Car idling very low to point of turning off

[Syonix]

2003.5 MSP .. yadda yadda..

I'm thinking i need to replace my fuel filter as the car is idling itself so low it turns right off when my foot is not on the gas..

Is there any how to guides on here, or anything special with the msp vs the regular 2003 protege i should be aware of ..

[Metallic36]

Have you checked for any leaks, and have you cleaned your EGR valve?

[dandan2]

do our cars have replacable fuel filters?

[Syonix]

I have not cleaned the EGR. is there any how tos for that on here?
I did new coils, wiring and plugs recently and a new air filter..


Have you checked for any leaks, and have you cleaned your EGR valve?

[Metallic36]

Yeah, it's a little white sock thing.


do our cars have replacable fuel filters?

[Metallic36]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94788


I have not cleaned the EGR. is there any how tos for that on here?
I did new coils, wiring and plugs recently and a new air filter..

[dandan2]

Yeah, it's a little white sock thing.

so its intank coming off of the fuel pump! i wouldnt think that would be the problem at all!

[dmention7]

Yeah, that little sock thing should really never become clogged to the point of restriction. There is also a filter media integral to the fuel pump housing... you'd have to replace the entire housing to replace it.

I'd suggest a vacuum leak though. I would expect a fuel problem to show itself at higher load/rpm situations, whereas a vac leak will be the most noticable at idle.

[MS3_KIDD]

your fuel filter is not the problem, not by a long shot

[kudakev615]

^fo shizzie. i LOL at ppl that come into my shop with similar symptoms and request a fuel filter. rofflezz

[Syonix]

so its intank coming off of the fuel pump! i wouldnt think that would be the problem at all!

You guys are always such a help. Seriously. top notch.

So yeah, no separate filter per-say.. they sell the "bag" with the pump at autozone for over 130.. fyi.

I am at 93k miles ..

So after reading a bunch more im going to try the EGR cleaning guide.. It really really sounds like a buildup issue based on all the threads ive read. and hey thats a cheap place to start. :>

Thanks a million guys

[dmention7]

While you are inspecting the EGR valve, I would strongly recommend checking the tangle of vacuum lines coming off/around the intake manifold for cracked or disconnected lines, as well as your charge pipes. If you have the stock charge pipes, common trouble spots are where the BPV line tees off the hot pipe, and the little bracket that's attached to the cold pipe near the throttle body.

[bradboyd80]

Make sure you check for vacuum leaks while your at it. That could also be the culprit.

[dandan2]

and also run over all ur intake hoses and intercooler piping for cracks and leaks! if u have stock piping it is known to crack!

[mazdaspeedp]

i say the intercooler pipe too probabley not the egr but theres no harm in cleaning that too

[CHIQLES]

I also have low idle 400-450 then dies out and comes back. so I readjusted the idle control screw, thing shot up to 1200 reved it readjusted the screw dropped it to 900 drove it turned it off restarted car later on, its at 450 steady no dipping i sat outside looking at it for 5 minutes no dipping. im going to keep an eye on it but i bet there is stuck carbon on the screw. can the idle control valve be cleaned i see there prety pricey about 340.

[CHIQLES]

so driveing home this morning car ran fine but got home starting hearing something differnt cant discribe it, so started pulling vac lines all was good till I decided to disconect the mani line to see if the car would misfire it didnt checked some more and found a crack on the mani....you know sometimes i want to cry...

[mazdaspeedp]

lol this car makes you want to cry its the nature of the msp

[Spiced MSP]

I remember when my MSP was bone stock. I had a similar problem with the car idling and wanting to shut off. I could never find out what it was until one day I decided to drive a little hard. All I hear is what sounded like a BOV but my foot was still on the gas. Come to find out, the cold pipe had completely disconnected from the intercooler when I was in boost. The clamp that holds the pipe to the intercooler was a little loose and over time, it got more lose and the car would idle funny. After hearing that BOV sound, the car shut off. So, I am just repeating what everyone else said. Check all of your vacuum lines and intercooler pipes. If that is not it, try the EGR. You can also try cleaning your MAF sensor with some electrical contact cleaner or MAF cleaner. Hope everything works out for you.

[mazdaspeedp]

ya thats the same as what happend to mine as what spiced said i just tightend my clamp again today and it hasent idle'd wierd yet since

[Syonix]

I have not cleaned the EGR. is there any how tos for that on here?
I did new coils, wiring and plugs recently and a new air filter..



Ok i'm in the process of getting at the EGR. those two bolts on it are at a tough angle but once i get it out we shall .. thanks for the guides

[orng1]

I just sea foam the car every oil change and that seems to help. My car is now EGR less so it doesn't affect me but other MSP's notice a huge difference after some seafoam.

[StealthWyvern]

I just sea foam the car every oil change and that seems to help. My car is now EGR less so it doesn't affect me but other MSP's notice a huge difference after some seafoam.

full stand alone?

[orng1]

Not any more.

[jeanspeed]

change your saprk plugs(it cheap). do you have a bov. mine turns off here a there, but im use to it

[GG RACING]

You should go to Napa and get a can of Mass Air Flow Sensor cleaner and give your MAF a good cleaning and that will take car of your problem unless you have a giant leak between the MAF and the engine. I had the same problem with mine and that took care of it.