minor idle issue
 

im guessing its either the coasting valve or the shutter solenoid valve. basically the hose from the air cleaner to the coasting valve was removed from the air cleaner and plugged with a large bolt, the car runs and idles fine this way but when i hook it back up to the air cleaner and rev it a little it seems to have more power but it won't idle. anybody have any idea exactly what that would be or should i just go ahead and replace the two things that i think it is? how much are those parts gonna run me?

any ideas or suggestions?

The only time that the coasting valve and therefore the shutter valve should activate is during a fairly heavy decel. Other wise the coasting valve should be closed and the effect would be the same as the hose to the air cleaner being pluged. If you go to the FAQ page you can see where to get a copy of the FSM which will tell you how to test both the solenoid and the coasting valve. If the coasting valve/ shutter solenoid has failed and the coasting valve is "activated" all the time it would be like having a large vacuum leak all the time and there would be a horn like noise coming from the air cleaner/hose. This would also explain why it will not idle. If they are failed in the non-activated position you would be more suseptible to backfiring. I don't know why you would seem to get more power. The coasting valve (they call it the shutter valve) can be purchsed from Mazdatrix: part # 13-130A-1480 for $101.58. I don't know about the price of the solenoid but I think that it might be a dealer only item.

yeah when i have it hooked up it makes a loud funny noise. so will it hurt to just keep driving it plugged the way it is? is it ok to buy those parts used or will they likely just go out again?

As far as driving it with the hose plugged I guess it won't hurt anything, people drive around with the coasting valve, as well as the rest of the emision stuf off all the time. But if the coasting valve or solenoid is indeed bad it it may be activating the shutter valve in the intake manifold which would be shutting off 2 of the barrels of the carb. As far as I know there is no way to remove the shutter valve without removing the manifold. Othes may know of a way. That may explain the power issue. First get the factory service manual or a Haynes service manual and test them to see if you need one or both of the parts. It is kind of a pain to change out the coasting valve as its buried behind and underneath the carb. I think Mazdatrix has a write-up on doing this on the page where they sell the coasting valve so that you can do it without removing the carb. If you can find them used go for it. But check them to make sure they're good.

awesome thanks for the info guys it was a big help