Repair And Fix it

The oil pan or oil level sensor in your Mazda MPV monitors the amount of oil in the oil pan. The sensor has an electrical connection that enables it to communicate with the PCM (power control module). When the oil level reaches or falls beneath the sensor, it illuminates the oil light in your MPVs dash cluster. Damage to the oil level sensor most often results from electrical failure. You can located and replace the oil pan sensor on your 1990 Mazda MPV right at home. The job should take you approximately 30 minutes.

Instructions

1

Place a wheel block firmly into position behind both of your MPVs rear tires.

2

Apply the emergency brake and raise the front end of your vehicle with a hydraulic jack. The bottom of both of the front tires should visibly measure no more than 8 inches from the ground.

3

Set a jack stand behind the front tires underneath your MPVs frame rail. Lift the support arms on both jack stands to 85 percent of the height of the hydraulic jack.

4

Lower the hydraulic jack slowly while you monitor both of the jack stands. When you see that your MPV securely rests on the support arms of the jack stands, stop lowering the hydraulic jack. Do not completely remove or lower the hydraulic jack. Leave it in its position for extra support.

5

Slide under your Mazda MPV and locate its oil pan. The oil pan sits at the lower, rear of the engine. It looks like a black, metal rectangle and has 20 small bolts around its upper lip. The oil pan also has a large bolt at the bottom of it used to drain the oil.

6

Locate the oil pan sensor on the lower side of your oil pan. You will not be able to see the sensors length but you should see the wiring harness connected to the top of it. On some models of the 1990 Mazda MPV, the sensor mounts just above the oil draining bolt. On other models, the sensor mounts on the opposite side of the oil pan across from the oil draining bolt.

The 2006 Mazda Speed 6 is a four-door sedan. It sold for an original MSRP of $28,000. As of November 2010 the car has a retail value of around $17,000. The car was built for two years, with 2006 being its first production year. It was an attempt by Mazda to offer a sporty sedan.

Mechanical

The Speed 6 is powered by a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine. The engine features a turbo charger, which compresses air into the engine for more combustion. It can push out 274 horsepower and generate 280 ft-lbs of torque at 5,500 rpm.

Braking and Suspension

This car has a four-wheel anti-lock braking system that helps stabilize the four disc brakes. Two of the discs are ventilated to allow heat to dissipate. Electronic traction control is used to help manage any potential skidding. The system is managed from the ABS system and engine management. This Mazda features a wishbone style front suspension and uses a stabilizer bar to keep the cars body from shifting. The rear uses a multi-link system with coil springs and a stabilizer bar.

Exterior

The Mazda has a traditional sedan body except for the front. The hood is angled down and the lights are slanted at an angle to give the car a sporty look. It features a rear spoiler and uses xenon headlights. The windows are tinted, and the vehicle has front fog lights. The cars antenna is located on the roof. It has dual tailpipes, and the wheels are 18 inches in diameter. Each wheel has 15 spokes.

Interior

The car has an anti-theft protection system. It has a Bose audio system and comes with an AM/FM radio as well as a CD auto changer and six-disc remote changer. Other features include cruise control, a door ajar warning light and driver and passenger airbags. Additional airbags may be found in the roof as well as side airbags for the front occupants. The airbags have sensors designed to detect if someone is sitting in the seat. The vehicle can tell you the temperature outside. The ventilation system uses a micro filter to keep out many harmful particulates.

Technical Specifications

The Speed 6 is 186.6 inches long and 70.1 inches wide. It stands 56.3 inches tall. It has a turning radius of 36.8 feet. The vehicle weighs3,589 lbs. It has a 15.9-gallon fuel tank, and it takes 91 octane gas. It gets 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The cars interior features 96.2 cubic feet of volume as well as 12.4 cubic feet of trunk space.

Manufactured for the export market, the Mazda 626 first appeared in the U.S. in 1979. The 1999 version of the 626 is a four-door family sedan that was powered by a 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that produced 125 horsepower and 127 foot-pounds of torque. A leaking gasket that caused poor engine performance was one of the engines issues.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative (ground) battery cable. Remove the timing belt. Remove the front exhaust pipe. Remove the air cleaner. Remove the accelerator cable. Disconnect the fuel hose. Remove the ignition coil.

2

Drain the engine coolant. Verify the engine oil level. Inspect for engine oil, engine coolant and fuel leakage. Inspect the pulleys and the drive belt for runout and contact.

3

Hold the camshaft by using a wrench on the cast hexagon, and loosen the camshaft pulley lock bolt. Loosen the camshaft cap bolts in two or three steps. Arrange the removed camshaft caps to ensure correct placement during installation. Temporarily install the number three engine mount rubber to support the engine. Loosen the cylinder head bolts in two or three steps. Remove the cylinder head. Remove the old head gasket. Clean the surface of the block from any dirt and debris with a degreaser. Place the new head gasket on the block.

4

Measure the length of each bolt used to tighten the cylinder head. Replace any that exceed the maximum length. Standard length is 4.103 to 4.125 inches. Maximum length would be 4.154 inches. Tighten the cylinder head bolts in two or three steps. Tightening torque shouldnt exceed 16.2 foot-pounds for each step. To install everything back, just follow the removal sequence in reverse. Remember to connect the negative battery cable back to the battery.

The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) has recieved numerous consumer complaints concerning Mazda RX-7 seat belt failure and airbag defects. Seat belts failing to properly restrain passengers have been an issue for Mazda since 1977. In newer Mazdas, airbags have been trouble prone, states Clarence Ditlow of the CAS.

