Solved: A Mazda 6 that underperforms

July 17, 2024

This 2006 Mazda 6 idled just fine, but the 2.3L turbo engine barely performed and exhibited poor power output under cruise and acceleration. The same DTC seemed to show up, but never at the same time as any driveability concern.

Brandon Steckler

After justified removal of the HPFP for visual inspection, a broken camshaft pumpdrive was discovered. The cam was replaced and the vehicle was repaired.

Motor Age Technical Editor Brandon Steckler and the technician keyed in on an analysis of PIDs. Get reacquainted with the details of the Mazda 6 here.

Steckler asked fellow technicians to choose from one of four options:

Reset camshaft timing and re-evaluate
Inspect camshaft/pump condition
Condemn FVR (HPFP assembly)
Condemn HPFP piston/chamber (HPFP assembly)

For those of you who chose answer No. 2, congratulations!

Answer No. 1 is incorrect. Even though cam timing has a drastic effect on HPFP output, the late intake cam timing would’ve yielded higher-than-commanded rail pressure. Answer No. 3 is incorrect as the FVR has been proven to be functional through voltage and amperage testing. Replacing the FVR (HPFP assembly) would make no change to the symptom or data collected. The answer could certainly be a possible fault and the likely cause of the zero HPFP-output. However, we cannot condemn the HPFP until visual inspection of the cam lobes and pump drive has been made. The HPFP was removed, and the intake camshaft was found to be broken at the pump drive cam lobes, preventing the HPFP piston from stroking (Figure 1).

Be sure to keep reading Motor Age for monthly diagnostic challenges, and the answers that solve the problems.

About the Author

Brandon Steckler | Technical Editor | Motor Age

Brandon began his career in Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a student of GM’s Automotive Service Educational program. In 2001, he graduated top of his class and earned the GM Leadership award for his efforts. He later began working as a technician at a Saturn dealership in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he quickly attained Master Technician status. He later transitioned to working with Hondas, where he aggressively worked to attain another Master Technician status.

Always having a passion for a full understanding of system/component functionality, he rapidly earned a reputation for deciphering strange failures at an efficient pace and became known as an information specialist among the staff and peers at the dealership. In search of new challenges, he transitioned away from the dealership and to the independent world, where he specialized in diagnostics and driveability.

Today, he is an instructor with both Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute. Along with beta testing for Automotive Test Solutions, he develops curriculum/submits case studies for educational purposes. Through Steckler Automotive Technical Services, LLC., Brandon also provides telephone and live technical support, as well as private training, for technicians all across the world.

Brandon holds ASE certifications A1-A9 as well as C1 (Service Consultant). He is certified as an Advanced Level Specialist in L1 (Advanced Engine Performance), L2 (Advanced Diesel Engine Performance), L3 (Hybrid/EV Specialist), L4 (ADAS) and xEV-Level 2 (Technician electrical safety).

He contributes weekly to Facebook automotive chat groups, has authored several books and classes, and truly enjoys traveling across the globe to help other technicians attain a level of understanding that will serve them well throughout their careers.