2005 Mazda 3 Logo
Posted on Jan 10, 2009

2005 Mazda 3 idles rough at stop light and sometimes dies

2.0 engine with 28,000 miles
come and go problem
shakes whole car when it happens

I suspect the problem to be a ignition problem, like a plug wire or a weak coil.
Maybe fuel injector

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  • Anonymous Jan 21, 2009

    i have the same problem.  I have brought mine in to the dealer about 4 times and they can not find a fix.  They've tried the spark plugs, resetting some code, and finally cleaned the throttle (just today they did the throttle) so we will see if it is better.  Mine would shake and die at every stop.  It is a 2005 and has about 37,000 miles.  

  • The OkO Jan 28, 2009

    I have a similar problem. I have a 2005 mazda 3i 2.0 > I 've had a slight problem with my idle and it would normally drop below 600rpm when i would get off the interstate or at a stop light. It bothered me at first but since I've ignored it. Up until today i've had no major problem.

    I had to change my battery this afternoon and since changing it, I've had major problems. Whether in DRIVE, NEUTRAL, or in PARK once around 1000rpm it will the motor will rev up to 1500 rpm and the clear down to 250 rpm and would continue to to idle rough up and down! It even idled low enough to turn off.

    Has anyone figured this out yet? I've read many other ideas on how to fix the rough and out of control idle, but it doesn't sound like anyone has got it yet. I don't want to waste my time at the dealership if they're not going to be able to fix it...... does grounding the throttle body really work?



    Thanks for any help

    A confused Mazda 3 owner

  • Anonymous Feb 04, 2009

    I have a mazda 3 sport and my car does this as well. In the cold weather when I am at a light or just idling it runs fine and then it dies off and almost stalls. Once it actually did stall. Then it picks up again and idles fine. It does this about every 30 seconds. In the summer it gets better. Have not had it checked out, I just live with it. Fuel injector cleaner seems to help alittle.

  • Anonymous Apr 15, 2009

    I have the same problem with stalling. Total Lemon. Dealership has replaced so may parts, flashed cpu etc. with no improvements. MAZDA's are LEMON LEMON LEMONS. never again.

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  • Posted on Aug 26, 2009
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The problem is a faulty solenoid in the vapor recovery system. The solenoid is sticking open and allowing fumes from expansion of fuel in the fuel tank to enter the air intake and smother the engine. This is how the Mazda service tech explained it to me. It is a known problem on the Mazda 3 in various trims which Mazda refuses to acknowledge. Usually the check engine light comes on and the engine diag code reads mass airflow sensor, which is incorrect. I dealt with this for 6 months on my wife's 2005 Mazda 3i before the dealership figured it out. My cousin bought a 2007 Mazda Speed 3 which developed the same problem after a few months and was cured by the same fix.

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  • Posted on Dec 15, 2010
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My daughter has a 2005 Mazda 6i 2.3L and it idled rough/stall/ shift hard fom 1st to 2nd. After replacing many parts: O2 sensors ,purge valve,3way valves, plugs, and checking all hoses and no cure I discovered on another site that the Pcv valve and hose are behind the air intake. you can get to it from underneath. It runs from the bottom of the manifold to the top and I had to **** the hose at the top to pull it off the nipple. I removed the throttle body and hose, the two shuttle valves and unbolted the starter and moved it out of the way. Lube the hose well and may need a large screw driver to help push it on and then work the clamp on. You can stand up and reach under the manifold and work it on. It is exasperating but can be done. It beats taking the whole manifold off. The old hose had a 2 and half inch **** /crack in it. It has a slip cover over it to insulate from the engine and helps seal the crack at times which explains all the erratic behavior. I thought one of the other hoses up top was the pcv but was wrong. The hose $15. Bad engineering as far as location. This cured the problem. The local Dealer told me they figured out how to do it without removing the manifold and shared the info with me.Car runs great now and shifts smoothely. This task is for shade tree mechanics that like to do this stuff. Be sure and not break the top nipple, it swivels a little and appears to be made out nylon etc.

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  • Posted on Apr 23, 2009

SOURCE: 2005 Mazda 3 idles rough at stop light and sometimes dies

The ignition coil should be fine at that mileage. If spark plugs do not fix it suspect a faulty MAF sensor. If the MAF is sending a bad signal it will affect with the idle as the ecu is trying to compensate for the MAF.

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