Know Your Parts: IAC Valve

 

You may or may not be familiar with the working of an idle air control valve, but just in case, here's what it is, where you can find it, and how you can tell if yours is going bad.

An Idle Air Control Valve, or IAC Valve for short, is controlled by the car’s computer, and uses a solenoid to control a valve that controls the air flow into the air’s intake by bypassing the throttle body through an alternately routed air tube coming from your main inlet air tube attached to your air filter at one end, and your throttle body at the other.  For reference, it is attached to your Mazda's throttle body.

So, why are we mentioning this to you?  Sometimes an IAC Valve can have an effect on your vehicle’s performance.  If your vehicle idles funny, or perhaps even stalls, it could be due to a faulty IAC Valve.  Most commonly, IAC Valves simply get dirty, but every now and then the solenoid can stop working, causing severe idle problems.

If you think you might have an issue with your IAC Valve on your Mazda, or think yours needs replacing, feel free to send us a message.  We’ll be happy to help!

What Are Oxygen Sensors?

Oxygen sensors (O2 sensors, alternatively) measure...you guessed it, oxygen.  More specifically, they measure the oxygen content in the gas or exhaust.  They are plunged into your exhaust both before and after your catalytic converter(s). The reason oxygen sensors are so important is that they help your car's computer determine the correct amount of fuel necessary for your car to idle and run properly.  When your oxygen sensors are engaged, your fuel system is said to be in Closed Loop, which simplifies to meaning the amount of fuel being put in is determined by the amount of oxygen being pushed out.

So, what can go wrong when your O2 sensors aren't functioning properly?  For starters, you car can stall out.  To get into Closed Loop, your engine (specifically your engine coolant) needs to be at normal temperature.  Usually though, O2 sensors break down over time, so before you might stall out completely, you'll notice very erratic idling behavior.  Another possibility is low fuel efficiency, as your car will attempt to operate in Open Loop more (meaning the air to fuel ratio is determined by the air coming into the air intake).

Depending on your vehicle, oxygen sensors usually need replacing around 60,000 to 90,000 miles, but this can vary greatly.  If you're unsure about the status of your O2 sensors, bring your Mazda into Parks Mazda at your convenience and we'll take a look at them for you!

All-Season Tires and Summer Tires: What's the Difference?

We've all heard of all-season tires, and many of us are familiar with summer and winter tires, but what's really the difference?  Here's our take.

With all-season tires, you are getting the "second-best" of any tire style, rolled into one.  This means you're getting good to great traction in all seasons, but probably not the best for any specific season.  You might get a little bit better traction on snow, but sacrificing some wet gripping capability.

As for summer tires, or any season-specific tire for that matter, they're usually offering the best technology for summer.  When conditions don't involve snow, go for the summer tire.  You get great grip in both wet and dry conditions.  However, if you live somewhere (like NC) that experiences all seasons, you're going to want either winter tires or opt for the more manageable all-season tires.

Here's a great article from Popular Mechanics covering this issue more in-depth.  Ready to get new tires?  Parks Mazda can help you decide which are best for you, or help you find the ones you want.

2013 Mazda CX-5 Awarded for Quality

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 was recently awarded for its great looks and functionality.  The J.D. Power APEAL award, short for Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout, judges vehicles based on their overall design and the performance of that design.

"The CX-5 is Mazda's first vehicle to fully incorporate SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY as well as the KODO "Soul of Motion" design language," says Mazda.  "Offering best-in-class combined fuel economy, including the highest highway miles per gallon (MPG) of any SUV sold in North America – hybrid or not – at 35 MPG."

The CX-5 is also cited to have great safety technology, handling, and of course, price.  All these things make the CX-5 a great value year after year.

If you think the 2013 CX-5 is a good fit for your needs, feel free to stop by Parks Mazda to see if we can help you decide it's the car for you.

How to Jump Start a Car

Do you know how to jump start your car if the battery's dead?  Maybe you do and you're just curious on the proper way to do it.  Either way, most of us have and if you haven't jump started a vehicle, you will at some point, so we thought we'd list all of the steps for you!

1. Pull the active car that you’re using to power your own as close to your car as possible, without touching.
2. Make sure both vehicles are turned off.
3. Connect the cables appropriately.
   1. Take one end of the positive (red) jumper cable and connect it to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
   2. Connect the other end of the positive (red) jumper cable to the positive terminal of the charged battery.
   3. Connect one end of the negative (black) jumper cable to the negative terminal on the charged battery.
   4. Take the other end of the negative (black) jumper cable and ground it.

i.      Ground the negative cable by hooking it up to an unpainted (and clean!) metal surface under your car’s hood—not the engine. We recommend a nut or a bolt.
ii.      If you cannot find an okay place to ground the cable, then connect it to the dead battery’s negative terminal.

