Looking for a 3rd gen protege...need some advice =)

[mikeee2]

Hi all,

New to the forum. I am currently looking for a used car for my wife. Been looking at civic, sentra, corolla for a while and just stumbled upon mazda protege. For my budget, a 1999 - 2003 protege seems to fit in pretty well.

Just wondering if you guys can help me out. Anything I should look out for in a third gen protege? anything to avoid, etc? how's the reliability of it? I am looking for a "stock" car, no mods. I am surprised how much aftermarket stuffs there are for the protege from this forum.

Thanks!!!

[steve_protege]

I would highly recommend this car to anyone. If I could do it again, Id buy my car all over again. Of course, with some added goodies I forgot to ask for when I was shopping for a car. The reliability of this car is awesome. Ive never had a problem with the car. Car still runs very good after 87,000 miles.

[dloeper2391]

I would say avoid getting the 1.6L or 1.8L because those models are seriously underpowered, show her that you love her and get her that extra hp.

[JoshP5]

There are a few known problems with the car. Most common drivetrain issues are:

worn motor mounts-identified by excessive drivetrain slop (check by driving at low speed in 2nd gear, like 1K-2Krpm, and go on throttle/off throttle)

clutch chatter-identified by vibes while disengaging the clutch in low gears (often similar symptoms as bad motor mounts)

the VTCS screw debacle-there's a Mazda recall for the range of affected VINs

dirty EGR valves-characterized by irregular idle and surging. Mazda released an updated EGR valve you can get for about $130.

All the technical service bulletins are available here (http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/3rdgen.html), including the above mentioned.

Pointing out the car's potential problems seems negative. But all in all they're reliable and very fun cars to drive--I totally recommend getting one. If you dig you'll likely find Honda, Nissan, and Toyota probably have their own shortcomings as well. Good luck with your decision and welcome to the forum. :)

[dmitrik4]

too bad you didn't see my posting...just sold mine this afternoon after trying for over a month. :(

i think you'll love it; they have their quirks, but are great cars.

[DiS]

There are a few known problems with the car. Most common drivetrain issues are:

worn motor mounts-identified by excessive drivetrain slop (check by driving at low speed in 2nd gear, like 1K-2Krpm, and go on throttle/off throttle)

clutch chatter-identified by vibes while disengaging the clutch in low gears (often similar symptoms as bad motor mounts)

the VTCS screw debacle-there's a Mazda recall for the range of affected VINs

dirty EGR valves-characterized by irregular idle and surging. Mazda released an updated EGR valve you can get for about $130.

All the technical service bulletins are available here (http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/3rdgen.html), including the above mentioned.

Pointing out the car's potential problems seems negative. But all in all they're reliable and very fun cars to drive--I totally recommend getting one. If you dig you'll likely find Honda, Nissan, and Toyota probably have their own shortcomings as well. Good luck with your decision and welcome to the forum. :)

protege does NOT have a problem with VTCS. please dont give false inf if u r uncertain of it. However 2003 DX, LX, ES and Protege5 that were manufacured at Hofu Plant in Japan, have a ViCS problem. Very easy to confuse with VTCS. Butterfly screws were not torqued to the spec, therefore were getting loose......check the stickied thread by me in 3rd gen. section's 1st page for detailed info and more specific dates of recalled vehicles.

other that if you keep the Potege bone stock and take a good care of it, it will definetly serve you for some long time.

[JoshP5]

DiS, I urge you to check your facts. I did not state anything incorrect. Here (http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/3005C.pdf)'s Mazda's Dealer letter about the VTCS recall.

[DiS]

HAHA!!! thanks for a good laugh dude. You're hilarious!

my fact is my car losing 5 out of 8 ViCS screws back in 2004 A YEAR before the ViCS recall even came out. Ask ANYONE from the ViCS issues thread and they will tell u that ViCS IS the problem NOT VTCS.
Do you also want my VIN to check what recall my car had too?

Your "fact" sourse is wrong.

[JoshP5]

Well, our choice is to believe either you or Mazda North America. I'm sticking with Mazda for the following reasons:

1. This forum comprises a small fraction of Protege owners. The amount of info you can compile from this subset is small compared with Mazda's resources. Mazda has seen far more cases of this issue than this forum has.

2. After reading the "ViCS screw" threads, it seems you indeed had a problem with VICS screws, but when you heard about other folks having issues with screws in their intake manifolds coming loose, you decided that everyone was having the same problem you had. Then the recall came out and you insisted it was wrong, too. Isn't it possible that you had a rare problem with VICS, and that there's a more common problem with VTCS? Common enough for Mazda to address by way of recall?

[sephiroth]

I would say avoid getting the 1.6L or 1.8L because those models are seriously underpowered, show her that you love her and get her that extra hp.

the 1.8L is not underpowered I don't know where you get off saying that... it's only putting out 8 crank HP less than the 2.0L stock.

