Atlanta Protoge Guy (97.80.140.157) - Sat Apr 19 05:51:32 2008

I own a 2003 Protoge LX - bought brand new

MAINTENANCE HISTORY:

Car has 103, 000 miles

Coolant flush 18 months ago.

Oil changed per owner's manual- at 90, 000 miles I started using Mobil One Hi-Mileage.

At 95, 000 miles had the major service done, which included: adjusting timing belt, valves and replacing water pump.

Have always put 87 octane gasoline in car.

THE PROBLEMS:

1. About three months ago I noticed a rattle in the engine when I depress the accelerator. Like a marble rolling around in the engine. I filled gas tank with 93 octane and bought a bottle of STP Fuel System Treatment. The noise went away- but now its back.

2. While idling at a stop, e.g. traffic light, the engine starts to sputter, almost die.

3. The "check engine" light came on steady a month ago, several days later it went out...few days later came back on steady, few days later went out.

I am in college and need this car to last me 5 more years, but don't want to break the bank keeping it running.

Reply #1 Atlanta Protoge Guy (97.80.140.157) - Sat Apr 19 05:53:45 2008

FORGOT TO LIST THIS PROBLEM:

4. When car is stopped and I give it gas to get going, there is a very noticeable hesitation before the car begins to accelerate from the stop...but after that its fine.

Reply #2 El papa (76.66.187.161) - Mon May 12 09:58:25 2008

It seems like it’s the EGR valve: t’is a common and recurrent problem. There seem to have been a recall about it - should call a dealer to make shure. I read somewhere they replace it with a better part these days.

2 years ago, I had just bought mine when it happened to me (prot 2002): At times, idle was so terrible it would turn the engine off, but over 1500 rpm everyting was perfect. Check engine light kept coming and going.

After a week, dealer replaced it for free since they had sold me the car.

FYI, try to avoid hight octane with that car, you are throwing away money and impairing the performance of your engine. Higher octane is for engines that have different timing and compression specs. it makes the gas less prone to ignition so that with a higher compression you can control the explosion more precisely. In your car, it might in fact burn more gas than regular since it might have to run richer in fuel to get proper ingnition…

Reply #3 TINY (70.241.199.233) - Thu Jun 19 11:20:25 2008

MY 1995 MAZDA MILLENIA DRIVE FINE UNTILL I MAKE A STOP AT THE INTERSECTION AND SHE HESITANT WHEN I TRY TO PULL OFF.IT LIKE THE GAS IS 2-5 SEC SLOW WHEN COMING TO THE ACCELERATOR.WHAT IS THAT PLEASE HELP

Reply #4 kathy (68.43.93.185) - Sun Jun 29 11:45:30 2008

We lost our manual and now a warning light that looks like a spark plug has come on to the left of the steering wheel saying check.Do you know what that is if you have a manual? Thanks.Other problem is a squeak when you back up but rarely when you put the brakes on going forward...

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