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Thanks for all your help guys, finally put new distributor in and engine runs great! just a quick question- to read engine codes on a 96 mx 3, do you need a OBDII reader or should the CEL flash? The CEL does not flash on this car- is there a trick I am missing? Again, thanks - we're on the road again.

Finally some good news- the car has an OBDII connector, on the passenger side of the car interior, near the ECU. Got code now - P1345, which the reader says is No Cam sensor (there is no listing for a Mazda MX3 1.8 liter in this code reader's library as it is U.S. based, but another Mazda's shows P1...

Still trying to find solution. As I said the garage has it and cannot get codes either- the car was sold as a 96 but I have been told 96's have computer plug in under dash so this car is probably a late 95 model, as sticker on door says 96. What parts, like a distributor, ECU, EGR, etc will fit my c...

Thanks, I will check it out.
Are there any other possibilities? Any guesses why the CEL won't give up codes. Questions keep building up.
I was told I could use a disty from a Probe v6 for this (1996 K 8)- any one know if this is practical?
Thanks for the help so far, please continue.
David

Update: car is at garage, and codes still can't be read (see previous post)- CEL flashes when engine is running but stays on solid when diagnostic connector jumpered between TEN and ground. What does this mean? I read some where it is a "Hard failure"- does anyone know what that is? Does i...

Still can't get codes to read via CEL, am having car towed to Garage tomorrow to hook up to computer. Just a thought- would a bad fuel pump cause this problem, or a leaking head gasket?
Any suggestions appreciated at this point, from now on its going to cost my son some coin.
Thanks

Well, I got the CEL to work- thanks for the how to. Tried to read it but... when engine is running, CEL flashes. Tried to read codes using jumper, TEN and ground in diagnostics connector, but CEL stays on continuously, no flashing. Does this mean a "Hard Failure"? If so, what does that mea...

Can you point me to a "how to" section on how to take dash and instrument cluster apart? I have been looking and that section is missing from the on line manual and seach hasn't found anything yet.
Thanks

Well, I checked for air and vacuum leaks and no joy. Discovered that the CEL is not working - where to go from here? Been told it could be distributor and a new one is around $900. Local garages cannot plug their computers into the Mazda dianostic plug, lots of fun. Someone mented a less expesive wa...

Well, I checked for air and vacuum leaks and no joy. Discovered that the CEL is not working - where to go from here? Been told it could be distributor and a new one is around $900. Local garages cannot plug their computers into the Mazda dianostic plug, lots of fun. Someone mented a less expesive wa...

No codes, sorry for not mentioning that. We will try again to find vacuum leaks and hope its not the distributor.
Thanks

This is my first post and it concerns a problem that is, at least for me, difficult to describe and find the cause of. I bought a stock 1996 mx3 , 1.8l 5-speed for my son in July this year and until two weeks ago it ran great. Then, when on a short errand, the engine lost power and the rpms started ...