Mazda Protegé

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Comments

  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    I've been very happy with my Silblades.

    I do believe they are online only.

    http://www.silblade.com/

    Ordering was easy and delivery fast. Installation took about 10 minutes.
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    "Perhaps we should take that discussion to the Mazda3 board?"

    No!
    I'm a Protege owner at the Mazda Protegé topic sharing my views on the Mazda 3's lack of style. :-)

    -larry
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Product: SilBlade
    Wiper color: Black
    Quantity: 2 Each
    Price $19.00
    Total $38.00 for 2000 Mazda Protege

    http://www.silblade.com/update_cart.cfm?bladetype=silblade&ca- rtID=2811

    A pair of OEM Mazda wiper blades costs $22.75 at my dealer. I need to replace the wiper blades on both my Protegés. Why spend the extra cash?
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    I may break down and get a pair. I've been really unsatisfied with every pair of blades that I've gotten since the OEM ones.

    Ray, or anybody else that has those blades, what's the coldest temp you've had them in? Winter performance is a primary concern. The "winter" blades here in Canada are constructed such that the hinge mechanism of the blade is covered in a rubber "boot" so snow does not get in the hinge and decrease tension.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Edit: Coldest Temp has been -4 F. Still were soft and worked fine. The hinge can still get some ice in it, but I've only had to clear it once so far. They have seemed to work well even with some ice in the hinge.

    I guess it depends on your view. I replaced mine even though my OEM Blades were only 6 months old. I did it mostly due to the winter. I hate when snow and ice sticks to the blade and then the blade just hops across the windshield. Maybe my Pro blades would have, maybe they wouldn't, but all the OEM blades I've had it the past did.

    The Silblade wipers have stayed soft and have not been covered in ice even with the prolonged sub-freezing temperatures we've had. The Turnpike trip I had when I went skiing last week was a mess and they just kept clearing my windshield, while I saw at least 10 people on the side of the road messing with their wipers.

    The second thing about them is that they leave a coating on the windshield that will act like rainX, which I have used a lot. I wasn't sure how well the blades would coat the windshield with silcone, but it seems to have worked great. We had some steady rain the other day and the water beaded just like when I use RainX.

    So for me, I think they are worth the extra cash. They have peformed better than any OEM wiper I've had. Now if they last the entire 5 year warranty period I'll be sold. I've neve had an OEM blade make it nearly that long. Most rip withing 2 years. Cold and Sun just dry them out and they fall apart.
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    I used the OEM and it costs $23 taxes included for the 2 front blades. What Larry said is $38 USD=$59 CAD!!!

    The OEM froze only once this winter and all I usually do is when I clear the snow off the car, I also use the brush to clear the snow from in b/w the metal. I don't like winter blades that have that rubber in them even though they're supposed to help. I find them much worse than OEM metal ones. BTW, I replace my blades once/yr.

    Dinu
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Prolly, order a pair and see for myself. The wipers on Trudy's PRO-ES leave to many streaks in light rain. I guess their done. Time to replace. I been told in a perfect world, change out should occur twice a year? I shoot for once a year.

    -Larry
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    A pair of OEM Mazda wiper blades costs $22.75 at my dealer. A pair on line from Siliblade $38.00. I guess your paying for the silicon action and hopefully; a longer replacement interval.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I always heard you should change them every 6 months or 6,000 miles. I usually do it every 6 months, otherwise I would be changing wiper blades every time I turn around with as much as I drive. :)

    I almost got the Siliblade, but decided to get the OEM Smartblades for my car (they supposedly tell you when they wear out, with an indicator). It doesn't snow that much here, so I didn't see a use for winter blades.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    How about coating the OEM blades with RainX? Since RainX keeps snow/ice/rain from staying on the windshield, would it help the blades as well?
  • h109h109 Member Posts: 36
    I let the Low fuel light come on quite a few times (being forgetful). Once I drove around 30-35 miles in 50-50 traffic and the another time for half-an-hour (and 10 miles) stuck in stop-and-go NJ traffic. The latter time, it was a bit scary. Ofcourse, having AAA certainly put my mind at ease, though I hope I never use it for this purpose :-)
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Twice a year! I get mad if I have to do it once every 2 years.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I just change mine when the start streaking. The OEM pair on my car lasted about 9 months and 20K miles before that happend.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    I usually replace mine when they start streaking, which works out to be about 6-9 months, depending on the weather and how much dust/debris hits the windshield.

