questions: loose stock mount ignition coil, coil relocation, & noisy knock readings
 

Hey all, I have been trying to track down a strange behavior of my knock sensor lately. I poked around my engine bay to discover that the box-like bracket that holds the ignitor coils is loose. Thinking that it may be a contributor to the strange knock readings (very noisy off boost, quiet under boost... actually starts high and decreases with revs), I want to tighten up the connection.

I'm not sure what the frequency response is like on the knock sensor, but I would hope that mazda used one which responds to high frequencies (like a detonation ping) as opposed to relatively low frequency rattling of brackets on the motor.

Anyway, I took off my UIM and TB to get to the bracket and noticed that there's one nut keeping the thing from moving everywhere, but that there were some other fasteners which were not present. See attached pic.

It seems I'm missing some mounting hardware, probably where the sequential vacuum rack (I'm non sequential) sits and another one towards the aft end of the car (closer to the oil filter). Currently there are no studs to screw the aft end or the inboard side of the bracket, contributing to the looseness of the bracket... I'm considering relocating the coil packs...

MY QUESTIONS: Am I missing some mounting hardware for this thing? Also, anyone who has relocated your coils, do you have any regrets (and no I'm not worried about cruise control)? Thanks in advance :)

You are missing the bottom mounting bracket. I just got done removing my coils and they are mounted on the emission rack. Don't know about if the rattling coil packs would cause knock though.

thanks
 

Hey thanks for the note and pic. You live in Riverside? Not too far from me :) I talked to a buddy of mine and I may end up relocating the coils. You don't happen to have a spare emssion rack laying around do you?

Sorry I don't, but I remember seeing some on e-bay not too long ago.

Before I go looking for another one (the "emissions" bracket), does the bracket bolt directly to the motor? It looks like there's two spots where it may bolt up, one on the driver's side of the motor (there's a few holes there that appear to mate up with the motor), but what about on the passenger side? Or does it attach to the vacuum/solenoid rack? My car is non sequential so I don't have the vacuum rack... thanks again.

From what I recall the bracket only bolts up on the drivers side of the rotor housings.