mazda 323 running like poo

[RetroMat]

My mazda is running realy rough it idles fine but past idle to about 2500/3000rpm its down on power an very judery I havent used it since the j-tin meet the other week but it was fine then. I've recently put on a new fuel filter and airfilter no inprovment. The dissy cap and arm are also recent. Any one got any suggestions? My student loan just came in so i've finally got money to put petrol in it and i wana drive! ;D

[Ratdat]

Ignition modules pack in them them so it could be that dying.

[spottedlaurel]

I have no useful suggestions. Warranty’s out on it now though, so don’t go bringing it back to me right?...

[vicsmith]

Blockage in the fuel line caused by wibblepoo in the tank?

Or possibly the 2nd choke on the carb is sticking, hence why it will rev up to 2500 and idle fine but when the 2nd choke is supposed to be doing its thing its just not there.

[RetroMat]

just been out for a good long drive, it does seem to be juddry when idling, and pulling away there is a distinct lack of throttle response. This improves only slightly when rpm increases. How would i go about unsticking a sticky choke?

[Hirst]

Crikey, you shouldn't have parked it next to the Charmant, sounds like it has caught whatever mine has always had - in my case I'm reckoning it is the carb needs adjusting.

[RetroMat]

a contagious j-tin illness? that tis worrying ;D, I shall investigate sticky carbs tommorw, then ignition modules

[Ratdat]

Seriously fella, I'd be suprised if it isn't the ignition module. Three of the four 323's we've owned have had it fail so check the carb by all means but before you start spending any money on anything else I would check it. That means fit another really as there's no way to test it easily. Off down the scrappy for you....

[RetroMat]

thanks for the advise, well before i get carried away taking my car appart can some one confirm that this is the ignition module:

Any one know any decent scrappies in the coventry area? i can go exploring. ;D

cheers mat

[Ratdat]

Been a while but yeah, I'm pretty sure it is that. i seem to remember it being internal on them.
If you can't find one you could always fit one with points although I'd wager you're more likely to fine an EI one. The facelift 323 ones fit too I think.

[RetroMat]

Update. I've fitted new ignition module which seems to have improved starting. But doesn't seemed to have solved the lack of power. You have to redline it to get anywhere which is not good for fuel consumption

[mowzer]

have you reset the ignition timing after you fitted the new module?
From memory its 7deg btc on most Mazda's

[RetroMat]

didnt think of that i will give it ago, i've never tinkered with timing before so there is a good chance it will end up running worse

[vicsmith]

Is it a case of redlining it and it feels flat for ages then suddenly shoots off or redlining it just to get up to 50 mph on a motorway?

[RetroMat]

foot to the floor and flat for ages then it starts accelerating, I've just driven from Coventry to Essex, on the motorway I noticed foot down at 45mph in forth - nothing no acceleration just allot of juddering, at 55 in 4th the cars accelerating (almost) normally, change up to 5th and the juddering starts again until the revs rise again. Same in the lower gears plant your foot in second at 15mph nothing happens it doesnt seem to want to rev

[BiAS]

Mat, personally, I'd go for something on the ignition side, if you've already done the module, see if you can't find another cap/arm and make sure the plugs are ok. By the sounds of it, it's only hesitant under load, ie, when its at higher revs there's more power/less load, this usually points to ignition side of things on an electronic ignition car.

[berendd]

check if the spark plug leads are in the right order (if you had them off)

check the gasket which holds the carb, so spray some easily igniting stuff on the gasket while idling and check if it revs up.

[vicsmith]

Could be the old classic exhaust blockage? The last 323 BF (87E) I bought in wouldnt go above 20 mph on a hill and drove like a stuck pig on the flat, turned out the exhaust had all collapsed inside and was basically causing a junior version of "I aint fallin` for no banana in my tailpipe!" Blockage removed and the 323 was ready for Le Mans.

[RetroMat]

thanks for you help every one, i've finally got it sorted, this morning i fitted new plugs and the ht leads off my micra also did the timing and the car is running fine.

[vicsmith]

Nice little result, that.