Mazda 626 Problems

Not very much is the short answer. A car that has been sitting unused for 15 years or so is likely to need a lot of work, and money to get it back to decent roadworthy condition, despite the low mileage. It needs tyres and a battery, and the back seats are missing, it's worth maybe $250.

It's most likely the window winder motor that's the problem and you should be able to switch the motor from one of the other doors to the driver's door.

Although the normal braking isn’t affected the ABS system is almost certainly disabled so you won’t have the antilock effect in an emergency. It could be as simple as a blown fuse, or it could be something deeper. Get it checked.

The first place to start is to check all the engine tune items to make sure they are all in good shape, that's plugs and leads etc. After that I'd check the crank angle sensor and its connections.

It’s an old car and you have to expect some wear and tear over what is now coming up for 20 years. Smoke on a cold start isn’t necessarily oil related; it is often condensation and nothing of concern. The oil leak is probably just a gasket that has hardened or split and needs replacing. If it is burning oil it could be due to wear in the valve guides or it could be worn piston rings or wear in the bores. If it’s not leaking a lot, just leaving a spot on the driveway, and it’s not using much oil I wouldn’t be too worried about it. The worst-case scenario would be that engine might need reconditioning.

There are a number of things you can do; it really depends on how much money you want to spend. You could start by increasing the tyre pressure by three or four psi above the recommended pressure and see if that is enough to do what you want. Beyond that you could fit sportier tyres, you could fit harder suspension bushes, lower the suspension, fit better shock absorbers, and heavier anti-roll bars. If you do want to modify the suspension I would suggest you consult a specialist such as Pedders or K-Mac.

Your mechanic is correct, but so are you. The mechanic's suggestion of a Corolla is a safe bet, one that won't come back to bite him in the long run, but the other cars you mention are also worth considering. All are solid, generally reliable cars, although I would be cautious about recommending the Astra to you. Stick to the well-known Japanese brands and she won't go too far wrong.

IT'S a ``grey'' import, so you're going to have trouble finding someone. The best bet is to contact Mazda specialists until you find one.

IT IS clearly unacceptable for an auto to fail at such low mileage, and I would be pressing Mazda for at least part of the cost of replacement. Servicing is important on an auto to keep the oil fresh because the most common reason for an auto to fail is overheating. But as you don't tow and aren't a lead foot, it is unlikely that your driving has caused the problem.