[03promaz]

HAHA!!! thanks for a good laugh dude. You're hilarious!

my fact is my car losing 5 out of 8 ViCS screws back in 2004 A YEAR before the ViCS recall even came out. Ask ANYONE from the ViCS issues thread and they will tell u that ViCS IS the problem NOT VTCS.
Do you also want my VIN to check what recall my car had too?

Your "fact" sourse is wrong.

I also lost 4 VICS screws right the same month.

[DiS]

No offence but stop talking out of your ass man.
1. I'm not trying to mislead others unlike you with inspecific info. Yes the recall says "
2003 Protege Intake Manifold Shutter and Variable Tumble Control Valves Emission Recall [3005C] Owner Letter (http://www.protegefaq.net/tsb/Owner%20Letter%20Recall%203005C.pdf) PDF" Nottice how it says "Intake Manifold Shutter AND Variable Tumble Control Valves" meaning they weren't sure which system did fuck up. Also the Mazda North America is partially wrong on the production dates of the recalled vehicles. It says that all of the DX, LX and ES Protege's that were manufactured from somewhere beginning of March 2003 to August 31 of 2003 .....thats complete horse shit, because there are few 2002 Protege's AND few Protege MP3's with this issue and MP3's were made only in 2001 and Mazda North America did not include that in their info because they did not have enough reports from 2001- Protege owners. Therefore you CAN'T trust EVERYTHING that Mazda North America is telling you. If you do, then we can't talk you out of it as you live in denial.....Can't help you there.

I spent 3 and a half months going back and forth to a local dealer who was jerking me around and telling me that it's my aftermarket intake and since then I know what the problem is and I don't need Mazda North America telling me that I had corn flakes out of my exhaust causing my ViCS to fuck up along with EGR sucking up one of the screws, and CERTAINLY I don't need cocky people like yourself tell me that I'm just a retard who has shit for brain and doesn't know what he's talking about WHEREAS I was one of the 1st people to make numerous reports to Mazda North America regarding ViCS problem.
Oh and by the way here is my report # to Mazda North America regarding my ViCS defect. Report file #99124700

Do us all a favor and just stop talking about something that you have no idea of.

I spent a year and a half on tracking various Proteges that had this EXACT problem. No variations of it. SAME THING. Quite a few people started taking apart their intake manifolds on their own and fixing (using locktite on the ViCS butterflies) and if you look through ViCS threads you can look at what they posted. I'm sure they will tell you EXACTLY the same thing as I just did.

2. My original dealership where I bought my car from determined that my problem was the same one as the other people had. Mechanic himself told me that ViCS was fucked up and shortly after my car was fixed (whole head was replaced because of the exsessive damage to cylinder walls was done by ViCS screws). VTCS in the intake manifold never had a single problem besides robbing the car from few HP as it was only fuckin up the air turbulance after the CAT was warmed up.

3. The reason why recall was put together at the time was because Mazda North America decided to replace the WHOLE intake manifold instead of narrowing down the problem itself. ALOT of people made a big stink over the misinformation in the recall. Ask ANYONE who trully knows the FS-DE motor and they will tell you that VTCS itself NEVER NEVER had a problem with screws getting loose.

......on the second hand you probably didn't know any better.....but after you replied that I'm an ignorant asshole who decided that everybody had the same problem as myself, it made me think twice and come to a conclusion that you indeed have no idea what you are talking about...but it's ok. Now you do.

P.S.

Just because Mazda North America is so much bigger than us, mazda enthuasists, it CERTAINLY doesn't mean that they know more about this car than us.

EDIT: Thank you so much for wasting my time trying to school your uneducated and naive ass on the ACTUAL problem.



Well, our choice is to believe either you or Mazda North America. I'm sticking with Mazda for the following reasons:

1. This forum comprises a small fraction of Protege owners. The amount of info you can compile from this subset is small compared with Mazda's resources. Mazda has seen far more cases of this issue than this forum has.

2. After reading the "ViCS screw" threads, it seems you indeed had a problem with VICS screws, but when you heard about other folks having issues with screws in their intake manifolds coming loose, you decided that everyone was having the same problem you had. Then the recall came out and you insisted it was wrong, too. Isn't it possible that you had a rare problem with VICS, and that there's a more common problem with VTCS? Common enough for Mazda to address by way of recall?

[03promaz]

Well, our choice is to believe either you or Mazda North America. I'm sticking with Mazda for the following reasons:

1. This forum comprises a small fraction of Protege owners. The amount of info you can compile from this subset is small compared with Mazda's resources. Mazda has seen far more cases of this issue than this forum has.