    I used Bosch Microedge blades and refills for a while. I switch to the rubber-booted blades in the winter, though they don't clear the windshield as well as the OEM (very good) or the Bosch (almost as good as OEM).

    I just installed Silblade units as I couldn't stand the winter blades any more. We'll see how they do.
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Paul, how does the indicator know what language the owners speakes? Man or womans voice?
    ;-)
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    it will compete with the VW Golf. Europeans like hatchbacks. Easier to carry crates of beer in. LOL! No six packs for them.

    That's one thing I found with my Pro, I can put a six pack on the floor behind the driver's seat, fits snuggly and won't turn over. ;)

    fowler3
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    What kind of time and effort did the Silblade install require?
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    in your head Larry.
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Good Morning James! Planning on trading your Mazda Protegé in on a Mazda3? or perhaps a 6???
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Pop off the old blade. Pick the appropriate clip supplied with the new ones. Slide on wiper arm till it snaps. Done. Did all three in 10 minutes.

    No tools, no muss, no fuss. Removing the old ones was the hardest part for me. At first I couldn't figure out how to flip the wiper and slide it off. They had to be flipped pretty much upside down in the arm. Once I figure that out it was smooth sailing.

    It was the first time I had ever replaced the whole blade. I usually just put new refill inserts in.
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    My head is awful heavy today. I got a case of projectile vomiting flu. However, I still enjoy discussing the ins and outs of talking wiper blades!
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    You must have been kissing Meade again!
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Bingo, thats what I have always done.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Don't they kind of clean themselves or something?
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    look original if you buy black.

    To me anyway.
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    D'oh! You scooped me Ray!
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    that PeP Boy look!!! LOL!! Boy Racer not!!!
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    No, not yet. Only 12,540 miles on it. Still new almost. Really, the seats look new, I never carry passengers. It's cleaner than some demos I have seen on the dealer's lot.

    Dinu01: You said when the temp reaches the 9 o'clock mark it's "time to zoom". I have often read that isn't a good indication of operating temp. Coolant heats quicker than the oil. You need to drive for at least several miles moderately to allow the engine oil to reach operating temperature. Then zoom.

    fowler3
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    i had one go squeaky on me in 9 months.
    worte an email to the VP.
    in 4 days, I had a new set of wipers at no cost to me.
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    I usually wait about 10 minutes of driving until I zoom it :)

    Blades: The OEM blades are Bosch!

    Dinu
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    "I have often read that isn't a good indication of operating temp. Coolant heats quicker than the oil."

    This is true. I would notice this often when I used to change oil. The temp gauge would be normal on some cars but the oil was still cold.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    I took 20k from him!
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    But I'm not quick enough in this group. :)

    I thought the Bosch blades resembled the OEM units. They looked a little different though, and don't seem to hug the glass as well, but much better than Anco, Pylon or Trico units. I might use the better Anco blades, but I'll never get another set of Pylons or Tricos (except for their winter blades, which all are sub-par).
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Anyone have any cool ideas for underseat storage? Either driver or passenger, doesn't matter to me.

    I just need something to house a flashlight, power inverter, and maybe a few other small items.

    I saw this really cool thing for the hatch that is 3" high and has 4 little compartments. It looks like it's just the floor of the hatch. But alas it doesn't come to fit the P5.

    So I'm turning to underseat instead.

