2003 protege RPM & possible trans problem
chris660
05-06-2007, 04:31 PM
I have a 2003 Mazda protege around 52,000 miles. I bought it brand new back in November 2002. The express warranty has expired, but I have a 6yr/100,000 mile warranty through a 3rd party. Until recently, I have had no problems.
In Deceber of 2006, I noticed a problem. The car's RPMs periodically jumped from 2600 - 3200 RPMS while I drove around 60mph, the car had a very high idle after starting, and the front end was vibrating. I took it to the dealership's maintenace dept in January to have it looked at. They said the water pump + tires + battery needed to be replaced. The pump was covered under warranty; I paid for the tires + battery.
About 3 weeks later, the same issues started happening again. Front vibration, high idle after start, and now the tranny shifted at higher RPM's than usual. I took it back in the beginning of March. This time they said the brake caliper seized up due to a poor brake job from Midas, and that's what caused the vibration. Midas didn't lube the piston correctly for the caliper...so it was sticking, causing the front end vibration. They said they scanned the transmission for the RPM issue, but nothing showed up. They said the caliper issue may have caused a drag on the engine, and that is what may have caused the high RPM issue. I paid for new brakes, rotors, and calipers that time.
Now it's May, and I'm still having the same RPM issue when driving. The high idle after starting calms down after a couple minutes, but the trans is still shifting at higher RPM's than usual. It's weird...sometimes it will shift normally....then other times the RPM's will be about 500 - 800 RPMs higher than usual when the car shifts. The car has a rough shift sometimes too (the trans will make a small "clunk" and the car will vibrate a little when it shifts). I also noticed this morning when I started the car, had my foot on the brake, and shifted into reverse with my foot still on the brake....the trans made the same "clunk" noise and the car vibrated a little. Same thing from Park to Drive.
It also seems now that the car is holding its speed longer when I take my foot off the gas. Like if I'm going down the road and take my foot off the gas to coast a little before a light or a stop sign....the car will hold at 30 - 35mph for a good 4-5 sec before slowly slowing down or until I apply the brake.
Factory suggested maintenance has been kept up, and I know my transmission fluid is good.
Any other ideas? Thanks for the help.
In Deceber of 2006, I noticed a problem. The car's RPMs periodically jumped from 2600 - 3200 RPMS while I drove around 60mph, the car had a very high idle after starting, and the front end was vibrating. I took it to the dealership's maintenace dept in January to have it looked at. They said the water pump + tires + battery needed to be replaced. The pump was covered under warranty; I paid for the tires + battery.
About 3 weeks later, the same issues started happening again. Front vibration, high idle after start, and now the tranny shifted at higher RPM's than usual. I took it back in the beginning of March. This time they said the brake caliper seized up due to a poor brake job from Midas, and that's what caused the vibration. Midas didn't lube the piston correctly for the caliper...so it was sticking, causing the front end vibration. They said they scanned the transmission for the RPM issue, but nothing showed up. They said the caliper issue may have caused a drag on the engine, and that is what may have caused the high RPM issue. I paid for new brakes, rotors, and calipers that time.
Now it's May, and I'm still having the same RPM issue when driving. The high idle after starting calms down after a couple minutes, but the trans is still shifting at higher RPM's than usual. It's weird...sometimes it will shift normally....then other times the RPM's will be about 500 - 800 RPMs higher than usual when the car shifts. The car has a rough shift sometimes too (the trans will make a small "clunk" and the car will vibrate a little when it shifts). I also noticed this morning when I started the car, had my foot on the brake, and shifted into reverse with my foot still on the brake....the trans made the same "clunk" noise and the car vibrated a little. Same thing from Park to Drive.
It also seems now that the car is holding its speed longer when I take my foot off the gas. Like if I'm going down the road and take my foot off the gas to coast a little before a light or a stop sign....the car will hold at 30 - 35mph for a good 4-5 sec before slowly slowing down or until I apply the brake.
Factory suggested maintenance has been kept up, and I know my transmission fluid is good.
Any other ideas? Thanks for the help.
Ice98
05-07-2007, 02:09 AM
im no expert, BUT
check your throttle cable/spring on the engine, MAYBE something is sticking or worn out, causing it to respond slowly to your foot being taken off the gas
also ive heard alot of problems with the EGR? i think, it gets clogged with carbon/deposits, i think a fuel system cleaner could help
check your throttle cable/spring on the engine, MAYBE something is sticking or worn out, causing it to respond slowly to your foot being taken off the gas
also ive heard alot of problems with the EGR? i think, it gets clogged with carbon/deposits, i think a fuel system cleaner could help
chris660
05-10-2007, 11:25 AM
Thanks for the advice.
Do you know anywhere that I could find a diagram for the engine for this car? I would like to take a look at the EGR valve myself.
Do you know anywhere that I could find a diagram for the engine for this car? I would like to take a look at the EGR valve myself.
Ice98
05-10-2007, 11:38 AM
i dont, but try clubprotege.com , theres actually people there
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