2. After reading the "ViCS screw" threads, it seems you indeed had a problem with VICS screws, but when you heard about other folks having issues with screws in their intake manifolds coming loose, you decided that everyone was having the same problem you had. Then the recall came out and you insisted it was wrong, too. Isn't it possible that you had a rare problem with VICS, and that there's a more common problem with VTCS? Common enough for Mazda to address by way of recall?

I can tell you first hand Dis knows what he's talking about. I have also followed this issue. When I brought it up to my dealer they told me it was impossible for it to happen. After that I took my manifold apart and found the VICS screws had fallen out. The VICS screws are the major issue here and not the VTCS.

[DiS]

I can tell you first hand Dis knows what he's talking about. I have also followed this issue. When I brought it up to my dealer they told me it was impossible for it to happen. After that I took my manifold apart and found the VICS screws had fallen out. The VICS screws are the major issue here and not the VTCS.
Thank you! and thank you for hard evidence! Pic speaks 1,000 words (thumb)

Josh, you gotta understand, I'm not trying to put anyone down here. All I want is the correct info to be spoken, and when I correct people with wright info, I get shit back sometimes. Don't take it to the heart please.

[JoshP5]

Dude, I'm not attacking you, just challenging your opinion. No need to be defensive or hostile. :)

It's clear you know what you're talking about with regard to problems with VICS. Indeed there are other people who have had the same problem. I'm not challenging that. You have firmly established that VICS screws come loose and cause problems--that's a great service to our community.

However, it does not vindicate VTCS. Surely you can acknowledge the possibility that there could be problems with both systems--after all, the attachment of the shutter valves is similar. Some engines may be adversely affected by VICS, others by VTCS.

This exchange has raised an important issue about VICS that I was previously unaware of. Thank you for sharing this information. No thank you, however, for the abrasive manner in which you shared it. That's no service to our community.

[03promaz]

All we are saying is that Mazda doesnt know their ass from a hole in the ground and put VTCS in the recall when it really is the VICS. I personally have never seen someone have a problem with the VTCS. IF there has been one please post a link to that thread.

[mpvpsu]

WOW, Back to the topic. I think you'll love the Mazda's....And as you can see we take things a little seriously here at times.

[mzdalvr]

+1 on VICS
-1 on VTCS

Protege's are awesome you'll love it! Their handling is excellent!

[DiS]

1st of all i want to appologize for jumping the gun. It was not my intention to attack you Josh at all. However it was my intention to prevent misinformation and somewhat discourage people from having a complete beleif that Mazda Corp. always knows what its talking about.

2nd. i also want to say that instead of fixing ViCS itself, Mazda North America decided to replace the whole intake manifold, because if only ViCS would be fixed, the labor cost to Mazda Corp's pocket would be incredibly higher ratherthan just replacing Intake manifold as a whole. Therefore they issued a recall on the unsuficient info and included VTCS in the title as well. As of right now i have yet to see VTCS screws go loose.

As far as my service to our community goes, if i am knowledgable in a certain subject, i will call out people who give wrong info even if they believe that this info is correct.

[03promaz]

1st of all i want to appologize for jumping the gun. It was not my intention to attack you Josh at all. However it was my intention to prevent misinformation and somewhat discourage people from having a complete beleif that Mazda Corp. always knows what its talking about.

2nd. i also want to say that instead of fixing ViCS itself, Mazda North America decided to replace the whole intake manifold, because if only ViCS would be fixed, the labor cost to Mazda Corp's pocket would be incredibly higher ratherthan just replacing Intake manifold as a whole. Therefore they issued a recall on the unsuficient info and included VTCS in the title as well. As of right now i have yet to see VTCS screws go loose.

As far as my service to our community goes, if i am knowledgable in a certain subject, i will call out people who give wrong info even if they believe that this info is correct.


(werd)

As far as the topic of the thread. I love my car. Its a great choice

[ForesterES]

But the Pro, you won't regret it. I have test-driven a few cars lately, and the handling, fit, and finish of my 5 year old Pro holds up to any of them.

I have 96,000 miles on my '02 ES, and literally that only thing it has EVER been back (unscheduled) to the dealer for was a leaking trunk...that was four years ago.

I changed the timing belt at 80k, I've had two sets of tires (the OE lasted until 40K, my next set lasted until 80k), and one set of brake pads (front and rear). I just changed the OE battery at 95k, and that's mostly because I drive the car less now than I used to, and I could tell the battery was getting weaker.

I change the oil every 10k with Mobil 1 Extended Performance and Purolator Pure 1 Filters. There is no visible sludge in the valve train when you look into the oil fill hole. My gas mileage is routinely 28-32 mpg around town.

This car has made such an impression on me, that I am an avid Mazda loyalist now. I just bought a brand-new '07 CX-7 GT FWD, and I'm sure in a few years I'll be looking to replace the Pro with a 'Speed 3.

Here's my baby:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/g8rforester/2007-03-11_00001.jpg