Breathless 3 MPS - What's the Problem?
Discussion
So, something I've noticed enough but not consistently to have me a bit worried (don't you just hate intermittent faults?)...
'09 3 MPS SAK, owned since new, 19,900mi now.
There is occasionally a hesitancy, or almost 'breathless' feel to acceleration, especially in fourth gear (though sometimes exiting roundabouts in third).
Latest was yesterday, going from a 30 to nsl, in fourth (close to work, so didn't want to drop a cog and appear all lairy in full view of site plod), foot to the floor, and the usual 2.3 pull, but where the turbo would usually kick in with it's physical shove in the back, just a stutter, little extra grunt - ain't turbo-lag, it was a definite change to it's usual behaviour/performance.
The other worrying times have been exiting r/abouts and having a breathless feel and struggling to keep pace with td saloons... That one got me so worried that one Sunday morning on a deserted industrial estate I was doing some acceleration runs to x-leptons just to prove to myself the car was still quick (very unscientific, but I was passing 60 on a six/six-and-a-bit count, which is to be expected)... Naughty I know, but better than the highway.
So, prognosis/diagnosis?
Ruling out a leak in the turbo as that would be permanent, not intermittant.
Sticking valve, either in the exhaust bypass (so not spinning the turbo), or pre fuel ignition?
Fuel starvation?
Sticky turbo propellor?
Still under warranty (5 more months), just want an idea of what to point the garage to look at maybe.
Lastly (apologies for the long post!), any MPS owners (3 or 6), how audible is your turbo-whine and wastegate?
Cheers folks.
ETA: cheers to whomever put the title on
- damn Windows Phone 7 tend to lose it as soon as you preview the post!
'09 3 MPS SAK, owned since new, 19,900mi now.
There is occasionally a hesitancy, or almost 'breathless' feel to acceleration, especially in fourth gear (though sometimes exiting roundabouts in third).
Latest was yesterday, going from a 30 to nsl, in fourth (close to work, so didn't want to drop a cog and appear all lairy in full view of site plod), foot to the floor, and the usual 2.3 pull, but where the turbo would usually kick in with it's physical shove in the back, just a stutter, little extra grunt - ain't turbo-lag, it was a definite change to it's usual behaviour/performance.
The other worrying times have been exiting r/abouts and having a breathless feel and struggling to keep pace with td saloons... That one got me so worried that one Sunday morning on a deserted industrial estate I was doing some acceleration runs to x-leptons just to prove to myself the car was still quick (very unscientific, but I was passing 60 on a six/six-and-a-bit count, which is to be expected)... Naughty I know, but better than the highway.
So, prognosis/diagnosis?
Ruling out a leak in the turbo as that would be permanent, not intermittant.
Sticking valve, either in the exhaust bypass (so not spinning the turbo), or pre fuel ignition?
Fuel starvation?
Sticky turbo propellor?
Still under warranty (5 more months), just want an idea of what to point the garage to look at maybe.
Lastly (apologies for the long post!), any MPS owners (3 or 6), how audible is your turbo-whine and wastegate?
Cheers folks.
ETA: cheers to whomever put the title on
- damn Windows Phone 7 tend to lose it as soon as you preview the post!Edited by mr2aw11 on Friday 16th December 10:23
markCSC said:
I know f'all about Mazda MPS's but my Subaru did the same thing. At high revs it was fine but the mid range seemed to be lacking and then developed a bit of hestitation. I replaced the Mass Air Flow sensor and the O2 sensor and all was fine again
Hope that is of soem use to you
Cheers Mark, should have thought of that - MAF sensor went on my old WRX ('95 JDM WRX wagon), completely forgot!Hope that is of soem use to you
Hi,
Certainly doesn't seem right, coming upto 64K in mine & not noticed a lag/flat spot in those circumstances. The one thing I've noticed about the MPS is the relative lack of turbo lag, it all seems very progresive.
Can't say the wastegate is audible or any other turbo type noises, tyres yes, hamsters under the seats & in dash yes.
There is a bit of a problem across the 3 & 6 MPS with the cold start / manifold intake runner code P2006. This tends to throw a warning light though
Certainly doesn't seem right, coming upto 64K in mine & not noticed a lag/flat spot in those circumstances. The one thing I've noticed about the MPS is the relative lack of turbo lag, it all seems very progresive.
Can't say the wastegate is audible or any other turbo type noises, tyres yes, hamsters under the seats & in dash yes.
There is a bit of a problem across the 3 & 6 MPS with the cold start / manifold intake runner code P2006. This tends to throw a warning light though
^^ cheers BR... Think there's definitely something awry somewhere. I'll try to replicate last night's stutter on the way home tonight, floor it from 30 in 4th as I pass the nsl signs, see what happens.
I'm just hoping it manifests itself as a repeatable, demonstrable fault - last thing I want is the dealer scratching their heads and it dragging on 'til the car's out of warranty, and me being left with something I can't trust to boost when I go for an overtake...
I'm just hoping it manifests itself as a repeatable, demonstrable fault - last thing I want is the dealer scratching their heads and it dragging on 'til the car's out of warranty, and me being left with something I can't trust to boost when I go for an overtake...
Hi again,
Your post got me thinking about things so I decided to see what mine does, bearing in mind its a bit older (07) & a MK1 Aero. I've had it from new and its just hit 64K mainly on MW & A roads. So I tried it out on the way home tonight.
It pulls easily in 4th from about 30mph & smoothly accelerates, theres a bit a push at around 2.5K rpm, I presume as the turbo hits. In 3rd it'll accelerates from about 15 to 25 mph easily. Personally often just block shift from 1 - 3 - 5. 5th is good from about 40, there should be no problems embarrasing TDs & most other cars including a lot more expensive ones.