1. Turn on the charged car, allowing it to run for about three minutes.
2. Start the engine of the disabled vehicle.
3. If successful, disconnect the cables in the exact opposite order in which you originally connected them.

There you have it; the proper way to jump start a car!

Mazda3 Making Cross-Continental Journey

On August 3, Mazda will be sending eight Mazda3 hatchbacks out for the ultimate test drive. They will be driving from Hiroshima, Japan to Frankfurt, Germany—a journey that lasts for 30 days and covers 9,300 miles, two continents, five countries, and more than 30 cities!

The first continental tour was in 1977 when German reporters drove two Mazda 323 hatchbacks. Thirteen years later in 1990, four Mazda 626s set out on the Peace Tour. This year, the 3rd cross-continental journey will be called “Mazda Route3” and uses the same route.

Starting in Mazda's hoetown of Hiroshima, the pack will take a ferry to Russia, starting its journey inVladivostok.  From there, the convoy will travel through the plains of Siberia and visit remote villages and UNESCO world heritage sites before moving on through Belarus, Poland, and finally Germany. You can follow along on the tour’s dedicated website.

See more of the 2014 Mazda3

Last week we introduced you to the stunning new 2014 Mazda3, so this week we thought we'd share more Mazda3 news by showing you the first commercial for the newest addition to the Mazda legacy.

As you can see, it really is a complete redesign, much like the 2014 Mazda6, looking very similar as well thanks to the new Kodo design.

 So, now that you've caught a glimpse of the new Mazda3 in action, how badly do you want to drive one?  In the meantime however, be sure to stop by Parks Mazda to see test the 2013 Mazda3, and also watch out for any upcoming specials!

The 2014 Mazda3 Is Here

The new Mazda3 is Mazda at its absolute best.  The vehicle is stunning, but it's also a performer. 

Debuting earlier this week via a live Xbox Live feed, the newest addition to Mazda's 2014 line-up adds aggressiveness and technology you just can't get from anyone else, and especially in the segment the Mazda3 competes.

Like the beautiful, new 2014 Mazda6, the 2014 Mazda3 utilizes Mazda's Kodo design and integrates several new features that enhance every aspect of driving.

Whichever Skyactiv engine you choose, be it the 2.0L or the 2.5L, the new Mazda3 will deliver all of the engine's performance while maintaining maximum efficiency based on current conditions.  Active grille shutters open and close to make the car more aerodynamic and keep the engine as cool as it needs to be.  The Active Driving Display features a line-of-sight data area for the driver, while new safety-intensive apps make for a safer ride.

Want to learn more about the wonderful 2014 Mazda3?  Keep up with us on our Facebook and Twitter pages to see the latest information.

Mazda Clebrates Ten Years of the Mazda3

In celebration of the Mazda3's tenth anniversary, it looks like Mazda will be unveiling a new Mazda3 very soon, or so we've heard. Whether it's the new Mazda3 or something different, we can confirm that the unveil will be in coordination with the new Xbox One console.

This comes on the heels of the new Mazda6's success in coordination with the new Star Trek Into Darkness film, so we think this is a perfect way to keep riding the innovative wave with the newest Mazda3. Back to the new Mazda3.

Regardless of when or how it's unveiled, we think the newest iteration will follow the new Kodo design that's implemented on the 2014 Mazda6. Needless to say the newest Mazda3 should look equally great.

 If you want to keep up with Mazda and Xbox One, check the hashtag #GameChanger, and be sure to enter the contest!

The Mighty Mazda Miata

Are you ready for a showdown?  Enter some of the world's fastest production cars, a few top notch domestics, and...a Mazda Miata, all vying to be crowned the fastest:


  How great is this video? We hope you got a small kick out it!

Auto Insurance Tips

One often overlooked and very important aspect of car shopping is auto insurance.  We thought we'd help you out a little bit and provide some useful tips for this forgotten, costly expense.

Shop around.  The obvious first suggestion is to shop around.  It's incredible how big the differences can be between quotes.  If it's possible, try to get an unbiased source to provide you with quotes, but no matter what, always make sure you're dealing with a licensed agent.

