Intermittent issue of the car not staying running?

2013 MAZDA 3
70,100 MILES • 2.0L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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THE RON
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At times my car won't stay started. Then at other times it starts and runs great. I have noticed on the ground next to the exhaust pipe a puddle of clear water, no smell from the water. It has been checked out with no codes showing a problem.
Jan 2, 2024 at 5:16 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 110,194 POSTS
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Hi,

If there are no codes, the first thing I would check would be the Coolant Temp Sensor (ECT).

If the ECT is sending the incorrect information to the ECM, it can cause the air/fuel mixture to be off enough to cause this to happen. Also, if it is off, as long as the sensor is sending a signal (right or wrong signal) the ECM doesn't realize it is wrong.

To check this, use a live data scan tool. Before starting the engine, you would connect the live data scan tool and see what the sensor indicates. The temperature should be a few degrees within the ambient temperature.

Is this something you could check or have checked? Keep in mind, the test will need to be done when the problem is happening, so that may make it a bit more difficult.

Let me know.

Joe
Jan 2, 2024 at 7:41 PM
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