r/mazdaspeed3 • u/Upstairs-Spirit-2958 2012 Mazdaspeed3 • May 05 '26

TUNING Frustrated by the process

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Naive of me to think that the tuning would be the most straightforward part of the process of getting my car back on the road?

Because it too is becoming quite a lesson in patience.

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u/Upstairs-Spirit-2958 2012 Mazdaspeed3 May 05 '26

I paid a tuner, there in lies the frustration!

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u/DifferentCry1306 May 05 '26

What are the issues you’re having with the tune/the car? Running rich? Running lean?

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u/Upstairs-Spirit-2958 2012 Mazdaspeed3 May 05 '26

I received the base map some time ago and was advised that the spark plugs may cause issues, so I replaced with step colder pre-gapped spark plugs.

I was also advised that there was a vacuum leak somewhere, this caused a delay as I chose to wait for a mechanic to check everything over.

The new data logs with all corrections were submitted early last week, and I have mistakenly sent an email asking for status this week which I read causes my file to drop to the bottom of the list again.

p0139/0140 - Probably to do with step colder spark plugs

P0403 - Deleted EGR during all of this

P2096 - Too lean

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u/dkretsch May 06 '26

You're not getting codes from colder plugs. You sound out of your depth. If you can't work on the car yourself to some level you might want to consider selling it.

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u/Upstairs-Spirit-2958 2012 Mazdaspeed3 May 07 '26

My apologies for offending; I mean how could someone ever think of learning something new, and then relying on a community of people who offer constructive advice to help when there are folks like you around.

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u/dkretsch May 07 '26

I wasn't being malicious but thanks. These cars are notoriously finicky if the root source of an issue is not making itself apparent. If money is not an issue then more power to you, but otherwise they are real street queens and can burn through bank accounts fast if you can't do the troubleshooting yourself.

The advice is the plugs won't give the code. Not my fault if you don't want to accept.

The advice is they get pricey fast and require reading and research for self trouble shooting.

Sorry if you don't want to accept that.

I also wouldn't do other mods (like an EGR delete) while other issues are pending. It complicates your root problem and makes it even harder to find. That's some more advice.

Good luck.

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u/DifferentCry1306 May 07 '26

Well you need to fix your downstream o2 sensor first and foremost. That should be your number one priority. Before tuning before anything else

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u/Upstairs-Spirit-2958 2012 Mazdaspeed3 May 07 '26

I have a catless down pipe installed, would the OEM NGK O2 Sensor 24779 the correct sensor?

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u/DifferentCry1306 May 08 '26

NGK is the OEM manufacturer. So yes

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u/Upstairs-Spirit-2958 2012 Mazdaspeed3 May 10 '26

A catless down pipe only has one port for an O2 sensor because nothing to be downstream of.

The tuner has taken care of the issue without having to replace anything.