Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-80
I just purchased a 1998 Mazda 626LX and since it was used, thought it'd be wise to buy an extended warranty, should any problems arise. About 3 days after I've had the car, the check engine light came on and the car was idling a bit funny. Luckily, I worked it out with the dealer and he agreed to pay for the repairs, come to find out it just needed a tune-up. The car was running great until about 3 weeks after that incident. The weather was cold and the car doesn't warm up as fast as I wish, but it was running great. I drove to work and on my way there, the check engine light came back on. I took it in to shop and was told my O2 sensor was off, but it may just be due to the cold weather and I shouldn't worry. Just as long as the car runs the same, wait and have it fixed in the summer or when weather warms. This was last week. I'm sad to say that darn "check engine" light is back on, just as I drove off headed to work. It snowed and I'm thinking it may be due to the weather, but I'm starting to get worried, considering all the messages posted on this forum and others I've read. Please someone give me info about this car and an idea of cost for repairs? or what did you finally resort to?? It's a 1998 Mazda 626 LX V6 automatic. I love this car and it runs great, I'd hate to have it give up on me. It doesn't "jerk" or make noises and I love the V6 engine, this car is just the style/size/color I was looking for and the options are great. I'm hoping it won't be too bad, but I just need some advice at this point. Please write with any information that would be helpful to handle these car troubles. zuzu66@hotmail.com Thank you in advance.
I also have had a few problems with my 99 Mazda 626 dealing with:replacing the transmission at 87000 miles, having the 02 sensor come on then off, then the check engine light. I was told by the Mazda dealer to remove my battery and this might correct the problem of the check engine light. Needless to say the check engine light came on two days later. I read all of the comments above and feel disheartened to know that my first adult purchase would end up costing so much. I am truly considering purchasing a new vehicle to save me the time and grief of this car. I once fell in love with my car, but the relationship is slowly ending. I have to bring the car into the dealer to have a diagnostic done. But from reading some of the comments and my previous experience with the 02 sensor going off I am not sure what it will be this time, but my out of pocket is much too costly.
I too have recently acquired a 1998 Mazda 626 LX, which has 107,000 miles on it and the Check Engine light came on. My husband took it in and had a diagnostic run which indicated a problem with emissions and that the gas cap was probably not screwed back on tightly enough which caused air to get into the gas tank and trigged the light.
Since they did not suggest and any repairs or find anything else wrong (and they are in the business of making money) I tend to believe that it is a fluke since the car is driving normally with no unusal noises. A co-worker told me that removing the battery cables and then reattaching them should reset the sensor as he has had the same problem with his Ford Explorer.
I have a 1998 Mazda 626 with the 4 banger, But the good thing is it's a 5 speed. The car has 92,000 miles on it, and the only problem I have had is the catalytic converter trips the check engine light once in a while. Its been a great car since I bought it new in 99.If your going to buy a Mazda get them with a 5 speed, Mazda still hasn't figured out to make a auto yet.
I own a 2001 Mazda 626. At 20,000 miles, the transmission went out. Fortunately, it was covered under warranty. I figured it was just a one-time problem and I just happened to get a bad transmission. No big deal, right? Well, it now has 57,000 miles on it and guess what? I'm pretty sure it needs another new transmission!!! It started with the sifting becoming hard or what seems like it was slipping. The weird thing is it would do it for a few days, and run great for a few days, and so on. Well, on my way home from work today, the check engine light came on, the O/D light started flashing and the car would not shift into high gear.
Of course, thinking it was just a problem with my 2001 Mazda 626, I bought a second Mazda 626, a 2002, about a year ago. Within the first week, the ABS/TCS and TCS Off lights started staying on. Sometimes they would be on, sometimes they would be off. You could drive the car for a few minutes and then they would come on and stay on. When I took it to the dealer, they kept it for a few hours, called and said it was ready to go. On the way out of the dealership parking lot, the lights came back on. Also, when you turn on the rear window defroster, it interferes with the stereo. Not to worry, they replaced the antenna filter on the rear window defroster (the antenna is embedded in the rear window with the rear defroster). Think that fixed the problem? Nope, it did not. I wish someone could do something to help Mazda figure it out, but I guess not!
I purchased a 1997 Mazda 626 LX in 2001 from a Dealership In Savanna, GA where I currently reside. I thought that it was my dream car. The third day I had it my check engine light came on. I took it to the dealership and they paid $389.00 to have it repaired and said it was the EGR valve. On the way home the engine light came on again I turned around and went back to the dealership. They cave me a loaner car that was of poorer condition than the one I purchased three days prior. The called me three days later to advise me that the alternator belts were worn and slipping to include that several sensors were dirty and the EGR valve had a malfuntion in it. I tried to back out of the deal, but the company went on the run from the law which resulted in their shutting down the entire company and Now I'm stuck with a car payment on a car that I can't drive. Although it looks great on bricks in my garage I think I'll use it as a reminder look deep before you purchase another Mazda from anyone. I still continue to make regular payments to the finance company whom are of no assistance. They won't even come and pick the car up it still has its original 67,000 miles on it. What do I do? levonkumnatcha@yahoo.com (912) 286-0195 I Need help!!!
