Mazda Protege Basic Maintenance Questions

the_big_h

went to the dealer to check out my A/C problem mentioned in my previous post. Turns out to be a leaking hose... hmm... I thought something like this should never show up in a high quality carmaker like Mazda....

Mazda's build quality reputation is on the line! (not really, but got your attention didn't it )

mdaffron

Don't feel too bad. What year is your Protege? Covered under warranty, I hope? This may have been a bad hose from the beginning.

I've had nothing but good service from my Proteges. My last one, a '92 LX, was running like a top and had never had any problems when I (stupidly) traded it in after only 32 months with 83,000 miles on it!!! My newest one, a 2000 ES five-speed, is zoom-zoom-ZOOOMMMING away at 17,300 miles.

Be glad you don't have a Chevy Cavalier like my wife (and now I, by default) owns. It's been nothing but trouble, and the troubles started at a very tender age. Just to show you how fortunate you are, I went over to the Cavalier topic and grabbed this generic example of what's being discussed over there ... this guy goes through all these problems on a car with only 27,000 miles on it, and then has the audacity to end his post with the quip, "Not a bad car, though?!"

I guess it just illustrates the low level of quality that die-hard "Buy American" types are willing to stoop to. Read on ...

------

"I have a 96 Cavalier and it started out pretty good, but at 27,000 miles, I discovered quite a number of problems while I was doing an oil change. The items consisted of : Leaking oil pan gasket/sealant, leaking oil level sensor, leaking A/C compressor, serpentine belt glazed, rear struts leaking, valve cover gasket leaking, horn quit twice. Believe me, I change my oil every 2k-3k, so I do not neglect it. I can't say for sure that Cavaliers in general have had these problems at this mileage, but I certainly have. I do have to say that my car starts each and every day without fail (even at -10 degrees), has never left me on the side of the road, and is fairly comfortable, though I wish the seats had more support. My recommendaton is that if you buy this car and intend to keep it for a long time, buy an extended warranty....not a bad car, though."

--------

Enjoy your well-made Protege! (My wife's Cavalier has 52,000 miles on it and is on its THIRD head gasket, THIRD radio/cassette player, SECOND alternator, SECOND turn signal/headlight lever, and RATTLES like a can of marbles. Oh -- and to add insult to injury, I can hear her coming home a mile away because of the loud SQUEAL the serpentine belt makes -- the shop has given up on what's causing it after trying TWO MORE belts and adjusting everything. I think a five-door Protege sport wagon might be in her future!!!

Meade

nikecar

but when I had a Cavalier.. yeah it had problems, but overall the bulk (like Belts, alternator, etc..) occured when I bought cheapie Pep Boys/Discount auto parts...

I went through 3 cheapie belts in 20K (After changing OEM at 70K), then I said forget it and went to the ACDelco brand. I never had an oil leak, but some cars are different.. I did break the E-Brake bolts where it bolted to the floor.. Gald I didn't get it fixed cuz it was murdered a few months later..

the_big_h

mine's a 2000, so yeah it's covered under warranty. I don't have any doubts about the quality of Mazda cars, cuz by driving it for almost a year now I know this is a great little car that's well built. My only concern is, my car's no longer in its original build and finish ever since the deer accident. Although the damage was mostly superficial (hood, bumper, lamp), the radiator and the A/C compressor did get replaced with new OEM parts. My concern is, will these replacement parts hold up as well as the originals... This A/C hose leak seems like a foreshadowing of possible things to come... I hope I'm just being paranoid...

nikecar

yes you are paranoid... since the car is relatively new still, things should be ok.. now if it was a 92-93.. well then, get the 01 quick!!!

maltb

It's not uncommon for an accident to have long term effects. It's entirely possible that the A/C hose was damaged during the accident, but didn't show signs of damage until now. Unfortunately, these are the types of things we have to put up with if we want to drive cars. Just be happy that you are still in warranty.

