Help desperately needed - intermittent problem on SP20 (Perth)
Hey guys!
I've just been referred here by a member from astinagt.com as there may be more Perth members here. I need help with my car, I am at my wits end. I have a 2003 SP20 (auto) with an intermittent problem. I've had the car for a year and all was well until probably the fourth/fifth month. One day the car's engine just cut out on me while I was parking the car. Okay I thought battery (car didn't start up again), RAC comes out, battery is fine, RAC guy doesn't know what's wrong, drove it one minute and again while parking it cuts out, calls another RAC guy who knows more about electrics. He comes out, has no clue, car starts up fine, drive home.
Maybe another two months later and it happens again, this time while driving at 80km/h. SCARY! Everything shuts off and I'm lucky to pull over into the service lane as brakes don't work (only hand brake). RAC is called again, two guys check it (car has now started), he revs it for ages, car is fine, I drive home. Being a bit scared now, took it to an auto electric shop, they had it for a day, couldn't replicate the fault therefore could not diagnose a problem. Great.
This time I ring Mazda who wants to charge me an insane amount of money just to check the car with no promises. Rang another Mazda dealership, they don't know what an SP20 is. Enough said. Anyway, again, wanted some insane amount of money and were really not interested after mentioning it was a 2003 model. And I plan on staying away from another dealership who I think has been mentioned already on the net.
Okay, so driving again and it happens about 6 weeks/2months later. Again, at a carpark but this time when idling (was looking for a shop). Tried to start it up, it chugged and then managed to start it so I could reverse into a parking bay, and then it cut out again. This time I didn't try to restart it. Anyway, RAC guy comes out, he gets out his diagnostic tool, it says engine misfire. Doesn't help because it could mean 1000 things. What a useful tool. Anyway, he lets the engine run for a fair while and was about to leave as he couldn't get it to fault when lo and behold, it dies. He again gets his tool but for whatever reason he says it didn't log a fault, it went away too quick (whatever that meant). Now he saw with his own eyes what happened as the hood was up. It looked like the engine was convulsing and about the jump out of the car and then dies. This is what it also felt like all the other times it stopped, the revs drop/flutter and then it shudders and dies (felt from inside the car). RAC guy thinks that it was being starved of fuel (engine coughing), he thinks fuel pump but not sure. Could be heat related problem he says as I was driving and stopping a lot (engine has not overheated at all on the gauge). At least something.
This time took it to a mechanic, he had a good look, said car was fine, not replicating any faults (grrr). Again, maybe fuel pump, maybe not. Can't check as inside tank. So other than that, my car runs fine, everything is awesome, except it has failed on me three times. Car had a major service as I bought the car, water pump was replaced. Other than that, just standard. Recalls done.
Does anybody know what is wrong or who is reliable/smart enough (preferably North of the River in Perth) who can help me? I've already spent a mini fortune taking it to places and getting it towed only to find nothing useful to go on. I just want it fixed because I love this car, it's awesome to drive. I've tried to give as much info as I can, the only other thing I can say is that at times, the car may take a few chugs to start but it doesn't happen everyday so think it's just normal? Usually starts first time. I don't have a lot of money but don't mind paying to fix it (provided that the problem is found and fixed), I just don't want to be playing Russian Roulette with the car. Maybe someone can help me as this is my last hope.
Any help is appreciated and thanks in advance for taking out the time to read this.
Cheers!