Hidden discounts.  There are so many discounts that people never know they could be receiving.  Things such as having anti-lock brakes and daytime running lights can ever lower your cost.

Paying the premium.  Always pay your premium on time and in full (even if there's a dispute), as there's no grace period for automobile insurance.  Also, if you increase your deductible, you can lower that premium.

Want more tips?  The NC Department of Insurance has a very helpful (yet lengthy) guide.

Buy or Lease?

If you're looking for a new Mazda, you might still be up in the air about whether or not you will decide to purchase your new car...so we thought we'd weigh some pros and cons on buying and leasing to get you going.

When you lease a vehicle, you have less to worry about and pay for in regards to maintaining it.  You’ll also be driving the newest model available at the time of the lease, and you can do that continuously.  Finally, you don’t ever absorb the full depreciation costs of the car, but only for the length of your lease.

When you finance a vehicle, you own it, and after some time you will no longer have to make payments on it.  You don’t have to worry about any penalties and your insurance is less limited, and you are also able to build equity based on your vehicle’s depreciation rate.

Both buying and leasing have their disadvantages as well, such as paying back interest when a car is purchased, or higher insurance costs for a leased vehicle.  The fact of the matter is that there are an endless number of factors to consider when deciding between financing or leasing, so outlining both the benefits and disadvantages in terms of priority can be of benefit when making your decision.

Parks Mazda is glad to help answer any questions you have on purchasing your next vehicle.  Feel free to contact us or simply stop by!

Spring Car Care Tips

With springtime now in full bloom, we thought we’d share a few care care tips to help keep your Mazda in top shape this spring.

The most important and most obvious starting place is performance of routine maintenance as indicated by your Mazda owner’s manual.  This includes changing the oil and flushing of other fluids among other things.

Next, replace your wiper blades and filters.  This could include your air filter, oil filter, or fuel filter among a few others that have become clogged or dirty beyond cleaning.

Also check that your tires are ready for springtime's heat and rain.  Winter and snow aren't friendly to cars, especially the tires, and can cause low tire pressure which might result in unbalanced tread wear.

Finally, make sure your engine is good to go.  This means your serpentine belt is tight and your car is starting easily and running smoothly at idle.  A few causes for these problems relate to electrical malfunctions, be it in the ignition or sensors.  Also be sure to make your A/C is functioning properly as it can effect your Mazda’s cooling abilities.

Mazda in Action

We though we'd take a "brake" from letting you know about our specials and what not (we're going to let the website do that today!)...to share this great video from Red Bull.

The video is of driver "Mad Mike" driving, or more specifically, drifting a superpowered Mazda RX-7 through the hills of New Zealand's South Island.  We promise you'll enjoy it.

For us, we think the video does a great job of capturing some of that Mazda spirit to defy expectations.  The RX-7's rotary engine, the beyond-impressive driving, and the gorgeous landscape all evoke that spirit, and we're proud to be a part of that.

Vehcile Maintenance Mistakes

If you happen to have the extra time to perform some routine vehicle maintenance, it's a great way to save some cash and put it toward more important vehicle services.  However, a lot of us are guilty of some common, but not well known, maintenance mistakes.  Here's a few of the more common of these easy-to-make vehicle maintenance mistakes:

- Tire Inflation.  Many times, people take the reading on the tire's sidewall as the recommended air pressure.  Usually, this is the maximum recommended pressure the tire can withstand, and filling to this pressure could result in a tire blowout among other things.  People assume that higher air pressure results in better mileage, performance, etc. but it can actually lead to improperly balanced tread wear as well as a rough ride and decreased mileage.  Decreased performance and shorter tire life are ultimately the results of over-inflating.  Rotating your tires will also help with any asymmetrical tread wear.

- The "tune up."  Vehicles no longer need regular adjustment of parts, such as carburetors, ignition timing, and valve adjustments.  New vehicle computers take care of all these components themselves, leaving only spark plug replacement associated with the "tune up" moniker.

- Higher octane fuel.  It's easy to assume that higher octane fuel, because of its cost and some loose associations to certain types of vehicles, results in better performance and/or efficiency.  The truth is, the octane rating is an indication of the fuel's ability to resist fuel ignition, also called knocking.  New car technology, such as knock sensors, and OEM's have a recommendation for the proper octane fuel to be used, so it's important to follow the suggestion in order to maintain your vehicle's optimum performance.

Check out this article for more maintenance mistakes and how to correct them. If you'd rather have these services done by Parks Mazda, we'd be glad to assist you!