Mazda 323 Problems

Are you having problems with your Mazda 323? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest Mazda 323 issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the Mazda 323 in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Used Mazda 323 review: 1994-2003
By Ewan Kennedy · 24 May 2016
Mazda first sold cars in Australia in the 1960s and was a minor player for quite a few years as Australians were very suspicious about cars coming from Japan in those days. How things have changed.The Mazda 323 first arrived as an interesting little rear-wheel-drive hatch in February 1977. These are very scary as used cars nowadays, probably because most have rusted away, they were shockers when the tin-worm took hold. Despite that bad start Mazda persisted and the 323 came into its own with a new generation model launched in August 1994, which is where we pick them up in this used-car checkout. The Mazda 323 had become became a front-wheel-drive in 1980 as small rear-drivers were being phased out by all makers. Interestingly, Ford Laser is a Mazda 323 with minor changes, they were assembled in Sydney and not finished to quite the same high standard. To this day, the Mazdas hold a higher regard.Mazda's name really started to lift, when the 323 was replaced by a new model called the Mazda3 in 2004 - indicating that Mazda saw it as being in the 3 Series BMW class - well almost. The humble little 323 benefited from this push to a stronger image and plenty are on the used-car market to this day. Obviously they are getting on in years, but get yourself a good one and you can be sitting pretty in a well built, long lasting machine.The 323 is simple to drive and handles reasonably well for its class and age. It has good ride comfort on most roads, but doesn't like rough and ready back roads - and some suburban roads in Australia can fall into this category. Try the little Mazda on these on your pre-purchase test drive.The Mazda 323 was offered as a four-door sedan, four-door hardtop, five-door hatchback and a station wagon. The sedan from 1994 until 1996 continued to use the old body, first released in 1989. Interesting attempts were made to push Mazda 323 into the luxury segment. Between 1994 and 1998 it even came with the option of a V6 engine. That Mazda 323 V6s were overpriced but are worth hunting down on the used market as the engine is delightfully smooth - though in the manner of European cars it does need lots of revs to get the best from it. Four-cylinder engines in the Mazda 323 have capacities of 1.6 and 1.8 litres, the 1.6 being by far the most common. Gearbox options are five-speed manual and either three or four-speed automatic transmission. The three-speed auto was only used on the lower cost models and only until 1996, when it was replaced by a four-speed. Around town the three-speed works well enough, on the open road the engine is pretty busy.Mazda's 323 is reasonably easy to work on. As is often the way with Japanese cars it's sometimes best to remove the complete engine/ transmission assembly when doing anything more than the more basic of repair work. Good amateur mechanics can do smaller jobs, but as always we recommend anything concerning safety should only be done by professionals.Because of the latter day sales success, the Mazda dealer network is widespread and there are dealers in most country towns of any size. Spare parts are generally readily available, though some less-common bits for the oldest models are starting to become scarce.Insurance premiums are moderate and we don't know of any of the major insurers that differentiate between the four and six-cylinder engines.Ford's Laser, sold from 1981 till 2002, was heavily based on the Mazda 323, though not the six-cylinder engine, offering a further source for spare parts. Laser was built in Sydney and quality wasn't as high as in cars made in Japanese, so beware second-hand bits.Check the engine's cam-drive belt has been replaced according to the servicing schedule. Failure to do so can cause expensive engine damage.Be cautious of engines that blow smoke from the exhaust, especially under hard acceleration. Let it idle for about a minute before carrying out this test. Manual gearboxes should be light and simple in their operation. Any reluctance to go into a lower gear should be treated as a likely problem.Be wary of an automatic transmission that is either reluctant to change, too eager to change, or which is harsh when it does change gears.Sun-damaged paint, at its worst on the horizontal surfaces, is common in Mazda 323s that have spent most of their life parked outside.The interior trim generally stands up well. Again, sun damage, this time on the top of the dash, can be a problem.Rust is unusual in the Mazda 323s of this era. To be on the safe side check the lower areas of the car's body, around the front and rear windscreens and the fuel filler cap.Drive the car with the steering on full lock in one direction then the other and listen for clicking sounds from the front-axle universal joints.
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Replacing Astina with Mazda 2?
Answered by Graham Smith · 04 Dec 2015

The Mazda2 is rated to tow 500kg unbraked or 900kg braked, which would seem sufficient to handle your box trailer, but it depends on the weight of the trailer. Other cars of a similar size are similarly rated, so if you want to tow more than the Mazda2 is rated for you would need a larger car.

