Mazda '03 Gasoline Engine Issues: Power Loss, Unstable Activity, Odd Exhaust Smell, and Misfire Suspicions

Hey there, I totally feel your pain! I have a '05 Mazda 3, just a slighter newer sibling to your Mazda 2, and had pretty much the same issue a while back. I'm no mechanic but I've picked up some car knowledge over the years, call it low experience. When it acted up, I took it to my local workshop. They were great at diagnosing the problem. Turned out the culprit was the injection nozzle/injector, it was faulty. They fixed it up for me for around 515 Euro, bit of a hit to the wallet but the car's been running smooth since. That said, it would be great if you could provide more details about your car like mileage, last service, etc. This info could help me or anyone else here in giving more specific advice. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! So, the injector might be the culprit, huh? I really appreciate your suggestion. To provide more context, my Mazda 2 has seen a fair bit of road, with 292011 km on the dial now. The last service was done just a few months ago. Despite the regular check-ups, these erratic behaviours just started out of the blue. It seems like a visit to my local mechanic is unavoidable. Thanks again for your help! I'll let you know how it turns out.

Hey, no worries, happy to share what I know! Damn, 292k km's, that's impressive! Look, given the mileage and symptoms you've described, it's tricky to pin down the exact culprit without a diagnostic test, but from my experience, the injector is defo a possible factor. Another thing to consider could be the ignition coils. Had another car, a little old Ford, that acted similarly, and eventually, it was the ignition coils that had to be replaced. However, it was nowhere close to your Mazda in terms of mileage. Don't want to sound like a fortune teller, but the best bet is taking your car to a reputable mechanic, maybe they might find more than one issue given the symptoms. Just a piece of friendly advice though, since your car is at a high mileage point, better to fix the issues as soon as possible to avoid any bigger, or even, dangerous situations on the go. Fingers crossed it's something simple and not too heavy on the pocket. Keep us updated!

Hey! I can't thank you enough for your insights and the advice. It makes a lot of sense. Ignition coils could indeed be another factor to consider. And yes, with such high mileage, the car has definitely seen better days, but it's been pretty solid. Agree, I better get things sorted out soon before it escalates into something worse. Your advice serves as a good reminder not to take any chances on the road. Given the current symptoms, it seems my Mazda has a date with the garage this week. After all, safety comes first, right? Appreciate your support! Will surely keep you and the here updated with what the mechanic finds. Fingers crossed it doesn't burn a hole in my pocket!