Next time try to pass the buck and not get him stuck in your grille.

chikoo

the_big_h

and Rosenthal Mazda did it with surprising efficiency. Got there at 8:20, and left at 9:30 with the A/C at full blast, even though it was 50 degrees outside and raining. I was shivering in my car, but wanted to test out the A/C nontheless.

now i am ready for the hot & humid mid-atlantic summer just a couple months away...

vocus

I had my AC blasting on Monday, because it was 88 degrees in Baltimore. Works nice and cold as advertised.

groharlem

Hey, go to the SEDANS part of this forum, and lemme know if you can make the meet I go to frostburg state university, and Live in Arnold, MD(near annapolis).

Hope to hear from you!!!

Wil

93 LX

http://groharlem.tripod.com webmaster

mdaffron

My 2000 was cranking out the arctic blast too on Monday, when it hit 91 in Richmond! Just wait till you see yours peeing all over the driveway during our guaranteed-to-be-swelteringly-humid summer.

I don't know what Mazda did between 1992 and 2000, but I'm sure glad they did it. My 1992 Protege LX's A/C gave up over about 85 degrees and just wouldn't keep the car cool.

Meade

chikoo

I find the fan at 3&4 speed setting way too noisy.
they could certainly improve upon that...learn from toyota maybe ..

But the a/c sure is a blast

mdaffron

If Mazda did that, every option would be separate and my $15,800 Protege ES would cost over $20,000! And my warranty would go from 3/50 to 3/36! And I couldn't fit my fat fanny in the back seat, plus I'd have my driver's seat all the way back and still not have any legroom!

No, give me my ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM fan over their too-big-for-their-britches (and WAY too big for their cars) attitude.

Meade

groharlem

I have the freeon A/C in my 93, and OMFG!! There must be a friggin glacier under the hood where that compressor is, b/c on level 2, you gotta crack the window a lil' (or turn it down)..........ITS FRIGGIN COLD AS ****!!

conheady

Finally found some tire tint at Pep boys. It wqas a reasonable 5.99. More thewn enoguh to last the summer. I got green to match my mica green pro.
It's a clear sparkling liquid that gives a nice shine once applied. It goes on like any other tire gel and doesn't turn green intil it dries. It matches my paint job really well and gives my car a unique look. The compliments are coming in.

nikecar

I head that if it splatters, it can stain the paint.. I forget where I heard it, either these boards or another, but someone mentioned it.. what have you noticed?

gitarzan

Dave, I use tire dressings sparingly. To much, to often gives you that "pimpin wet look" that might attract the "wrong" kind of scrutiny to us very aristocratic PRO owners, hehe!!!

Nonetheless, I prefer the tires on my 2000 PRO-ES's stay black versus the crappy brown color they WILL revert to, if not treated on a go forward basis. Here are the three qualities, I look for in a tire dressing/protectant:

1.) I do not want the stuff spinning off the tires, on to my fenders. Purchase a spread on tire "gel" versus a foam or spray.

2.) I want a "natural" look to my tires. Not too much gloss, a nice flat black look, thank you.

3.) No alcohol based tire dressings, please. I believe they may harm your tires in the long run?

I have used two products that work fairly well,(all this stuff will wash off in a heavy rain storm and under the best conditions, last a couple of weeks at most), try "Meguire's Endurance Tire Preservative" or "Forever Black Tire Gel". IMHO, the Endurance "natural gloss" is the better product. BTW, Meguire's makes two levels of gloss for the Endurance tire preservative product, however I like the natural gloss the best. You can get Endurance or Forever Black at AutoZone, Pep Boys, etc. Good luck, my friend.

Respectfully;
Larry

protegextwo

Dave, I use tire dressings sparingly. To much, to often gives you that "pimpin wet look" that might attract the "wrong" kind of scrutiny to us very aristocratic PRO owners, hehe!!!

However, I prefer the tires on my 2000 PRO-ES's stay black versus the crappy brown color they WILL revert to, if not treated on a go forward basis. Here are the three qualities, I look for in a tire dressing/protectant.

