Stalled on a hot day - 2001 NB

mattyredlocks · Postby **mattyredlocks** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:57 am

Hi there!

First time poster, short term MX owner, so please move this post to another board if I've put it in the wrong place...

Anyway, I had an issue with my MX on the weekend, and I was hoping someone out there might know a bit about the issue, or know what was happening.

The issue I had was sort of reminiscent of vapour lock - on that really hot day last weekend (mid forties in Queensland) I was driving out to Montville (up the steep side of course, so I guess she was being pushed harder than normal), and when we next came to a stop, the engine stalled - it then wouldn't start again. It was turning over, but wouldn't actually start. We left it for a half hour, checked the coolant in the radiator (totally fine), and she actually started first go.

On the way back home though, merging onto the highway (so going from 60-100 as quick as possible), the car suddenly seemed to lose guts (I thought I had shifted to sixth or something by accident), and by the time I pulled over, she had stalled again. From memory (and this did happen quickly), it sort of sounded like a car does when the fuel tank is empty just before it died. Again, we waited half an hour, and it ran ok all the way home.

I took her out again yesterday for a good run (at night though), and did the Mt Nebo/Samford circuit - not thrashing her but definitely not driving like a grandmother either. No issues whatsoever. I will note though that we had the aircon on when it failed on Saturday, and had been driving for something like two hours in the heat before she failed. The top was down and the aircon off last night.

I'd like to pin it down to "it was just a hot day" - but we get tons of those.

Anyone have any idea?

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:07 am

99.9% Cam Angle Sensor

these break down with age, and commonly happen on hot days after some driving.

How many kms on the car? They ususally let go anywhere from 80-120 000kms

this will prolly be the cheapest place to get it from

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/camshaft-posi ... -1173.html

tuned_to_fly · Postby **tuned_to_fly** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 11:18 am

Agree with Regie 100%. I have had the same issue on a 98 NB with only 60k on the clock.

Give Automotive Plus a call and they will sort you out.

mattyredlocks · Postby **mattyredlocks** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:14 pm

Thanks for the advice!

It's done just over 153k - no spring chicken any more.

Is it likely to happen again in the cool temperatures? Obviously I'm going to check it in with a mechanic (probably Automotive Plus) as soon as I can, but is it safe to drive until then? It ran ok yesterday, but I'd rather not push it.

Can anyone explain what might be happening with the cam angle sensor? (does it get hot and just fail, but work ok at low temps?) You'll have to forgive me, this is my first "old" car - I've only had one (brand new) car before it (a Honda Jazz, of all things), so while I know a little more than average about cars, I'm by no means going to say I know what I'm talking about.

shuey · Postby **shuey** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:18 pm

Mine doesn't stutter whilst driving, but after getting up to operating temperature or a long drive.. I do get that intermittent issue of not starting. After the car had "cooled" down, it was fine.

I've changed the CPS and EGI Main Relay (that got the car more or less okay save for a couple of times it didn't want to turn over), got a CAS replacement on hand.. maybe I'll try that and see how it goes.

tuned_to_fly · Postby **tuned_to_fly** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:29 pm

Pretty sure once it reaches a certain temp it just fails and will continue to do so until replaced.

Even pouring water over mine was enough to cool it down to get the car moving again.

Suspense · Postby **Suspense** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:08 pm

Regie wrote:this will prolly be the cheapest place to get it from

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/camshaft-posi ... -1173.html

For once they weren't. I was all set to buy one from there but Mania had them for much less on their eBay store and ship quicker.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-Mazd ... 20d29f213a

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 1:12 pm

Yeah Mania is cheaper but aren't they away until late Jan sometime?

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk

mattyredlocks · Postby **mattyredlocks** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:52 pm

Oh good, that looks easy to replace.

Is there any way I can really test the part before I buy a new one - or do I just have to replace it and see?

Is there a way (short of thrashing it on a hot day) that I can test it post replacement?

shuey · Postby **shuey** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:57 pm

TBH, when I changed the CPS the problem still persisted. Only became better when I changed the EGI Main Relay (but not entirely)
Hopefully you'll be lucky and changing that will solve your problem.. good luck! :wink:

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 4:14 pm

Suspense wrote:
Regie wrote:this will prolly be the cheapest place to get it from

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/camshaft-posi ... -1173.html

For once they weren't. I was all set to buy one from there but Mania had them for much less on their eBay store and ship quicker.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-Mazd ... 20d29f213a

wow that's cheap

might have excess stock levels or its a typo

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:19 pm

Definitely go through mania to get the cam position sensor. A good way to test it (usually works, does on subaru's anyway) next time it does it, Id say the next hot day go out for a drive and try and get the issue to reoccur as soon as it does pour some cool water over the CPS and try to start it. Should fire up straight away. Easy part to replace too.

Iv replaced both the Cam Position Sensor and Crank Position Sensor and whilst the car does run and start a lot smoother now sometimes it still doesn't like to start first go after its been dríven (still at operating temp) so IV been advised to replace the EGI relay but in your case Id say definitely cam position sensor.

You'll soon realise that nb8b's do some really weird things every now and then, mine does and no one can figure out why haha.

Welcome to the forum too

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:21 pm

Regie wrote:
Suspense wrote:
Regie wrote:this will prolly be the cheapest place to get it from

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/camshaft-posi ... -1173.html

For once they weren't. I was all set to buy one from there but Mania had them for much less on their eBay store and ship quicker.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-Mazd ... 20d29f213a

wow that's cheap might have excess stock levels or its a typo

Mania just get a really good deal when they buy them which enables them to sell them cheaper then other places to their customers

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:37 pm

speed freak wrote:
Regie wrote:
Suspense wrote:
Regie wrote:this will prolly be the cheapest place to get it from

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/camshaft-posi ... -1173.html

For once they weren't. I was all set to buy one from there but Mania had them for much less on their eBay store and ship quicker.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-Mazd ... 20d29f213a

wow that's cheap might have excess stock levels or its a typo

Mania just get a really good deal when they buy them which enables them to sell them cheaper then other places to their customers

that is the first item I have seen cheaper than overseas counterparts

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Mon Jan 06, 2014 7:42 pm

Regie wrote:
speed freak wrote:
Regie wrote:
Suspense wrote:
Regie wrote:this will prolly be the cheapest place to get it from

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/camshaft-posi ... -1173.html

For once they weren't. I was all set to buy one from there but Mania had them for much less on their eBay store and ship quicker.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Genuine-Mazd ... 20d29f213a

wow that's cheap might have excess stock levels or its a typo

Mania just get a really good deal when they buy them which enables them to sell them cheaper then other places to their customers

that is the first item I have seen cheaper than overseas counterparts

Especially for a genuine Mazda item. I was surprised too when I saw the invoice. It was listed on their website as a certain price (cant remember) then on the invoice it was listed for pretty much half the price, I was stoked, asked Ajay what the go was and that's what he said.