A few questions from a new owner (1998 ZXi):

What does the switch on the clutch lever do?
Does the V6 really need synthetic oil? Handbook doesn't specify.
A couple of you mentioned cleaning the Lambda probe before forking out cash on a new one. Did it work????? Where is the probe fitted on the V6?

Sorry for so many questions, but I like to get things clear ASAP when I get a car.
Well impressed with the ZXi generally........

dont know about the clutch lever switch, cant say i have ever looked

Oil I would reccomend using what it states in the book - apparantly the 323f V6 engine is prone to problems when different oils used - Quoted from a mazda dealer with experience of the V6 engine

Lambda probe - I would ask Rich - think he is in the process of doing this at mo

Looks like the oil thing depends on who you ask. The local Mazda garage uses semi-synthetic!

If anyone is interested, genuine owner's handbooks are still available for about £6.50

WorkshopManuals.co.uk have a workshop manual on a double CDROM that covers the BA models, plus a load of others. Looks very comprehensive, with fault codes etc. Haven't ordered one yet but I'm about to. £15 I think....

Don't worry about the Lambda Sensor.

Turns out the problem with mine was a seal fault caused the engine to burn a bit of oil, which in turn was smothering the sensor with shit.

This meant that the sensor couldn't do it's job.

So a but of a false alarm really - not the sensors fault.

Oil opinion is who you talk to, boys at MX-6 Forum swear by synthetic oil, plus it was (dunno if it is now) on buy one get one free for Castrol RS (£32 for 4ltr) at Halfords

Clutch lever switch? Never heard of it.......

Have seen these kinda disc-manual thingy's on eBay, already have one (not Mazda-it helps in some respects, but is limited) but the ones on being auctioned at the moment seem genuine enough, starting around £5-£6 mark....

Just had a look at workshop manuals site and its the same Mitchell-On-Demand I have, it seems to be very biased to the US market, (Protege instead of 323 name etc).
I can't really recommend it at £15...........
I'm gonna see about getting the ones on eBay at the mo, but these are parts and prices discs, not instruction kinda things as Mitchell.

I bought the disk from Ebay that is supposed to cover all models of Mazda but it does not cover the 323f BA.

I've got the Mitchell on Demand, and the Mazda Electronic Part Catalogue - both are very good in their own repects.

My Mitchell version has the 323f listed under 1994 - is this why you can't find yours 'copper'?

Rich

There is definitely a switch on the clutch pedal arm, similar to a brake light switch....

Rich - is your Mitchell manual the one that covers just about any Mazda from 1983 to 2002 (except the RX7)? The only one I found on eBay the other day was a parts catalogue.

Yeah - I reckon it is!

Ah ha! Found it now Mark thanks.






Sean

marky makr

did u get the mazda manual? any good? interested in getting some thing similar, just wondering what you thought!

have got the V6 as well, havent seen anything on the clutch pedal, have cleaned around there often enough but dont remeber any thing.

Will

Hope to order the manual tomorrow but we're away on hols/honeymoon from Wednesday for the next 8 days so I won't get to find out for a while......

I saw the mystery switch while hunting for the immobiliser box (you need the serial number to get the codes from Mazda for extra keys) so its deffo there.....

Congratulations!

I had my 323F as my wedding car for me and the best man! Ribbons, ballons the lot! - it was shameful

[color=red][b]Mark[/b][/color]

Thank you.

We had a 1930 Cadillac for Melanie & her dad to arrive in but the Mazda got decorated by best man & co for when we went home the next day. The ashtrays & other cubby holes etc still have glittery bits of confetti & stuff in. It seems to hide everywhere. Time for a valeting maybe....

We had a white new-style London Cab for Cheryl and the bridesmaids because the owner of the vintage(ish) Rolls didn't want the wheels sprayed with disinfectant (it was during the foot period and we were in an agricultural area).

My car was also 'decorated' for the drive home in the morning, but the people who did it were on STRICT instructions from my mother-in-law that they mustn't put or stick anything on the body work


[color=red][b]Mark[/b][/color]

I was the best man for my friend's wedding and my 'F' was decked out with ballons to take them away to the hotel at the end of the evening!!


Helium ballons don't like travelling at speed........

Hi Marky mark.

Had the cluch housing break on my 98 323 (see cluch pedal) and phoned my local Mazda dealer about the cluch switch, all he could tell me was that when you push the cluch pedal in it tell's the ECU "that the cluch pedal has been pushed in" (der) but he did'nt know why!!! something to do with the electronic brain.
Hope you have as much fun in your ZXI as i have.

Hello Tiswas

It is indeed a mystery. I figured a link to the ECU was a good bet but I can't imagine why it would care that the clutch pedal was pushed in. Maybe my super-duper manual will give a clue (when I get round to buying it....). Starting cycle ie injector fuel output/ignition sparks signals.....????

The ZXi is a great little car and we're looking forward to lots of fun miles in her (British roads allowing of course). My wife loves the car too and spends more time driving than I do (keeps her happy, which is always a good thing). It's nice to just open the bonnet and take in the sight of so much, er, ....engine. Tidy though.

Also found out that some Jap cars have a system where you have to push the cluch pedal down before you can start the engine (some sort of safety feature) apparently they wire them all the same whether they need it or not, so the switch on the pedal may not be doing anything (ie not connected at the other end) (only a theory).

Same as on our Suzukis then (but it's actually functional on those)....

Most Kawasaki's (and other bikes) have a starter cut-out on the clutch to prevent you starting the engine with the bike in gear and throwing you off in suprise ... Most people I know have by-passed this 'cause of the irritation.

Got a Kawasaki ZX7R this has the cluch switch fitted, so it won't start in gear.