Lots of Power When Cold...Gutless When Warm...

[gtd2000]

I've been trying to figure out for years why my mothers Mazda 121 (- see avatar on left here - see also Gallery) with B3 engine is:

Gutless & does 26MPG

Well recently I've been driving it a lot myself and I found that it is very "nippy" (probably "peppy" for US folks) when cold - but once it gets to the operating temperature it feels gutless.

The thing is the car is totally reliable...never fails to start etc..

This might suggest it is running rich to me but looking at the spark plugs they are not black and look like the correct colour (color) to me.

It never fails any emissions tests...presumably it would if it was running rich?

Ive looked at most things and replaced air filter, plug leads and inspected the distributor cap and rotor and all seems to be well?

No codes are displayed with an ODB tester...

Any ideas?

[studdyhalllooser]

fuel injected or carbed? thats a sign of bad injectors. but not sayin that it is tho...it could be other things as well

[gtd2000]

fuel injected or carbed? thats a sign of bad injectors. but not sayin that it is tho...it could be other things as well

Fuel Injected (16v SOHC) - carb throttle body style...

It's been like this since 16,000 miles and now still under 60,000 miles..

Some pics of it here http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4180

[studdyhalllooser]

is it smooth accelerating or does it want to stumble?

[gtd2000]

is it smooth accelerating or does it want to stumble?

Thats the thing it runs perfectly in all respects...

except gutless and poor fuel economy... :cry:

(I've sent you a message on yahoo if you have it running?)

[mechanicaldj]

one thing you can do is: pull the engine out with the transaxle and
send it to Rockville,MD , USA

or

give me a little more back ground information , like how your mothers drives the car, odometer reading, what services has been done, ETC.....

[krustyguitar]

Coolant temp sens

check your coolant temp sensor. Its sending a signal that your engine is too cold/hot and either sending too much fuel or not enough

[gtd2000]

one thing you can do is: pull the engine out with the transaxle and
send it to Rockville,MD , USA

or

give me a little more back ground information , like how your mothers drives the car, odometer reading, what services has been done, ETC.....

I've got a buddy from Scotland that lives in Ellicot City that could possibly put it in his suitcase for ya!

Odometer now 57,000 miles

She drives fairly slowly these days probably around 45-50mph most of the time.

Servicing has just been routine air/oil filters, plugs, brake discs (rotors) pads etc. I changed the plug leads last week (no difference at all!).

[gtd2000]

Re: Coolant temp sens

check your coolant temp sensor. Its sending a signal that your engine is too cold/hot and either sending too much fuel or not enough

How would I test the coolant sensor?

Should I be checking resistance or something like that?

Back to my original part - it never fails emissions tests - I would assume a rich mixture would cause failure? And if the mixture was too lean then I'd be using less fuel?

[gtd2000]

replaced the fuel filter today - can;t notice any difference

[gtd2000]

I was just browsing ebay for a new distributor cap and rotor when I came across this add:

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Can the timing be adjusted on the B3 FI engine like this?

This is a Jap-spec Mazda 121 and has been running on UK Fuel for 8 years now...I always assumed that the electronic ignition compensated for varying octane?

Should I try turning the distributor body colockwise?