2004
Mazda
3
2.3
78,000
4 cyl
automatic

I have a 2004 Mazda 3 that is running terribly! I took it in and after hooking it up they told me to wait for the engine light to come on and to bring it back then. It's been like 2 months now and the car is going downhill with no light to date. I thought it was a fuel injector because it is very loud and shaky when I press the gas, but it is also bad when I am idling. Worst when I first start the car in the AM or when I get off the highway after a bunch of miles of consistent, faster driving. I am at a loss but can't drive it any more like it is. Any ideas about what may cause these issues without an engine light? Please help!

It feels fuel or transmission-related, but I don't have any idea.

The possibilities are too many to list; without performing tests on the vehicle’s different systems. I suggest taking it back into this shop or go to another and have them inspect and diagnose.
If this vehicle were here and after scanning the computer; not finding any stored trouble codes to give me a direction to look. I would go back to basics and begin checking engine mechanical, fuel/air delivery and ignition systems.
Many technicians including myself, will get electronics on the brain and forget that there’s a mechanical engine; under all of the electronics and not check basics.

Dan.

Canadian "EH"