Ok here's what's been happening with our 2001 4WD 3.0L V6 Tribute...

It began with rough idling at start up. After a few minutes of warming up it would be fine and it would drive just fine. The check engine light was on and I got the codes for banks 1 and 2 system too lean. A week or so later I noticed a big hole in the EGR valve. I'm not a mechanic at all, but I figured this had to be the problem. Replaced the EGR valve very simply and figured problem solved.

A week later my wife is driving on the highway and blows a hole in another EGR valve. Check engine light again says banks 1 & 2 system too lean and also a cylinder 3 misfire.

Changed all the spark plugs and upper and lower gaskets along with the IAC gasket and another gasket that I can't exactly remember (it comes with the set you buy from auto zone).

Took it for a test drive and blew out the EGR valve again.

Last night, after extensive online research, I replaced the DPFE sensor and the EGR vaccuum solenoid and yet another EGR valve.

Test drove it on highway and the car lost an extreme amount of power...we were doing 30mph on the highway...and yes...the EGR valve blew again!

So now I'm beginning to believe its a catalytic converter problem. Am I on the right track?

I do not want to take it to a dealership to get robbed. I also don't want to keep buying parts that don't fix the problem.

I would greatly appreciate any feedback I can get!

Thank you!

 

Hi just wondering if you had been able to work out or resolve your issue.... I have had the same problem now for a few weeks and 2 egr valves and one cat converter later I have had to take mine to the dealership They are now in the process of pulling the head off $$$$$$.

 

Same thing on my 01 V-6. It ended up being the front cat. After getting it replaced all has been good.

 

I will be picking mine up from Mazda in the next day or so, so once I have a detailed description of what they found I will post it. But from what I understand now 2 of the cylinders werent working right and a coil needed replacing. I also have read where alot of people had said the front cat was blocked too, so hopefully Mazda have checked it.

 

my tribute has always had the engine managment light on saying EGR prob and lean on bank 1,just started missing on cylinder 3 and coming upto 100k so i replaced plugs and new coil packs at weekend it seems not to be missing now but holding back on power and exhaust sounds a bit quieter so am thinking may be cat!
Please help
I have had the tribute 3yrs and have done 40k with no probs
I also run LPG which I thorught might be giving me probs but not so sure now have read some recent posts.
Thanks Guyads

 

Car going back to Mazda again today with same issue although its not missing as bad as last time there is still a problem and it has gotten worse since I bought the car home. Mazda have said over the phone this morning that there maybe another coil causing the car to miss again but wont know until it gets to them

 

We had an 01 manifold cat let loose and plugged the rear cat. Blew my EGR to shreds. Gotta replace the back one too usually.