Mazda BT-50 Review, For Sale, Colours, Interior, Models & Specs

Mazda BT-50 Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Mazda BT-50 here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

• I replaced the starting battery in my 2014 Mazda BT-50 and now I have the powertrain light come on when driving

  It's quite probable that the check-engine light was triggered by the worn out condition of the battery you replaced, not the brand new one being fitted. Such cars hate low voltages, and that's precisely what a worn battery produces. That said, changing the battery can sometimes cause a modern, computerised car to throw a fault code, and when that happens, the check-engine light will illuminate.

  You can try to re-set the vehicle's computer by disconnecting the battery and leaving it for an hour. Then reconnect the battery and see if the light has disappeared. If it hasn't, it may be that the computer simply needs to relearn a few parameters after having been disconnected from the power when the original battery change was made. A decent drive might return things to normal.

  But don't forget the basics: Check the condition and cleanliness of the battery leads, terminals and make sure that all the connections are tight. If there's still no joy, have the vehicle electronically scanned and let the computer tell you precisely what's wrong.

  Show more Show less
• My Mazda BT-50 has been having trouble starting

  The rule of thumb states that if the engine fires on starting fluid sprayed down the intake, but won’t run on the fuel in its tank, the first thing to check is the fuel pump. Just because there was some fuel present when you cracked the seal on the fuel injector, does not necessarily mean that there’s enough of it or the fuel pressure is sufficient to start the engine.

  Modern common-rail diesel engines use very sophisticated fuel systems which use super-high pressure. Without a pump to build up to this pressure, the injector won’t deliver the right amount of fuel for successful running. But you should also check the operation of the glow-plugs as well as the condition of the fuel filters. An electronic scan is also a good idea at this point, before you start replacing expensive bits and pieces.

  Be extra careful fiddling with engines like this one, especially if you’re messing about with the injectors and fuel system. The inherent pressures are so high, that a leak can act like a water-jet cutter; sufficiently powerful to remove a finger.

  Show more Show less
• When should the front wheel bearings on a 2013 Mazda BT-50 be replaced or repacked?

  After 100,000 hard off-road kilometres, you'd be wise to check pretty much every system and component of your car, including the wheel bearings. Bush tracks and rough regional roads put all sorts of stresses and strains on mechanical bits like bearings, suspension, brakes, bushes and the whole driveline.

  If you read most owner's manuals closely, you'll see that the recommended servicing schedule is based on normal or moderate use, not hard-core off-road work like you've been doing. With that in mind, the advice is to shrink the service intervals and the distances at which major parts like wheel bearing are checked and/or replaced. Give some thought to changing out the vehicle's fluids, too, including the front and rear differentials, as contamination from water crossings can destroy the lubricant and lead to extensive internal wear.

  Show more Show less
• Is it possible to replace the gasoline engine in a Mazda BT-50 with diesel?

  Anything is possible if you have enough money to throw at the project, but at some point, each project begins to cost more than it will ever be worth.

  The real mystery, though, is how you came by a petrol-powered BT-50. In Australia, the BT-50 was sold only with a range of diesel powerplants. Petrol-powered BT-50s were made and sold in regions such as the Americas, South Africa and parts of Asia, but not here. Either that or you have a Mazda fitted with a Ford Ranger engine, as Ford did offer 2.5-litre petrol engine on Rangers from 2011 to 2015, but only on base-model, two-wheel-drive versions. That option was then discontinued.

  So maybe you have a privately imported Mazda, at which point, it’s very hard to know what diesel engines will and won’t fit. The bottom line is that if you want a Mazda BT-50 with a diesel engine, the simplest thing to do is simply buy one. Chances are you’ll spend less overall than converting an existing car from petrol to diesel. Swapping a petrol engine for a diesel could involve everything from a different fuel system, wiring, transmission, differential ratios and even things like the radiator and front springs. It’s a big job.

  Show more Show less