LauKleeRacer

2003 Mazda Bongo Engine Issues: Difficult Starts, Flickering Lights, and Unusual Noises

Hey! I've got a 2003 Mazda Bongo with a gas engine racking up around 200,546 KM on it. Lately, I've been dealing with a bunch of strange things. Firstly, my morning starts got harder and longer, the battery seems to be struggling, and I even had a no-start situation a couple of times. Then there's this weird noise coming from the engine and dimming or flickering lights. A warning light has also blinkered on the speedometer. I'm guessing it's something that prevents the engine from starting, but being burnt by a mechanic last time, I wanted to arm myself with some info before heading their way again. Has anyone faced similar issues and have any insights into what the problem could be, or had any good/bad mechanic experiences with these symptoms? Any information would be of great help. Cheers!

4 comment(s)

Hey! Your symptoms threw me back to my experiences with my 2006 Mazda MX-5. Similar mileage, similar issues - morning starts became an absolute struggle, and that pesky warning light started to make a nuisance of itself. Plus, the ever-annoying flickering lights and the strange dance they did. After some back and forth, it turned out to be a defective starter motor in my case. The motor was struggling to get the engine going, hence the longer cranking times, and the battery drain was taking a toll on the electrics, hence the unusual light show. Not the most fun discovery, I tell you. Didn't turn out to be a catastrophe though. After replacing the starter motor, all those symptoms disappeared and my MX-5 was back to its old self. So, it's worth having your starter motor checked. As always with older models, things can give up any time and you don't want to get caught out. Good luck!

Hey there, Wow, your situation sounds eerily similar to mine. I'm a little relieved that you managed to sort it out by replacing the starter motor. Makes me think maybe that should be my first port of call. I've got to ask though, do you recall what sort of cost you were looking at for this repair? I'm trying to brace myself for the shock, haha! This old Bongo has been pretty reliable so far, but I guess things are bound to start going downhill at this mileage. Also, have you had any other problems with your Mazda since fixing the starter motor? You've successfully piqued my curiosity. Cheers!

Hey! Oh boy, I can definitely relate to your fear of that repair bill, haha! For my 2006 MX-5, replacing the defective starter motor ran me up a tab of around 565€. Granted, it's not pocket change, but all things considered, it wasn't too bad comparing that getting the old girl back to running like clockwork was the end result. And let me tell you, ever since that fix, she's been starting up like a dream, no more will-she-won't-she moments. The engine not starting was totally sorted out, so your Mazda Bongo should be fine after a similar treatment. I swear, it was a lifesaver. I've had a couple of minor things crop up since then, but honestly, nothing major or worth losing sleep over. I'd say getting your starter motor checked out is a good plan. Good luck with it, hope it goes smoothly!

Hey again, A big thank you for sharing your past experience with me. Hearing that your old Mazda's been running smoothly post the starter motor fix is somewhat comforting. The price tag of around 565€ seems reasonable enough, considering it's restoring your peace of mind, isn't it? So, I think I'm gonna brace myself, take the leap and head down to the garage to get this starter motor thing checked out. Fingers crossed I'll be able to share a success story just like yours in the coming days. Appreciate your help. If I encounter any more wonky things or major breakthroughs with my old Bongo, I'll be sure to keep this conversation going. Cheers, and happy motoring!

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