mazda 3 VVT question

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:08 pm

OK, for you mazda fan-bois out there, I have an annoying issue w/ this mazda 3 I bought. I've looked on the interwebs and haven't found a related issue yet. This is an 04 Mazda 3s hatch w/ 166k on the odo. So here's what's happening....

> Happens w/ cold temps and cold engine, generally below 50
> Car starts up fine, no skipping or stumbling
> No codes or CEL
> I've cleaned the MAF and throttle body
> Under cold acceleration, the car feels sluggish and then at about 4k rpm the VVT kicks in and the car surges
> Once the temp gauge gets to about a 1/4 hot, the issue disappears.
> Once I'm up to operating temps, the VVT kicks in normally at around 2500rpm and runs fine.
> No more issues until the engine cools down again and we start over.

It's not a hindrance to drive, just annoying. I had read somewhere (failed to book mark) about an idle control circuit (I think) for these cars. Anyone else experience this? Once the car warms up, it drives great and no surge or hesitation.

suggestions?

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:42 pm

If it is like the VVT in my Mazda6 (Ford Duratec engine) - it is oil actuated and I've found it is much less responsive when the engine is cold. Once the oil warms up, its more predictable.

Cash

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

I always just thought it was normal (I believe it is, keep reading). Why are you beating it up when it is cold anyways?

I think what you are feeling is the vtcs. This is a system to help cold emissions, some flaps in the intake manifold that swirl the air more while the engine is still cold. It opens around 3500 rpm once air velocity gets high enough to render it unnecessary. Once it's warm, these flaps just stay open constantly.

Some people remove these flaps for performance reasons, I am pretty sure that it's not a big gain, and not stock legal.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:54 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

I always just thought it was normal. Why are you beating it up when it is cold anyways?

X 2!

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:57 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

I always just thought it was normal. Why are you beating it up when it is cold anyways?

Never said I was beating on it when it was cold, actually I'm pretty light on the throttle when it's cold. I can keep modest throttle pressure and then w/ out warning the VVT kicks in at a much higher rpm than when its warm. To Cash's point, I can see thicker cold oil being an issue making the VVT work correctly.

So Brice, did your 3 always drive this way or did you notice this after you had more miles on the car?

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Rad my edited post, it is normal. Been that way since new. Seemed like it got a little worse with my cold air intake actually. I just short shift when cold.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:23 pm

Rodney,

It is not a V-8 . . . :lol:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:31 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

Rodney,

It is not a V-8 . . . :lol:

Roger that!

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:04 am

VTEC on K series or F series sucks terribly until the oil temp and coolant temp comes up, though I always drive like a granny till the coolant comes to temp.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:11 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

I just short shift when cold.

I made sure to do this with this car in the cold. It's a pretty nasty lurch but I always chalked it up to a cold engine.

4k creeps up quickly in these cars because they are so quiet.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:16 am

FWIW, our Fusion (same 2.3L engine) does the same thing when cold. I never really considered in a "issue" either since I take it easy also on a cold engine.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:27 pm

bad Vanos seals?????

Oh yeh, not a inline six either................ :lol:

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mazda 3 VVT question

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