loewenloewen
Member
- :
- 2002 Protege5
Hey guys,
I've got an automatic '02 Protege5 (135K miles) and I'll admit up front that I don't know too much about cars beyond the basic "this part does this" level. About a month ago, I started the car and the engine began shaking terribly and the CEL was flashing. I turned the car off, tried again, and it ran fine but with the CEL steadily on. Over the next two days until I could get it in to the shop, it ran OK with the CEL on, except for one more time where I turned it on and got the vibrating/blinking CEL.
I searched around and read a lot on this forum, figured it sounded as though I might have a clogged EGR valve, and took it to Pep Boys to have them replace the EGR valve. They did, and the car sounds much better nowthe idle is so much smoother and the car seems to run better. However, a few days ago, the CEL came on steadily, although the car continued to run fine. Tonight on the way home, the CEL started blinking (which I know means I should stop driving, but I was almost home and it's 1 a.m., so I crossed my fingers and kept going until I got home) but the car seems to be running OK, though the acceleration when it upshifts might be a touch less smooth than usual.
Anyway, any thoughts anyone has would be super appreciated. Over the past few years, I've replaced the catalytic converter and vertical control arm bushings (to pass inspection), the alternator and power steering belts (which were fraying and squealing), and the spark plugs/air filter/EGR valve, which would be candidates to have caused a misfire. Obviously it's very frustrating to keep spending money on the car without knowing precisely what's going on with it.
I've got an automatic '02 Protege5 (135K miles) and I'll admit up front that I don't know too much about cars beyond the basic "this part does this" level. About a month ago, I started the car and the engine began shaking terribly and the CEL was flashing. I turned the car off, tried again, and it ran fine but with the CEL steadily on. Over the next two days until I could get it in to the shop, it ran OK with the CEL on, except for one more time where I turned it on and got the vibrating/blinking CEL.
I searched around and read a lot on this forum, figured it sounded as though I might have a clogged EGR valve, and took it to Pep Boys to have them replace the EGR valve. They did, and the car sounds much better nowthe idle is so much smoother and the car seems to run better. However, a few days ago, the CEL came on steadily, although the car continued to run fine. Tonight on the way home, the CEL started blinking (which I know means I should stop driving, but I was almost home and it's 1 a.m., so I crossed my fingers and kept going until I got home) but the car seems to be running OK, though the acceleration when it upshifts might be a touch less smooth than usual.
Anyway, any thoughts anyone has would be super appreciated. Over the past few years, I've replaced the catalytic converter and vertical control arm bushings (to pass inspection), the alternator and power steering belts (which were fraying and squealing), and the spark plugs/air filter/EGR valve, which would be candidates to have caused a misfire. Obviously it's very frustrating to keep spending money on the car without knowing precisely what's going on with it.