I would pay attention to the post about hoses, looking at the firewall end of the engine it's like an octopus with a rubber fetish has taken up residence. Apart from the large air feed hoses there are a load of small 8mm hoses associated with the inlet manifold & lots of places to rub. The air filter also may be worth a look - for some reason mine sucks in all manner of crap & blocks solid after about 25K.
There is a manual available to download via the US Mazda forum - it needed bit of a search & is a huge pdf. Theres a lot about problem solving in that, it's very geared to the garage - well it is theirs.
Bottom line is yours doesn't sound right for an MPS, its shouldn't leave you wondering about its performance, it just goes. Was interesting you asking about the turbo, tried listening for it again - nil. Not sure you should hear it - a possible avenue?
Hope this is of help
Your post got me thinking about things so I decided to see what mine does, bearing in mind its a bit older (07) & a MK1 Aero. I've had it from new and its just hit 64K mainly on MW & A roads. So I tried it out on the way home tonight.
It pulls easily in 4th from about 30mph & smoothly accelerates, theres a bit a push at around 2.5K rpm, I presume as the turbo hits. In 3rd it'll accelerates from about 15 to 25 mph easily. Personally often just block shift from 1 - 3 - 5. 5th is good from about 40, there should be no problems embarrasing TDs & most other cars including a lot more expensive ones.
I would pay attention to the post about hoses, looking at the firewall end of the engine it's like an octopus with a rubber fetish has taken up residence. Apart from the large air feed hoses there are a load of small 8mm hoses associated with the inlet manifold & lots of places to rub. The air filter also may be worth a look - for some reason mine sucks in all manner of crap & blocks solid after about 25K.
There is a manual available to download via the US Mazda forum - it needed bit of a search & is a huge pdf. Theres a lot about problem solving in that, it's very geared to the garage - well it is theirs.
Bottom line is yours doesn't sound right for an MPS, its shouldn't leave you wondering about its performance, it just goes. Was interesting you asking about the turbo, tried listening for it again - nil. Not sure you should hear it - a possible avenue?
Hope this is of help
I had an intermittent problem with the limp mode cutting in at high revs in my Cupra R - certainly scary when you are at the top of 3rd gear, mid-overtake the engine suddenly goes flat as a pancake and the warning lights go off like a dashboard disco. My air filter was disintegrating and apparently destroyed the MAF, new air filter and new MAF seemed to solve it. I also had a new intake temperature sensor fitted at the same time too, as the one in there was looking a bit suspect.
It's not good at all when you lose your confidence in a car, afraid to use the power you pay so much for in insurance and fuel because you don't know when it's going to throw a fit and stop playing ball. While I had it sorted in the end, it did leave a sour taste in my mouth and definitely pushed me towards wanting an NA car. Perhaps it was for the best because I absolutely love the Civic Type R I have now!
It's not good at all when you lose your confidence in a car, afraid to use the power you pay so much for in insurance and fuel because you don't know when it's going to throw a fit and stop playing ball. While I had it sorted in the end, it did leave a sour taste in my mouth and definitely pushed me towards wanting an NA car. Perhaps it was for the best because I absolutely love the Civic Type R I have now!
Cheers for the responses folks.
Friday night's trip home, under the same conditions, car behaved and pulled as I expected.
Had a look and can't see any signs of loose or leaking hoses etc, but it's quite a busy engine bay and I'm no mechanic!
Had an opportunity this morning to take it out, not in a commute, and not with the missus and tyke onboard, cue our local 70 dual carriageway and a heavy right foot, spoiled by a plod Transit one way, and some numpty with appalling lane discipline going back... Round for another circuit and everything okay, no flat-spots, all the grunt I expected...
So... Non-the-wiser tbh!
Maybe some crappy fuel from the bottom of the tank, or something more sinister, intermittant fault.
Gonna monitor performance, visit the dealer in the New Year if I get a recurrance.
Friday night's trip home, under the same conditions, car behaved and pulled as I expected.
Had a look and can't see any signs of loose or leaking hoses etc, but it's quite a busy engine bay and I'm no mechanic!
Had an opportunity this morning to take it out, not in a commute, and not with the missus and tyke onboard, cue our local 70 dual carriageway and a heavy right foot, spoiled by a plod Transit one way, and some numpty with appalling lane discipline going back... Round for another circuit and everything okay, no flat-spots, all the grunt I expected...
So... Non-the-wiser tbh!
Maybe some crappy fuel from the bottom of the tank, or something more sinister, intermittant fault.
Gonna monitor performance, visit the dealer in the New Year if I get a recurrance.
Although I have never had a MPS, I would sugest cleaning the MAF. I also presume you can disconnect/reconnect the battery so the ECU recalibrates and learns the MAF ( will take a fair few miles). Have you been running on 99+ron Petrol or just 95 ron unleaded ? On some of the Mazdaspeed forums, the suggestion of high load in a high gear will make the car hesitate. The owners seem to think this is a fueling issue ( DETONANTION/KNOCK ). I would suggest either going to the dealer and checking for the latest ECU map update and that your car is running it, or perhaps invest in getting the fuel pump internals uprated....but before taking my advise, check out other owners forums
http://www.mpsowners.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=31&...
http://www.mpsowners.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=31&...
bigfish786 said:
Gun said:
I came in here to post about a similar problem with my 3 MPS, accelerating in 3rd or 4th and it'll stutter slightly, quite disconcerting when it happens! Think I'll get the Mazda dealer to give it a look over as it's still under warranty.
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