SureTrack Community Fix: Tow It Again Mazda

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Real Fixes from the SureTrack® expert information resource are documented issues from actual shop repair records and community discussions. Read on to see how SureTrack can help you correct issues that are not easily diagnosed using OEM information alone. SureTrack is available at no additional cost in our ProDemand product.

Towing a dead vehicle into a shop is a fairly common situation. But doing it three times is too much, especially when it won’t act up when it’s there. SureTrack community member ZachR had a Mazda Tribute that would stall hours away from the shop but not when it was there. They posed the question to the community, and with the help of fellow community member Richard_C and others, they were able to finally figure out what was wrong with it and repair the problem.

The following Community Fix summarizes the interaction between members of the community that led to the solution.

Vehicle
2011 Mazda Tribute 2.5L

Title
Intermittent stalling, faulty PCM

Complaint
Customer states that vehicles stalls after driving for hours.

Diagnostic Steps Performed/Parts Replaced
Stalls after many hours of driving but too far away to diagnose. After having vehicle towed in, it will start and run all day. Customer leaves shop with car and car stalls again 2 hours away. Towed in again and vehicle starts right up and will idle and drive all day around here. Drove vehicle out to customer and found security light flashing and car will not crank. Once again had it towed back to shop and then it started again and ran fine all day. Checked for codes and fount none. Removed all computer plugs and checked for corrosion and found they were clean.

Best Answer from Community Member Richard_C
Could also just be a bad PCM.

Cause
Found faulty PCM when it finally acted up when it was here and was able to trace it back.

Correction
Able to get a used PCM for vehicle and have it reprogrammed, saved the customer lots of money.

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About the Author

Nick Taylor

Nick Taylor is the SureTrack Community Administrator and a Senior Applications Specialist at Mitchell 1 with over 25 years of experience with electronic repair data systems. Nick previously worked in the automotive dismantling and engine rebuilding industries.