Engine randomly bucks then stops at various speeds. Check Engine light comes on and stays on. Local Mazda dealer unable to determine problem.

Will you give more detailed info to aid us in trying to make a diagnosis?

Frequency of stalling has increased. Occurs most often at approx. 30-40 mph. Sudden power loss. Engine light not on now. Yesterday,after running fine for 10 miles, stalled 3x's in approx. 1/2 mile, then ran 12 miles w/o stalling. Occas. bucks prior to stall.

Sorry for the delay.

Most all of our driving is on country roads at under 50 mph. Without warning, engine stalls. After drifting to side of road, and shifting into park, engine starts immediately 50% of time. Other times it cranks fast, but no start. Sit for 5 minutes with key of, then it starts. Once it starts, 25% of the time it runs rough for 30 to 60 seconds. After resuming driving, it may run w/o problem for 1 mile, 10 miles or 20 miles, and then it dies. When it dies the Check Engine light comes on. It may stay on, or sometime later when car is started, it's off. Very infrequently, engine misses but does not stall.

Local Mazda dealer has worked on it w/o success for several weeks, including calls to Mazda. They have done: induction flush, replace timing belt, minor tune up with new plugs, replace pulse generator, replace cap and rotor, replaced crankshaft position sensor. Latest dealer theory is that distributor "could be bad". Replacement cost: $500.

Do you agree with this diagnosis? If so, how difficult would it be for me to do this replacement myself?

I had the same problem. I recently purchased my Millie. Soon after driving it off of the lot, the TCS light would wurn on and it started to buck. After researching on the web, it turned out to be a vacuum leak. It was the hole under the air filter. Your maybe somewhere else. Sometimes, if someone works on the car, they take the hoses loose and for get to put them back, especially on the S model, because there are so many.

I had a similar problem with the fact that my car kept shaking and bucking when it was idle and then would slightly do it in drive. It turned out being that the engine mount was lower than it should have been. Although, it sounds similar, I have to agree it probably is a vacuum leak in your case.

Autopart Locater
Mobile, AL
www.qaparts.com

I had a similar problem with the fact that my car kept shaking and bucking when it was idle and then would slightly do it in drive. It turned out being that the engine mount was lower than it should have been. Although, it sounds similar, I have to agree it probably is a vacuum leak in your case.

Autopart Locater
Mobile, AL
www.qaparts.com

I had a similar problem with the fact that my car kept shaking and bucking when it was idle and then would slightly do it in drive. It turned out being that the engine mount was lower than it should have been. Although, it sounds similar, I have to agree it probably is a vacuum leak in your case.

Autopart Locater
Mobile, AL
www.qaparts.com