1st Gen Protege owners advice please!

[hawaiiannights]

I am thinking about buying a used 1993 Protege for about $1,500 as a second beater car and was wondering if there is anything I should look out for or should know about?

The car has 110,000 miles
new belts, waterpump,battery,
some kinda 17" rims and tires
Cold AC
paint is bad

any advice would be appreciated and if anyone has pictures of first gen proteges i'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

[JProtege]

i love my car. i just broke 100k a month or two ago. I've owned the car for about 2 years now i guess . . . i've had to replace 1 bearing and then 2 axles. I get anywhere between 25-29mpg. Some pics . . .

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59575

[hawaiiannights]

i love my car. i just broke 100k a month or two ago. I've owned the car for about 2 years now i guess . . . i've had to replace 1 bearing and then 2 axles. I get anywhere between 25-29mpg. Some pics . . .

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59575

Thanks for the pics! Dayum its in good condition! Nice car! Well i'm going to go look at it tomorrow. Its a toss up between that car and a Toyota Camry....

[hawaiiannights]

i love my car. i just broke 100k a month or two ago. I've owned the car for about 2 years now i guess . . . i've had to replace 1 bearing and then 2 axles. I get anywhere between 25-29mpg. Some pics . . .

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59575

By the way do you have any pictures of the interior? I don't know what the interior looks like. Thanks!

[JProtege]

i dont have any pics of the interior right now, i guess i'll take some tomorrow. If you haven't seen it by then, i'll post.

anyway, a camry will outlast a pro anyday but i like the pro's look better :-p

1500 is a bit much but i guess the 17" rims adjust the value alot

anyhow, gl with whatever you decide. I know my friend's sister has a ~93 camry and she drove the car w/o oil for like 200 miles and the car still was ok afterwards. . . i've always had respect for toyota reliablity but i mean damn, she really does not know how to take care of a car. i'm talkin like, she changes the oil 1.5 times a year. That car is a fighter; i dont think a pro could take the abuse she dishes out.

[hawaiiannights]

i dont have any pics of the interior right now, i guess i'll take some tomorrow. If you haven't seen it by then, i'll post.

anyway, a camry will outlast a pro anyday but i like the pro's look better :-p

1500 is a bit much but i guess the 17" rims adjust the value alot

anyhow, gl with whatever you decide. I know my friend's sister has a ~93 camry and she drove the car w/o oil for like 200 miles and the car still was ok afterwards. . . i've always had respect for toyota reliablity but i mean damn, she really does not know how to take care of a car. i'm talkin like, she changes the oil 1.5 times a year. That car is a fighter; i dont think a pro could take the abuse she dishes out.


Thanks for the advice, yea actually I was leaning towrds the Camry but its older and has 200,000 miles but runs great! I also found a 88 Mazda 929 for sale...dam...does anybody own one of those?

[Salmon_Rob]

is it an lx or dx? what condition is it in? for more pictures go to www.protegeclub.com and go to the photo gallery, and choose 1990-1994 you will see tons of pics of stock pros, pros that are modded, what it can be and what can be done

[hawaiiannights]

is it an lx or dx? what condition is it in? for more pictures go to www.protegeclub.com and go to the photo gallery, and choose 1990-1994 you will see tons of pics of stock pros, pros that are modded, what it can be and what can be done

1993 DX 110,000 miles
New Water pump and new belts. White paint faded
$1,500 obo

[Salmon_Rob]

ah. dx is teh sux0r...u might wanna look for an lx if you can find one...its a much better car.

[hawaiiannights]

Well I went ahead and picked it up for $1,000 without the 17" wheels which I didn't need anyway. The paint is crap but the body, interior and engine is very clean and good. No stereo though but he's gonna give me the stock stereo, gotta see if I can install it.

[cablemirc]

here's a few for you to check out.
http://www.cardomain.com/id/cablemirc
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/sweet.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/Ahura/Sidemarkers/sidemarkers1.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/Ahura/Sidemarkers/sidemarkers2.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/wallpapers/1600x1200.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/269000269999/269579_8_full.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/ProtegeFest/images/DSC02254.JPG
http://www.clubprotege.com/ProtegeFest/images/DSC02255.JPG
http://www.clubprotege.com/ProtegeFest/images/DSC02256.JPG

first gens are very very sexy.

[Salmon_Rob]

dave...urs is teh uglay ;)

[hawaiiannights]

here's a few for you to check out.
http://www.cardomain.com/id/cablemirc
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/sweet.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/Ahura/Sidemarkers/sidemarkers1.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/Ahura/Sidemarkers/sidemarkers2.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/images/wallpapers/1600x1200.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/269000269999/269579_8_full.jpg
http://www.clubprotege.com/ProtegeFest/images/DSC02254.JPG
http://www.clubprotege.com/ProtegeFest/images/DSC02255.JPG
http://www.clubprotege.com/ProtegeFest/images/DSC02256.JPG

first gens are very very sexy.

