt.
High Idle, stalls when a/c or defrost is turned on and dies completely after some rough idling. If turned back off car is fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. The fact you able to get the idle speed to drop by tapping the gas pedal, lead me to believe the high idle is due to a sticking accelerator cable. Another possibility could be, a faulty throttle body not allowing the throttle to return to the closed position. Proper diagnoses should be performed to avoid unnecessary repairs. I recommend having your vehicles high idle be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
Sometimes my car has a rough idle and even stalls – 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
ANSWER : Hello. From my experience with this engine, the issue is usually due to the fact that the throttle body plate is worn out in the bore, or, more commonly, it is caused by an issue with the intake manifold gasket leaking. I always scan for codes first and check the fuel trim readings which would tell me if this is an air leak issue. Then I check for leaks around the intake gasket. It can also be a failure in the MAF, but that is not as common.
If you want to have this low idle fixed, consider having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your home or office to diagnose why the car is idling rough.
