Mazda MPV

[Funkicidal]

Just picked up a 1997 Mazda MPV this weekend. My wife and I were looking for something with more seats because her car and my XJ only seat 5, so with our 3 kids we end up taking a second car anytime we have anyone visiting us.

One of our friends has an MPV of the same year that takes punishment and keeps coming back for more (maintenance, not hard driving). I plan on taking better care of ours, but I thought this was a good sign that it is a sturdy vehicle.

The XJ is my daily driver and also our camping vehicle, but the MPV will take over that position since it has the extra seating. We tent camp and pull a small trailer with all our crap in it.

I searched here on ExPo and was surprised to not see *any* posts about an MPV. Any comments on the MPV? I'm hoping it works out to be a good family vehicle, but also looks like a good base to have at least a little fun with it.

 

[Tennmogger]

My wife owned a Mazda MPV 4wd for many years. It was one of the first MPV's, and a good vehicle, highly underrated, actually. It was supposedly built on a B3000 pickup chassis and had rear wheel drive with switchable 4wd. 4WD worked well, and it was great in snow. We bought it with about 100k on it but with a factory new engine, then put another 100k on it.

If your model engine says to have the timing belt changed every 80k, then do it, because that's what ended our MPV's useful life.

Bob

 

[ihatemybike]

Those are interesting vehicles. Had one follow me in Grumpy for a bit on The BABE Rally this year as I was hunting down unpaved roads along the NC/TN border. It seemed to do alright, but based on my ability to pull away from it, maybe a bit under powered. Still the team running it seemed to be enjoying it and I don't recall it giving them any mechanical problems.

Looks like it will handle what you are currently asking it to do for you. Snap some pics, tell us about mods you are day dreaming about.

 

[Funkicidal]

After having driven it a few times in the past week, it certainly isn't a red light dragster. There is a definite flat spot between 1500-2000 RPMs, then it starts to pick up speed a little bit faster. A little worried what it is going to be like loaded down with all our camping gear and not just the family. The plan is to do a full Seafoam/tuneup/etc. and see if anything improves. If not, at least I'll know it is a little cleaner inside.

This past week I've sanded and primered a couple of areas with surface rust, made the radio operational until I can put in the wife's head unit, little things like that.

This van has a sunroof (and a pretty big one too, I think I'm going to try standing in it and pretend I'm in a limo) but since it is so large I don't think I want to throw our cargo carrier on the roof, one of those big black bag things. We don't always need it, just depends on where we are going, for how long, and if we are taking the trailer or not. Anyway if I find that we are going to need the bag I'll take the Rola basket of my XJ and put it on the van temporarily.

Here are a couple of pictures:



Nothing on the mod list yet, need to get all the little issues squared away first...but I do have a huge desire to paint it up Jurassic Park style for some reason

 

[carolinasuby]

Awesome to see the MPV on here. I had a 98 Allroad myself until someone decided to hit me head on. Great platform. I pulled all but one rear captains chair out and it made for a great camping vehicle. Locking center diff was a nice touch as well. I chased a number of oil leaks on mine, all easy fixes, and other then that it was a solid truck. Enjoy.

 

[Funkicidal]

If your model engine says to have the timing belt changed every 80k, then do it, because that's what ended our MPV's useful life.

Depending on where you look, the next belt is due between 180,000 - 200,000 miles. I'll need to start reading up on how to do that because I'm sure the labor at a shop is going to be a killer.

 

[Funkicidal]

I chased a number of oil leaks on mine

That's why this is currently parked on the street.

Both valve covers were pretty loose so I tightened those up. I need to hit it with some Simple Green top and bottom and try to get some of the loose/fresh oil off to see if it is still dripping. I put the Simple Green in an old bug spray bottle that you attach to a hose for spraying your grass/bushes/whatever which does a great job of mixing it up with some water and getting it where it needs to go.

 

[Funkicidal]

Tonight's hard-hitting update: took the dash apart.

My wife has a head unit that I had in her Durango and she naturally wants it in this. Everything I've read so far on line is just about wrong on how to get the OEM unit out. Online instructions basically say "remove two screws and it will come right out."

Well, make that 6 screws holding the center dash section on, not to mention the glove box and driver side knee panel that need to come off first.

I'm going to install a CB while everything is apart as well, not sure if I'm going to put it in the single DIN cavity below the head unit, or put it in the compartment that is at the very bottom of the dash panel. OR see if I can make it fit in the ash tray location.