I have a 1989 Mazda 626 DX w/ Manual transmission. It used to run great, but something happened in the last 6 months and has been getting worse all of the time.
The symptoms are: Engine light comes on and stays on, then will go off and the cars starts to die, then revs, jerks and dies. It will start normal and sometimes not have this problem for > 1/2 hour, other times it will do it right away. If you let it sit for a while it will take a longer time to start in again, but if it acts up and you let it sit for a short time, it starts doing it right away.
I have done the error codes and found it continues to display 8, 9, and 18, even if reset, if I allow it to happen again after resetting. These supposedly correspond to the the Air flow meter (~$340), Water Thermo sensor ($22) and ???, respectively. I can't find 18 listed anywhere and I have replaced the water thermo sensor with no change. Before I go spend $340 for a air flow meter and possibly have that fail as well, I was hoping that someone might have seen or experienced this problem and found the solution and does anyone know what error code 18 is and where I can find more information on it??

Thanks,
Sunthunder

I had a similar problem. My engine light came on, and my car was very slow to accelerate, often doing nothing as I pressed the gas pedal. We had been told that it was probably an oxygen sensor, but when the codes were pulled, it was actually the Mass Air Flow sensor. I had that replaced, and the problem stopped immediately. I don't know anything about code 18, but previously, when I had problems with my transmission, an error code was pulled that meant that my A/C was running. It could be something as simple as that. I don't remember what that code was, though. Sorry.

Thank you for the response. It turns out that even when I took it back to the dealer (glutten for abuse), they told me there were no codes. There have been no problems since I replaced the thermo sensor. I didn't notice it before because I accidently left the wiring harness off from the air flow meter. When I reinstalled it, everything worked great and has been ever since!


I have a 1989 Mazda 626 DX w/ Manual transmission. It used to run great, but something happened in the last 6 months and has been getting worse all of the time.
The symptoms are: Engine light comes on and stays on, then will go off and the cars starts to die, then revs, jerks and dies. It will start normal and sometimes not have this problem for > 1/2 hour, other times it will do it right away. If you let it sit for a while it will take a longer time to start in again, but if it acts up and you let it sit for a short time, it starts doing it right away.
I have done the error codes and found it continues to display 8, 9, and 18, even if reset, if I allow it to happen again after resetting. These supposedly correspond to the the Air flow meter (~$340), Water Thermo sensor ($22) and ???, respectively. I can't find 18 listed anywhere and I have replaced the water thermo sensor with no change. Before I go spend $340 for a air flow meter and possibly have that fail as well, I was hoping that someone might have seen or experienced this problem and found the solution and does anyone know what error code 18 is and where I can find more information on it??

Thanks,
Sunthunder

I have a 1989 Mazda 626 DX w/ Manual transmission. It used to run great, but something happened in the last 6 months and has been getting worse all of the time.
The symptoms are: Engine light comes on and stays on, then will go off and the cars starts to die, then revs, jerks and dies. It will start normal and sometimes not have this problem for > 1/2 hour, other times it will do it right away. If you let it sit for a while it will take a longer time to start in again, but if it acts up and you let it sit for a short time, it starts doing it right away.
I have done the error codes and found it continues to display 8, 9, and 18, even if reset, if I allow it to happen again after resetting. These supposedly correspond to the the Air flow meter (~$340), Water Thermo sensor ($22) and ???, respectively. I can't find 18 listed anywhere and I have replaced the water thermo sensor with no change. Before I go spend $340 for a air flow meter and possibly have that fail as well, I was hoping that someone might have seen or experienced this problem and found the solution and does anyone know what error code 18 is and where I can find more information on it??

Thanks,
Sunthunder
Your problem was not same as first post.My 626 is doing same as guys #1.I had mas air flow fail and it is not as syptom I have right now. :grinno: