Yesterday my Check Engine light started blinking while I was driving and than all of a sudden when i would push the gas it wouldn't accelerate (or at least verrry little)

Got it towed home but I am wondering what I should look at first. We haven't replaced the spark plugs for years so my first guess is that but I am no technician and I really love my Tribute and I don't feel like taking it to a shop to find out the obvious.

 

Isn't it amazing, so many views, no answers.

 

Readers of this thread do not have much information to go by to give you the answer you need. How about determining the engine code your Tribute is posting for a start? How many miles are on it? Auto or manual? Miles since you changed your plugs? Have other parts been replaced?

 

mine does the same thing you can smell gas really bad when you crank it over and it rarely fires theres also gas in the intake piping but it only does this when the weather is raining or damp we recentlly replaced the egr valve because there was a hole blown in the side of it and it still does the same thing its an automatic with a 3.0 v6 any info you could give on this one would be much appreciated

 

With the mil flashing you most likely have a missfire concern. coils, sparkplugs, are the most common problems. The one with the melted EGR valve you most likely have a damaged cat converter.[Plugged exhaust] To repair scan and test for codes. Check engine compression.fuel pump pressure. If you have missfire codes replace plugs,coils as nessasary. Missfires will damage the converters causing them to break apart causing the plugged up exhaust. With out codes and other information. I have listed the most common causes. I hope this helps Kevin

 

My 2001 Tribute 3.0 check engine light has been on for years. Lots of codes, no real answers from technicians. The car always ran fine. As years clicked away and after each reset with a code checker, it would come on quicker after a reset. Until this year, it would reset and then come right back on, occasionally started blinking. In this last year it started sputtering around 45-50 mph and on wet days. Finally, it started up with sputtering and the check engine light flashing for first 5-min of driving. I googled the problem and it seemed most likely culprit was a fuel pump. I purchased one from Advanced Auto (they have military discount) and following youtube video swapped it out in less than 2-hours. Cost less than $200.00. Car runs like new car now, no check engine light, and only wished I had done it sooner.

 

Get your wallet out if your going to change the plugs. Top end of the engine has to come off.
While you're in there, change the coils. May not need them now but you will later and they have to pull the top end again.

 

Bobsyouruncle, I assume you have a V6 and not the 4 cylinder version? If so, its only the intake manifold that needs to come off, not the top of the engine.

 

You have nothing better to do than argue semantics?

 

I am here only to help others, and share my knowledge of Mazda's, not to create arguments. I do this out of love of the Mazda product.
I don't need crap from some wise guy Consider yourself warned.