I have owned my MX6 for about a year now. It is a 1993 with 263000kms and I use it to get to work 3 to 5 times a week. The MX6 is a charm to drive, and I have had a few problems, but what 13 year old car doesn't? I replaced the alternator, exhaust center pipe, and rear brake lines, but the car was sitting for 6 months on the grass. To put this in perspective, I also own a 1991 Buick Park Avenue, which died in 2004, when it was 13 years old. I replaced the alternator 4 times, the brake lines twice, the complete rear brake system 3 times, and the transmission 3 times. After 200000kms, the car's underbody was completely rotten, yet my MX6 is just starting to surface rust. This is still, by far, the best car I have ever owned.
I have had my 94 MX-6 for 8 years. It hasn't broken any more than any other car I've had and at 150,000 miles I still haven't had to replace the head gasket "crosses fingers" Given the way I drive, that is a miracle. I don't agree with you about it being a lemon. It is an expensive car to fix though.
You may be on to something with the distributor. I've gone through three (new mazda parts), and they NEVER work correctly "rough idle etc" The distributor on it is a real big piece of crap and it makes me wish I had replaced it with an electronic aftermarket one the first time.
I would advise you to be careful with who you let work on your car. They sometimes use remanufactued or faulty parts. Some of them don't know what they are doing. Nothing is worse than replacing the same part twice. I try to always use the same mechanic; someone I trust. These are hard to find.
The rough idle is more likely to be defective O2 sensors or knackered plug leads (both normal wear and tear items on a 90k car).
The failure mode on the ignitor module is simply that it will cut out completely, and maybe start working again once it's cooled down. It doesn't manifest itself as a rough idle.
What I would say is that because of highish servicing costs and spare parts prices, plus (in the UK) the very low standard of service offered by most garages, there are many MX-6 out there which have been neglected or run into the ground and unfortunately the original car sounds like one of these.
I bought a 1993 Mazda MX6 in December. It has been in the repair shop more than it has been at my house. Everything is going wrong with: water pump, distributer, head gaskets, throttle body, and it still runs like crap. It had only had 1 owner before me and the replaced a few things, but thought they had it fixed. I have never owned a car with this many problems. Anyone want to buy it? It is for sale.
I have owned a 1993 MX-6 for about a year now, and I've had a few problems with it as well. Namely the distributor died about two weeks after purchase, and I've been having what appears to be fairly extensive electrical problems. These include, but are not limited too, improper battery charging (Even though the alternator is good), interior lights and radio not working, right hand side turn signals not working, I also have the weird issue that my car alarm only goes off if I try to open the passenger side door with the key.
When the car runs properly it is dream to drive as others have stated, I'm just hoping that taking it to Mazda for repair will solve the current problems and I won't have to sell it.
I've owned a 1994 mx-6 ls for 7 years now (since 1999) and have had no problems outside general repairs (oil, exhaust, brakes etc.). Water pump/timing belt at 240 000 (both were still OK, but I put 100 000 km on the car I figured it was time) if you don't maintain a car a good car will turn into a lemon. Most of the work I have done has been small modifications (centerforce clutch, headers etc)
I have a 1500 watt (rms) stereo running on the stock alternator for 5 years... no problems...basically everything (other than the power antenna) still works on the car.
I'm a member at mx6.com and have read about some problematic cars, but like its been mentioned before... even the best cars have some bad ones.
I love the car... people that don't recognize it think it's a 2000 or newer...quick, sporty with good looks... i don't regret it at all.
Gosh I must have really bought a lemon 6 years ago... how could I have ever have known that I would have all those problems. I am so glad I visited this site, so I know all of this?
Damn, I could have been in real trouble when I drove from Texas to Iowa three years in a row. The last trip being for my mother's funeral, by which I cut my usual sixteen hour drive, down to 10, and the mileage was way over 100,000 too.
I am a girl, so maybe that's why I got tricked into buying such a fix or repair daily car, if I had known I was going to have to do all those repairs, I certainly never would have bought it.
Darn what have I gotten myself into? How long after you bought the car did all of these things start to happen? I need to know when mine is going to start messing up.
Maybe I should change the oil. I am not sure when I last changed it? Was it last summer? No, OK I remember now, it was in OCT, so I still have a couple months yet right?
You know what it maybe I am starting to have problems, a cooling belt did break last summer, but I was already half way home from my Aunts house in Nebraska, so I didn't worry, now I am a bit concerned. Yes, also I did have to get new brake pads in April, oh dear!
OK, I am giving you a little bit of a razzing, but I am also very dumbfounded, to hear that you have had so many problems. I can't think of anyone that abuses a car more than me, unless it's my daughter, and it's the same car.
And I have a secret to tell. I got it at one of those shady used car dealerships, and probably paid too much, but I like the look of it. I never had it checked by a mechanic at the time, my friends said I was crazy, not for buying that type of car, but because of where I bought it.
