SPONSORED LINKS

2001 Mazda Tribute Still getting poor fuel economy after TU

Tiny
KLASSIK
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE
Engine Performance problem
2001 Mazda Tribute 6 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic

So I'm expecting that my car won't be getting the same millage it use to but I only get about 340km on a tank.

My car has 230,000 KM.

The tranny was replaced with a remanufactured one from the US. Works very well, but should MAZDA do anything with the computer?

I've done a total overhaul of all the things I could do my self.

1) O2 sensors
2) Fuel Filter
3) PCV valve
4) EGV valve
5) Spark Plugs
6) Ignition Coils

Had a smoke test done to find engine leaks.
Fixed both upper and lower manifold gaskets.

Flushed the engine at a place with their special oil. ETC.

Throttle body is clean.

No Engine Codes.

The car does drive better now, but Im still getting bad milleage.

I did clean the MAF sensor with electical cleaner.
Didn't help much.

My last resort is to take it to the dealer, but I feel that they wont really help anyways.

Could something be wrong with my EVAP system.
I get a strong odor of exhaust when I start my car in the cabin.

Thx.
SPONSORED LINKS
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 4:00 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Hello
Thanks for the donation.

You say you get a strong smell of exhaust fumes in cabin. Have you inspected the exhaust system to ensure there are no cracks anywhere on manifolds all the way to tip?

Thanks for using 2CarPros. Com!
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 9:45 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok so you have 150 thousand miles on it and you get about 211 miles to the tank with a 16 gal tank equals 13 miles to the gal. Not real good. So you say you smell exhaust in the car how does the exhaust system look? Is there any holes in it? Has the cat converter been flow tested? How is the power once warmed up? How many O2's did you replace just teh upstream or the downstream one too? Get back to me and we will go from there.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 AT 9:50 PM
Tiny
KLASSIK
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have replaced all 4 o2 sensors. On both exhaust manifolds.

I think im getting paranoid about the smell because its not always present on start up so it might just be the wind taking the exhasut from the tail pipe and pushing it into the engine compartment.

I have opened the hood on start up to see if I can visually see any exhaust. It does help that I live in canada and I should be able to see smoke in the morning if there were leaks. Damn cold climate.

Originaly I had a very bad rough idle on cold start. Instead of just smoke testing the engine in the first place, I was replacing all the parts that seemed like it was their time.

Fortunatly I found them for real good price.

I have had to replace my CAT recently because of the the vacum leaks were making the car run soo rich it killed my last CAT. Melted the sucker.

But I didnt replace the lower manifold gaskets for a bit with the new CAT on.

Could it still be somewhat restricted again.
The only plus side is that I had my mechanic clamp my new exhaust system rather then weld it, so I can just replace the CAT myself with a jack.

Im lost at what I should do next. Should I take it to the stealership?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 AT 10:06 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok some questions again. How warm does the car get? Does it get to normal temp or is it running cooler then normal? Do you have a digital multi meter? I would like to test the coolant temp sensor and if that tests ok then I would like to know what temp the engine gets to. See if the thermostat is running the engine to cool then the computer adjusts for it and thus poor mileage. Get back to me and we will do a coupl of tests and go from there.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, February 14th, 2009 AT 1:35 PM
Tiny
KLASSIK
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
My car warms up fine. The temp. Gauge is in the middle after a few minutes in the winter.

The low coolant light comes on and off but thats
a problem due to the sensor being stuck from time to time.

Before I fixed my engine leaks I had a trouble code for P0420 "Catalyst system efficency below threshold, rear catalyst". It would come on and off.
Now its never on. And I dont have any trouble codes to report of.

I was worried because I would have to replace my exhaust manifold and thats pretty $$$.
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, February 16th, 2009 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok then if you would ohm the coolant temp sensor. It is on or near the thermostat and has a two wire connector. Unplug it and ohm the sensor across the term's and let me know the ohm's and the temp of the sensor at the time and I will look it up and see if it is in spec.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, February 16th, 2009 AT 9:16 PM
Tiny
KLASSIK
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Sorry for the delay. Really busy.

So I should turn the car on and hook up a vol meter to teh sensor. Have it on OHM and check the temp. But how do I check the temp. There are no #'s. Its not digital on my dashboard. So just go by cold start and fully warmed up.

Plus. I dont have that much room to manouver undre the hood unless I unhook the coolant hose to the thermostate. So its going to be tricky holding the meter while the car is runing.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Saturday, March 14th, 2009 AT 12:25 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Poor Mileage Content

VIEW MORE

Sponsored links