Recalls

The 1990 Mazda RX-7 airbags have never been recalled, according to Consumer Guide. However, Anapol Schwartz attorneys list a recall of 1990 Mazda RX-7 frontal airbags. According to the attorneys, threaded inflator components of the airbags may have been damaged during assembly. This may have allowed airbag components to separate when deploying the air bag. The separation in the faulty airbags allows hot combustion gases to escape into the passenger area, which could result in injuries.

Models

According to Edmunds, both side and curtain airbags come stock in all 1990 Mazda RX-7 models, including the Base, GTU, Turbo, GXL and 2+2 GXL.

Tests

The Mazda RX-7 of 1990 has no safety test information available about the airbags from either the NHTSA or IIHS.

First released in 1978 and spanning three generations, Mazdas rotary-powered RX-7 grew to become one of the most easily recognizable and sought-after sports cars to come from Japan. Now out of production, the RX-7 is not only enjoyed by enthusiasts, but is also competitive in several classes of racing. With its single-minded philosophy and emphasis on performance, the 13B-REW (the motor designation of the last production model) is able to crank out 255 horsepower, all from a minuscule 1.3-liter twin-rotor Wankel engine bolstered by sequential twin-turbos. The drawback of this design -- and power output -- is the extreme heat and stress to which engine components are subjected, in some cases requiring expensive rebuilds after just 60,000 miles. The engine can be quite finicky to troubleshoot.

Instructions

1

Attach an engine code reader to the Mazdas diagnostic port to quickly identify any faulty components.

2

Tune up the vehicle by installing new filters (oil, air, fuel) and replacing vital engine fluids. Pay special attention to the engine coolant -- which should have no traces of dirt or oil. If you are experiencing any sort of hesitation, rough idle, or inconsistent power delivery, thoroughly inspect and replace any worn ignition components such as the ignition coil, igniter module and spark plugs/wires. This can cure a myriad of symptoms and prevent new ones from developing.

3

Install a new set of silicone vacuum lines (silicone withstands heat better and stays more flexible). The stock lines will often become cracked or brittle due to prolonged exposure to heat, causing erratic boost levels and idle surge.

4

Connect a data-logger unit to your vehicle in order to further investigate engine conditions. The data-logger is able to read values directly from the engine control unit, and displays a list of vital parameters in real time. This will help identify pre-ignition (knock) events, as well as display the various timing and fuel maps under varying engine loads.

5

Attach a multimeter to your battery and alternator to test for correct voltages. Low readings (under 12 volts) indicate a weak system, potentially making the vehicle difficult to start, or even causing a backfire through the exhaust.

Slotting neatly between the 323 and 929 is Mazdas mid level offering; the 626 sedan and coupe. This third generation 626 brought with it updated styling, a choice of 5- speed manual or 4- speed automatic transmissions, and a torquey 2.2L, 4-cylinder engine that incorporates a unique 12-valve head design. These vehicles are known for their outstanding reliability with some still in use today. High mileage on the Mazda 626 can result in a few common issues that can be easily addressed and repaired.

Instructions

1

Tune-up the vehicle by changing oil, brake and transmission fluid. Install new spark plugs/wires, and replace clogged or dirty air and fuel filters. This service is suggested every 12 months and will help keep the Mazda running optimally; as well as address issues like an engine misfire, hesitation, and poor idle/fuel economy.

2

Connect an engine code reader to the 626s diagnostic port to quickly identify any faulty components.

3

Replace dirty or contaminated engine coolant, and install a new thermostat to help correct extreme engine temperatures or weak cabin heat.

4

Hook up a multimeter to test alternator and battery voltages. A voltage reading lower than 12 may cause starting issues and potential misfires.

5

Perform a brake inspection and replace damaged rotors or excessively worn pads (close to the metal indicator), to alleviate poor braking performance.

When the "Check Engine" light illuminates on your Mazda, it is alerting you to a malfunction of a valve, sensor or solenoid on the vehicle. Whatever the cause, you need to have your vehicle looked at by a qualified mechanic. You or your mechanic can use an OBD diagnostic scan tool to retrieve the computers trouble codes so that the problem can be diagnosed accurately. Once the vehicle has been repaired, you can manually reset the Check Engine light yourself in just a few minutes, turning off the notice until another situation arises to cause the light to come on again.

Instructions

1

Put on your safety goggles and cloth work gloves.

2

Open your B2200s hood and look for the battery. Attached to it are two cables; one is the negative cable. On the end of the cable attached to the battery is a clamp with a nut on it. Loosen that nut using the end wrench to disconnect the negative cable from the battery. Secure it so that it cannot come back into contact with the battery.

3

Slip the cable clamp off the negative terminal, taking care not to let it touch the positive side of the battery. Wait at least five minutes.

4

Put the negative battery cable clamp back on the negative battery terminal and tighten the nut.

5

Put the key into the ignition and start the engine. Look on the instrument panel to make sure the Check Engine light has turned off.

The Mazda Miata contains two oxygen sensors. The sensors are located on each end of the catalytic converter; they help control the fuel consumption based on the amount of oxygen in the cars exhaust system. If the "check engine" light has come on, or if your cars gas mileage has decreased, change the sensors to ensure that your vehicles emissions ratings and fuel budget stay low.

Instructions

1

Start the Miatas engine and let it warm up. Turn off the engine and remove the key from the ignition. Raise the Miata with a jack. Rest the car on a set of jack stands. Locate the oxygen sensors on either side of the catalytic converter.

2

Press in the locking tab to release the wiring harness connection. Pull the connectors apart. Remove the sensor with a ratchet and oxygen sensor socket.

3

Thread the new sensor in its place, by hand, until it is secure. Tighten it with a ratchet and oxygen sensor socket. Press the wiring harness connection into place.

4

Raise the car with the jack to remove the jack stands from beneath the car. Lower the Miata to the ground.