Should I scrap my '87 Mazda 323
Answered by Graham Smith · 15 Mar 2018

Based on your description it’s only worth what a scrap merchant might give you. If you really want to try and sell it ask $500 and you might get $200.

Should I buy a 2018 Mazda 3 Astina or a 2019 Mazda 3 GT25?
Answered by David Morley · 27 Mar 2023

Both these cars are well equipped, well built and have a good reputation in the trade. Which means you won’t regret buying either of them. In turn, that means that the decision will come down to whether the extra standard equipment of the Astina model outweighs the factory warranty of the SP25 GT.

The extra gear in the Astina amounted to 10-way adjustable powered front seats with a memory function, specific 18-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, radar cruise-control, forward obstacle warning, adaptive headlights, lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance, and smart brake support. Whether you reckon that standard gear is better than a year of so of factory warranty is entirely up to you. The only problem being that when the warranty runs out, you might start to think differently about the relative value of the two cars.

How much should it cost to fix a 2000 Mazda 323 pick up issue?
Answered by David Morley · 15 Sep 2020

I’m not sure if you mean pick-up as in acceleration or pick-up as in a sensor that should `pick up’ electronic signals and send them to the computer to control the car’s functions. And even if I assume you mean the car has a problem with accelerating, I have no idea what could be causing the issue with no list of symptoms or observations. It could be dragging brakes, a worn out engine, poor tuning, a dodgy fuel pump, tired park plugs and about a million other possibilities. Sorry, but you’ve stumped me.

What should I do if my 1995 Mazda 323 is leaking oil?
Answered by David Morley · 19 Sep 2021

Your car is certainly exhibiting the signs of a car with a blown head gasket. The smoke from the exhaust is one symptom, and so is the loss of performance. The oil leaks, could be part of the same problem, but could also be from somewhere else on the engine. Oil leaks have a cunning habit of being able to hide their true source.

On top of that, even the exhaust smoke and lack of performance could be down to something other than a head gasket problem, so the next step is to take the car to a workshop and have what’s known as a TK test carried. This test will chemically detect if combustion from the engine cylinders is finding its way into the coolant. If it is, you can be pretty sure that you have a blown head gasket.

At that point, you need to weigh up the cost of repairs to see whether you think it’s worth doing, given the overall condition of the car versus the cost of getting into something newer. If you really love the Mazda as much as you say, then maybe the cost of changing the head gasket will be acceptable compared with how you value the vehicle. And even if the repairs cost $2000 or even $3000 (which they could depending on how deep into the engine you need to go and what else you find wrong) there’s not much out there in today’s market for that money that represents anything even remotely decent.

How do I put fuel in my Mazda 323?
Answered by David Morley · 20 Nov 2020

Refuelling is actually a pretty dangerous practise, even though it’s one that most of us do on a weekly basis. So the first thing to know is that you need to stick to all the safety requirements issued by both the car-maker and the service station you’re using, including not using mobile phones while you refuel and making sure that even a few drops of spilled fuel is washed off the car and diluted with water on the ground.

Beyond that, the Mazda 323 should have a fuel-flap release lever on the floor, down beside the front-right hand corner of the driver’s seat. If the seat is positioned for a shorter driver, you may need to slide the seat back to reveal the release lever. Then, once the lever has been pulled upwards to release the external flap, you should be able to turn the actual fuel cap anti-clockwise to remove it. But take it slowly and don’t be surprised if there’s a hissing noise as some air is sucked into the tank as you break the cap’s seal. Once you’ve refuelled, replace the cap and turn it clockwise until it clicks once and spins freely, close the fuel-flap and you’re all done. It’s also a nice idea now to zero your trip-meter so you can calculate your fuel consumption next time you fuel up (not all cars back in 2001 had trip computers).

Mazda 323 SP20 acceleration problem
Answered by Graham Smith · 10 Jun 2016

It's not a problem we have heard about, but I suggest it's related to the throttle position sensor. Take it to an independent mechanic experienced in Mazdas and they should be able to fix it. You're right not to put up with it.

323 ignition coils
Answered by Carsguide.com.au · 08 Aug 2014

There has been no recall on this, and I doubt Mazda would be terribly interested in a 2001 model car. There is little you can do other than follow the advice your mechanic has given you.

Does Mazda 323 use E10 fuel?
Answered by Graham Smith · 06 Jan 2017

Mazda's advice is that you shouldn’t use E10 fuel in your 323. Continue to use regular unleaded.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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