I have a couple of friends that have had, or have a 93' Mazda MX6, and they had very good things to say about them. I think you just got a bad car, or I got the only good car they made that year, make and model?
But I will look out for these things, because I have semi-retired her, I want to have her repainted, and have the engine overhauled. I only think I need to have that done because she has 160,000 miles on it. Plus we had flooding, three or four years ago, and I just barely saved her from floating away, she was a moving when I got in her, and I got the interior soaked when I opened the door.
I truly must stop bragging about my car, you know the Karma thing? But I compare her to the car I had when I was 18,in the dependability, purseverance, as well as my attachment, that was a 70 Dodge Challenger, I have put both through some heated 1/4 miles. And won!
I have a 93 Mazda MX-6 (4 cylinder and only owner of this car) and haven't had near the problems that post 1 had. I have replaced the distributor once, not a big deal at all, but bought an after market (rebuilt one) and it didn't work so I had to buy one from the dealer. The only recurring problem I've had is with the oxygen sensor going out quite often (they say from using cheap gas). Also, it's had a knocking noise in the engine for about 9 years now, but haven't had one engine problem so far. It has 180,000 miles on it and still runs strong for a 4 cylinder. Other than the normal repairs (tune up stuff, brakes, struts) that's it.
I have a 93 Mazda MX-6 (4 cylinder and only owner of this car) and haven't had near the problems that post 1 had. I have replaced the distributor once, not a big deal at all, but bought an after market (rebuilt one) and it didn't work so I had to buy one from the dealer. The only recurring problem I've had is with the oxygen sensor going out quite often (they say from using cheap gas). Also, it's had a knocking noise in the engine for about 9 years now, but haven't had one engine problem so far. It has 180,000 miles on it and still runs strong for a 4 cylinder. Other than the normal repairs (tune up stuff, brakes, struts) that's it.
I have a 1994 Ford Probe GT (basically the same as a MX-6, just a different body) and I have had no problems with it besides normal maintenance. I bought it at 135,000 miles and I am the third owner. The loud clunking noises someone hears from either side of their car is your axles, you need new ones. The ticking you hear from your engine is the HLA's (Hydraulic Lifter Arms). After a certain amount of abuse and mileage, they just fall. It doesn't hurt your engine, it's not a catastrophic failure that could lead to disaster. It is just a chronic problem with the K-Series Engines. When you buy a car you should really look at it and inspect it before you buy. You got stuck with a lemon. That's your fault, not the car.
I own a 93 MX6 LS. I bought it July '06 with a blown head gasket!I had been looking for a Probe GT with a fairly decent body and interior to do a KLZE engine swap. I came across the little red car I own now. This car did run when I test drove it at the dealer. The air worked, but someone obviously did not keep up on mechanical repairs, but kept the inside and outside in awesome shape. I drove it home 30 miles, going 65 (smoking/overheating) with almost 150,000 miles on it. Yes, I pulled it in my garage. I cannot comment on problems, but I bought this car in awful mechanical shape! I somewhat knew what I was getting into. When you buy a used car you take a chance on what the previous owner treated the car like! When you are talking about 10 year old and older cars (even with lower miles), you will still have some problems due to the age of the vehicle. My motor swap and modded out car is done except for the body and paint. I drive it back and forth to work everyday. I have replaced most of the suspension (just to be safe). After all it has 150.000 miles on it! This car is a pleasure to drive. Every kid in a tuner approaches me and revs there motor up. It is still classy after all these years, but not a regular looking import (built in the USA)! I love looking over that curvy hood! Ford and Mazda had it right when they built these things. I just wish I would have bought one new! I would have still owned it! As the old saying goes when your buying used-buyer beware. Sold As Is! I do not complain a bit about my experience and I would buy a MX6 that was treated better in a heartbeat (if my wife would let me). I love how this car drives!
O.K., now, how do I start, I bought my 1993 Mazda MX-6 about 4 years ago, and in that time I have replaced the distributor, as of tonight, 5 times (working in the cold of a Canadian winter for almost 2 hours, albeit only minus 15 Celsius). I had it in to 2 reputable electrical shops in town, and with the first generation of diagnostic computers, they had no idea what was causing the distributor to go. I do not have a Mazda dealer in town (the closest is 45 minutes away), so I have not been able to get it to them. I am at the point where I want to use C4 on it, but that is expensive stuff. I think I am going to buy a mountain bike for my next means of transportation. They don't have distributors do they?
I have a 1993 Mazda MX-6 LS. I recently replaced the battery, about a week ago. Then today I drove it about 6 miles with it running perfect. After coming home and leaving it parked for a few hours the car will now not start, but does turn over. What could be the problem?
Hi your battery is not taking any charge it drains. Not a big problem easy fix. Show your mechanic.
I'm commenting on the battery problem... How much miles do you have on ur mx6?