Dam you sure fixed that car up nicely...hey tell me where is a good place to find parts for this car? I want to start replcaing some things like the lights and stuff cause they look all oxidized and cloudy.....

Hey any first gen owners got stock parts to sell? Let me know what you got I might buy em!

[Salmon_Rob]

i have stock amber corners, stock a lot of things in a box at home...stock springs, stock exhaust, stock struts, hmmm....

[hawaiiannights]

i have stock amber corners, stock a lot of things in a box at home...stock springs, stock exhaust, stock struts, hmmm....

All right! I'm serious give me a list of what you got and I may purchase them from you. I just got the car so I gotta see what exactly needs replacing. So far I know I want to change the headlights cause the plastic is all white and cloudy looking.

[Salmon_Rob]

^^^ thats fixable. go to www.clubprotege.com (http://www.clubprotege.com) and search

[hawaiiannights]

^^^ thats fixable. go to www.clubprotege.com (http://www.clubprotege.com) and search

Thanks! Still interested in what you got so let me know. I'm gonna make a post over there too!..

How are the A/C compressors on these 1st gens? The AC currently still works but its still the original so i'm wondering if its gonna last. This will be my new project car and eventually daily driver so I need to have the AC working especailly where I live!

[Salmon_Rob]

my ac still works, but i had to replace my blower motor. and when i get home ill look at what all i have and make a list. im at school right now :) i also have my oem hood if u want :-p

[BlueMonsta]

things to watch for (1st gen 91 protege LX is the one i have)
1 - rought idle (<--- it keep jumping or it is below 750pm)
2 - body rust, go under the car and look for any loose parts
3 - A/C causing the steering to shake (<-- tat means u need new motor mounts, well u dun have to if u can live with it)
4 - if it is auto, watch out for jerkyNess of gear changes
5 - broken headers/cat/exhaust
6 - brake condition/brake pads
7 - check lights
8 - accident history

i think thats it... good luck

[hawaiiannights]

Dam...ok well I got the car now and noticed a few things.

1. Dam seatbelt warning light doesn't go off. Keeps beeing and driving me crazy
2. Drivers side axle cv boot ripped. Strange creaky / ticking sounds when turning at low speeds.
3. AC doesn't blow cold.

[osudewd]

Dam...ok well I got the car now and noticed a few things.

1. Dam seatbelt warning light doesn't go off. Keeps beeing and driving me crazy
2. Drivers side axle cv boot ripped. Strange creaky / ticking sounds when turning at low speeds.
3. AC doesn't blow cold.
eeek, a CV joint going bad, sucks dude.

[JProtege]

there is a howto on how to absolve yourself from the seatbelt problem written by GroHarlem

[hawaiiannights]

there is a howto on how to absolve yourself from the seatbelt problem written by GroHarlem


Really!! Oh man let me search for it!!

On and the creaky noise was the front left axle was bad...replaced it today. $200.00 with installation...shit

[hawaiiannights]

there is a howto on how to absolve yourself from the seatbelt problem written by GroHarlem

Dood where where? I can't find it!!

[Salmon_Rob]

try searching www.protegeclub.com (http://www.protegeclub.com) i think someone had a link to it recently

[hawaiiannights]

Got it thanks!

[Salmon_Rob]

no prob! any serious questions, pm myself, or anyone that has posted here, or hit me on aim- firstgen323

[hawaiiannights]

Thanks you guys are a great help! And I think I will have more questions to come as I start fixing up this little puppy. Hey do you know where I can find parts for this car online? like used or refurbished? Need the right side Half Shaft Passenger axle and an A/C Compressor.

[charles]

www.mazdaformance.com (http://www.mazdaformance.com) is good for OEM parts. I don't know about A/C systems, I've never had a problem with those. I would recommend only using the OEM axles with the DX / automatic transmission models, as the aftermarket ones tend to get the clip messed up and stuck inside the transmissions.

[dmitrik4]

get the protege. my '90 SE was still running strong at 225,000 miles when i sold it. not a single mechanical problem. A/C was cool-ish, but then again, i used it maybe twice the entire time i had the car. best car i ever had.

[1stgensupercar]

Dam...ok well I got the car now and noticed a few things.

1. Dam seatbelt warning light doesn't go off. Keeps beeing and driving me crazy
2. Drivers side axle cv boot ripped. Strange creaky / ticking sounds when turning at low speeds.
3. AC doesn't blow cold.


jump the connectorin the center console that has the seatbelt sensorsand u will rid yourself of the pesky light and buzzer
get a recharge in the ac