    Mabye it won't work, I haven't even looked under there yet, but I figure I can slide some flat box type thing under there.
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    Would you care if you could only access it from behind the seat? I think there's the seat adjusment handle under the front of the seats that may block a box from going under there. From the backside, there's a little bit more room (I think...).
    My concern would be movement. When taking corners, I cringe at the thought of hearing a banging under my seat.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    yeah I wouldn't wwant a bang either. I thought maybe Case Logic made something like that but didnt' see anything on their site.

    Mabye something with a little Velcro would hold the box in place. Inside the box if it doesn't come that way already, I'll do what I did with my Clipboard/Box. Used a piece of foam and cut out specific places for what I want to carry. That way it fits snug and secure and can't make any noise.
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Like Mike said, there's a lot of seat-adjustment stuff under the front seats already.

    I know, because I'm always finding bottles of water all caught up in there, and sometimes it's hard to get them out.

    Sigh...go ahead...let's hear the water-in-Dale's-car jokes.............
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    3" High x 10" Wide x 12" Deep will fit really nice under the drivers seat. Slide right by the seat adjuster and wires. Could probably go bigger if it was only accessed from the rear, but I just measured for front access.

    Here's my plan. Get one of those things used for organizing a suitcase. Checked online and found one just about that size. I'll take my foam and cut out what I need, insert into packer and shove it under the seat. Might have to experiment with a piece of velcro or something to see how well it stays put.
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    Will passengers in the backseats end up kicking the box? I know if I had to sit in the back, my feet would stick under the front seats a bit.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    That is why I left it to 12" deep. That way there will be some toe room under the seat. Otherwise it could be about 18" deep.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I HATE when stuff drops between the seats and center console in my car, I can't even get underneath there to get it! It's pretty much closed off, and it's sharp as hell too. Almost cut my finger more than one trying to retrieve my cell phone that had fallen under there...
  • george2002george2002 Member Posts: 13
    I don't know if this still holds or not - back with my 1992 Pro( and other cars) I had problems with replacements blades of all sorts as the cars aged . A mechanic later told me that original manufacturer blades are contoured to fit the windshield , while some replacement blades are not . He said I should have saved the original blades and just replaced the rubber inserts.
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    Neve had issues w/blades, although I would not get Motomaster anymore. The BOSCH blades I have on the PRO now are great, so for EXACTLY the same price as Motomasters ($23 tax incl.), I go with Bosch once a year and see clearly.

    Dale: Care to get us started on a song: I can see clearly now... :) J/K

    Dinu
  • george2002george2002 Member Posts: 13
    re blades - Yeh - most of the replacements I tried were the standard " buy on Saturday at the local car/home store" . I will go with your suggestion when it comes time on the 2002 - ( but I will save the original blades , just in case!)
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    but it'll be silly to, when they cost $60 CAD!

    Your Mazda dealer has the BOSCH blades. Just call before and make sure you know what length you need.

    Dinu
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Was that, could it possibly have been, a CRITICISM of your ... car? We have witnessed HISTORY, folks!!!

    (Must be all that hardware for those thank-goodness heated seats!!!)

    :-)

    Meade

    P.S. On a serious note, you may want to try limiting off-topic commentary like that. While several of us know which car you're complaining about, the casual visitor might not. I think it's appropriate to either (a) say you're talking about a Jetta here, or (b) don't post generic complaints like that when you're not talking about the Protege. Thanks.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    It finally happened, this morning on the way to work.

    Zoomster is sitting in the parking deck with 50,007 miles on his odo.

    (Sniff) Bye-bye standard warranty!!! (Sob)

    Waaaaahhhhhh!!!!! :-(

    (He gots an additional 49,993 and 2-1/2 years to go, though -- but with a $50 deductible.)

    Meade
    Zoomin' into the Unknown
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Did I break wind?

    It's not like this discussion to have no posts at all for four hours on a weekday!

    Meade
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Proteges are fun to drive...

    Now back to our regularly scheduled nap....zzzz, zzzz, zzzz
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    of the Protege's windshield wipers? I couldn't find it in the manual and i'm too lazy to go out and measure :-D
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