Seeking Advice on Potential Secondary Air Valve Issue in '02 Mazda Demio

Hey, sounds similar to a hassle I had with my '00 Mazda Familia, petrol engine as well. I'm no mechanic, but I've got some experience with cars. That strong exhaust smell and poor mileage pointed me to an issue with an electric switching valve. Took it down to my local garage, set me back about 140 Euro to fix it. All's running smooth after the fix. How many miles does your Demio have? And has it been regularly serviced? Could help outline your problem better. Keep us posted!

Hey, thanks for the quick reply! My Demio has run about 229004 KM so far. I typically get it serviced regularly, last one was a few months back. Your insight about an electric switching valve sounds interesting - gonna check it out and see if it aligns with my beast's symptoms. Will definitely keep you posted on how things go. Enjoy the ride!

No worries! That's quite a few miles on your Demio, interesting though. In my case, my Familia started showing similar symptoms around the 210,000 KM mark. Given the regular servicing and maintenance, there are a few possibilities. I mentioned the electric switching valve because it's related to emission control - like your secondary air valve. Both help reduce harmful emissions by rerouting fumes back into the combustion process. If any of them malfunctions, you'll probably see that check engine light and smell stronger exhaust. For fuel economy, it could be related or it might be something else, like a bad oxygen sensor, misfiring spark plugs or even a clogged air filter. You're on the right path of checking it out, remember to get different opinions before throwing money at the problem, aye. Keep us in the loop with what you find out. Safe journeys, comrade!

You bet, comrade! Your explanation about emissions-related components certainly makes a lot of sense in my case. And those potential causes for poor fuel economy, gonna get them checked too. Thanks heaps for your advice; I'll make sure to get multiple diagnostic opinions before forking out the dollars. Your experience with your Familia is really helpful as I navigate this issue with my Demio. Will definitely keep the gang updated on my beast's progress. Stay safe and keep rolling smooth!