A little question

[army88brat]

Hello, I just bought a 2001 protege, with about 117K on it. it is a manual. So I was fooling around with my friend, driving around a parking lot, enjoying how fast the car went! I know, bad idea. But I originally had a 1990 626, still running, with 234k on it. So this new one is a definite upgrade. So I was racing around the parking lot having fun, aggressively driving the car. I went in reverse, up to like 20mph AT MOST, the car was whining at me. I stopped FULLY and put it in 1st gear and went forward. I just feel really bad. Because I probably pushed the car to much! And today on my way to work I was idling at a light, with the clutch in neutral. and the rpms dropped a little, the car shooked, the needle popped up and then went down to where it was normal. And then from a cold start the car is idling around 2 then goes does slowly as the engine warms up. it did that when i went to work, and then when i went home. It did that before but I dont know if i am just paranoid, which i am. Or if I should be concerned. Because I don't know if I did anything to damage the car.

Any input/ opinions would be fabulous. I know I shouldn't of been fooling around, and nothing happened, and the only thing that worries me is the idling. But doing something like that, reverseing, or ust driving aggressively for no more than 30 min shouldn't ruin a car!! i mean it sounds fine. I am just paranoid.

(shrug)

Okay. thanks.

[jigsaw12]

The car starting at around 2k rpm and then lowering shoildn't be a concern, however with the rpm dropping at a stop, I had a similar problem about 2 years ago. It started just dropping and then coming back up at an idle and then it went to an erratic idle. After hours of testing I found that it was the EGR valve (or boost sensor as mazda like to call it). The fairly expensive so if you have good mechanical knowledge try this.

Remove the EGR valve (located centre rear of the engine and held on by two bolts)
Take the top hald off of the part
Clean the carbon build up out of the part
Put the EGR valve back on the car

It sounds easy but it's an electronic part do if you do it wrong you'll screw it up.

[jigsaw12]

Also no need to be paranoid, In my experience and everyone I know with a Protege's experience, thenharder you drive the car the better it responds. The Protege like the abuse

[IukekiniProtege]

haha the protege doesnt like abuse at all, drive it like u stole it, and find out quickly enough it will be breaking anything and everything..

now back on task, I would try cleaning the EGR valve, also do a quick visual sweep of under the hood and make sure that no vacuum lines have fallen off. also clean the mass air flow sensor and come back and let us know how that goes. As for the cold start, the 2k and then drop slowly is the normal, so no reason to worry there

[army88brat]

HAHA, your talking to a girl who knows nothing about cars. I know how to check my oil. BUT I am sooo wanting to learn all about my car. Because my old mazda became my baby, and I knew the engine sounds, and when something wasn't right I knew it. And the next thing a sparkplug blew soooo, I really want to know about everything. I actrually bought two books from b&n the other day.

SO what is, and where is the EGR valve? I have been really careful about driving and shifting as smooth as possible. And looking under the hood when the car is running. But tomorrow when it is light out, i will take it out of the garage and park it in the road and take a good look at it in the light. What vacuum hoses are you talking about, and where are they, what do they look like.

Anything else, I am soo willing to learn, and really want to! thanks.