I have owned a 1988 626 and a 1994 626. Both were 4 cylinder 5 speeds, and both were very reliable. The 88 had several A/C problems, which I finally stopped paying to get fixed. My current 94 has 152k on it, haven't spent a dime on the A/C, original timing belt, no check engine light problems, and I get 33mpg (mostly highway driving). I spent maybe $1,500 in repairs (exhaust, brakes, struts, and a few front end parts) over the life of the car (bought it when it had 46k miles on it). I just went car shopping, and narrowed it down to one with an automatic vs. a 5 speed model. After reading all of the comments above, I definitely won't be getting that automatic!
Thursday, August 5, 2004.
I was just reading some of the comments about other people cars. Well, I bought a 1999 Mazda 626 last November and I thank God that I haven't had any major problems with the car. Whomever owned the car in the past, took very good care of the car (interior and exterior). The only purchase that I have had too make was a set of tires. My Mazda 626 has approximately 125,000 miles. Please pray that it holds up for another 125,000.
Less than a year ago I bought a 2000 Mazda 626 from Carmax with about 68,000 miles on it. After only 6 months my O/D OFF light started flashing and the car seemed to be over-revving. My mechanic installed new ignition wires and the problem went away... for a while. Just last week while driving on the expressway the light returned. Now the problem is off and on, one day it will be fine and the next the O/D light will be back on. After reading all these posts I am scared my transmission is about to go out. Should I take it to my mechanic or will I have better luck at a Mazda dealership? Is there any lemon law in effect regarding this issue, especially on a car I've had for such a short period of time?
Thanks for any help!
I own a 2002 mazda 626 lx. it has 42k miles on it.recently, my wife discovered the o/d light flashing off and on.also, the shifting in the transmission was not as smooth like before. when is mazda going to address this problem for all us mazda owners. this can't be encouraging news for them. just read all the comments. we are not happy with the performance of our cars and demand something be done if you want us to be unique by owning your makes and models.instead, of being the "monkey see, monkey do"consumer by buying honda, toyota, or nissan like all the rest of the buyer's.we choose to buy yours. we want to be unique.mazda.
I purchased a used mazda 1999 mazda 626 with 62,000 miles which is a very beautiful car, but soon after at about 65,000 miles the transmission went out and it cost me $1500 to get it fixed. The transmission shop told me that a dirty plugged up filter caused it to overheat. After doing further research on-line about the transmission I discovered that this seems to be the only transmission that is built with the filter assembly located inside the (FORD) CD4E transmission. There is no pan to service it, so the transmission has to be pulled in order to get to the filter. Another great FORD design. There are a HUGE amount of problems with the 1994 - 2002 626 4 cly. automatics.If I would have known these facts beforehand I would have never bought this car. I hope my experience can save someone the hell I have been through. I now know to research any future large purchases beforehand. I am going to try to sell the car since now it has a rebuilt transmission and works fine for now before something else happens.
I bought a Mazda 626 LXV6 a little over 5 years ago. Since the day I drove my car off the lot, I noticed a very small jerk, but did not think anything of it. With 47,000 miles my check engine light came on, so I had a mechanic look at it and they could not find anything wrong. A few days later, I was going up a hill and my engine died. Fortunately, I was covered by the warranty and the dealership replaced/fixed my engine. To this day, my car-jerking has increased in severity. I took it to 2 separate mechanics who could not find anything wrong with it. Now, at 86,000 miles, my check engine light came on again. A different Mada dealership ran a diagnostic test to discover my engine is misfiring and I need to replace my spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter and some other minor things. The cost of this repair is between $600-700. My car is paid off and I was hoping to get some more mileage out of it, but this appears to be a common problem with the 626's, so I think I might trade it in before it gives me any more problems. I just wanted to let people know in case they decide to buy this car. My review would be poor and would not recommend it.
I have a Mazda 626 1993. I think I have been very lucky since I never had any major problems. The car has 209,000 miles and is running perfect. It is a 5-speed and never had any transmission problems. I am planning to buy a 1999 5-speed Mazda 626 and I hope it will come out as good as the one I still drive.
I also have a 4 cylinder, 626 SE. I've had both the engine and transmission replaced under warranty at around 80,000 km. The car has always idled rough, and been jerky when it's cold. My engine light just came on yesterday, about 110,000 km. From everyones' comments it may just be the O2 sensor. It's been a good car, just hope this light doesn't mean anything worse than that. I too will likely trade it in as soon as its' paid off.
I have a 1999 Mazda 626 and my check engine light has been on and off a couple times this past winter. I refuse to take it to the garage and pay them to turn the switch off and tell me nothing is wrong with it again. It does have an odd idle and I am thinking about trading it in after reading all the reviews about it. All cars are hit and miss, but I will not buy another Mazda again. I'm now off to take the battery out to see if it takes the check engine light off!