Ok i've got this car back in march when i got it the guy who sold it to me told me it had problems starting in cold weather, so i got the car anyway. i replace plugs, cap rotor wires, cold temp sending unit, and the car was doing the same, warm weather came and i didnt worry about the problem, during spring and summer car started every single time, now is cold out and i literally have to crank the car for about 2 minutes with my foot on the gas so i can get it start it. have anyone had this problem and how can i corrected. THanks in advance.

 

Wow horible responses. I Have a 97 Protege also with the same problems. I have had no luck so far. I replaced the fule filter in in 2005. I have also changed standard: plugs, rotor, distributor. No avail. I have followed fuel rail to find a vacume line leadingt to asolonoid valve brokeoff. Purchased new solonoid valve. Still hard starting especiallyon cold mornings. Read your problem and would like to add solution, but only able to add my frustration to yours.
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I changed the fuel filter and took the car for diagnostics. Finding fuel pressure low. I replaced the fuel pump and will see what happens.

 

I had the same problem, bought mine used in the summer, had no problem starting. Come fall, when its below 50 degrees, I had to crank and crank. It didn't matter if I pushed down on the gas pedal or not. Even starting fluid didn't help. After going thru all the usual stuff, replacing plugs, wires, cap, rotor and fuel filter it still wouldn't start. For the hell of it, I did a compression test. 100 psi on all four cylinders, basically the motor was junk, I got hosed. Further exploring revealed the back hinge pieces on the air cleaner housing were busted, basically dusting the motor. I advanced the timing as far as the distributor would go. This helps a little bit, but it will knock and ping like a mad dog going up even a slight grade.

Ipurchased a used motor from a Japanese engine place in California for $350, spent a long Saturday installing it, and wala! The car starts everytime. At least until last week when the timing belt slipped about 90 degrees......I get to play with that tomorrow.

 

See my other answer:
https://www.mazdaforum.com/m_84728/tm.htm