Mazda Repair: Mazda millinia, mazda millinia, miller cycle engine

Question
Thanks for the advise!

I have another question: My auto tilt steering wheel will sometimes get stuck in the upright position when I turn the car off. When I get in and start it, it will not come back down. After flicking the switch numerious times it will come down. Sometimes it does work and it automatically comes down though?? And ideas?
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Followup To

Question -
I have 2 questions! 1st. Does the 97 mazda millinia miller cycle engine have to take premium gas? Will you hurt it if you put regular into it. 2nd Q. Where can I get some colored dash lights and how do I change them?

Answer -
You should use premium gas not because of the fact it is a miller cycle engine, but because it is supercharged. The Otto Cycle and Miller Cycle Engines only vary in one respect and that is the fact that an Otto Cycle can use a supercharger and a Miller Cycle MUST use a supercharger.
Miller Cycle Engines intake valve remains open during part of the compression stroke allowing the intake charge to back up against the superchargers boost pressure. This allows the intake charge to stay cooler and therefore more efficient. The Miller Cycle is not designed to allow supercharged engines to run on lower octane gas, it is simply a way to make supercharged engines use less fuel.

As for the colored dash lights, you will have to find out what kind of bulb is used in the dash cluster "call Mazda or NAPA" and then contact APC to see if they offer colored bulbs for your car. In the event that it uses clear bulbs with colored filters they may be able to provide you with new filters in your decided color.

Regards,


John


Answer
Sounds like a bad relay or a faulty motor. Use the book to locate the relay for it "or ask Mazda" and then check it to make sure it is clicking when you turn the key on and flick the switch. If it is clicking every time, locate the color coding for the relay output and use a test light to determine if the motor power circuit is being energized by the relay when it clicks. If not, replace relay. It could also be the switch or the control unit, but let’s start small and work into the harder things.

Regards,

John