1.) I do not want the stuff spinning off the tires, on to my fenders. Purchase a spread on tire "gel" versus a foam or spray.
2.) I want a "natural" look to my tires. Not too much gloss, a nice flat black look, thank you.
3.) No alcohol based tire dressings, please. I believe they may harm your tires in the long run?

I have used two products that work fairly well,(all this stuff will wash off in a heavy rain storm and under the best conditions, last a couple of weeks at most), try "Meguire's Endurance Tire Preservative" or "Forever Black Tire Gel". IMHO, the Endurance "natural gloss" is the better product. BTW, Meguire's makes two levels of gloss for the Endurance tire preservative product, however I like the natural gloss the best. You can get Endurance or Forever Black at AutoZone, Pep Boys, etc. Good luck, my friend.

Respectfully;
Larry

chikoo

can somebody tell me what is the biggest tire size that the 99 protege can accomodate?

eg. 205/55R15...any problems?

nikecar

Chikoo..

Go to www.discounttiredirect.com there you can see the max sizes...

conheady

Once the gel dries, it doesn't come off easily, so you don't have to worry about it getting anywhere. As far as it staining- I wouldn't worry about that since it's not petro-based and that's the only thing that can get through the clear coat on your car. I got some on my shirt when applying and it was clear and came out in the wash.

It's still lasting too. It rained twice and it's starting to fade, but it definitely looks a lot better than the Meguires stuff I've used in the past.

chikoo

thanks nikey.

yes, 205-55r15 fits on the protege.

In six months, I would go for the Kumho712. Excellent reviews.

nikecar

chikoo... no problem..

I know on my car, I'm thinking of taking the Bridgestone Potenza RE730's.. slightly better ratings from Tirerack which reviews both..

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/bridgestone/bs_re730.jsp

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/kumho/ku_712.jsp

plus i like the fact you can test drive them for 30 days and if you don't like it, turn em back in, get a refund and get something else...

pcalvin

What about the Dunlop spSport Series from Dunlop? My 01 Dunlop tires stick to the road like glue!

nikecar

i like the tread of the SP9000's but don't like how the ratings for tread are down... I did own the D60's and like them, but I know I want to try something else...

chikoo

Nikey,

Don't they look alike, visually?

the price difference is what makes me go for it + a better UTQG.

nikecar

they look very similarly and i don't think you really can go wrong with either one... I just like the fact more people give better reviews.. They were both tested in seperate reviews against other tires on the same size and car..

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testResultsModel.jsp?tireModel=Ecsta+Supra+712&tireMake=Kumho

 

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testResultsModel.jsp?tireModel=Potenza+RE730

The Kumho did better in "real world" but the 730's did better on the track..

but you can't go wrong i think with either.. if price is better get the cheaper one... And don't zoom too much around cops!!!

cablesnake

Im curious to survey some of you guys and girls that enjoy washing and waxing your car. My questions are these:

How often do you wash/wax your car?
Is there such thing as too often? How often can I wax my car? Which products are your favorites?

I wash my 99 Civic every couple of weeks and wax every other wash. I'd like to wash more, but the real world keeps me busy. I have had good luck with Meguiar's High Tech Yellow Wax, any car washing stuff, Meguiar's detailing spray, Armor-all (sp?) for the inside.

Larry, I read that you use the meguiar's detailing spray, too. How often do you use that? I ususally only apply it a few days after the wash/wax to get the first round of dust/dirt off. When it gets dirty again, im uncomfortable using the spray on grime. Is that ok?

Enjoy your weekend!

-- rob

chikoo

any ideas on which tranny fluid to put in an auto tranny on the 30,000 mile service?

any expert opinions/experience in using "other than factory filled" oils and special lubricants?

protegextwo

... when it comes to washing or waxing a car. Back "in the day", I only washed my car, when I had a 1st date with a girl or a wedding to attend, hehe! I was too busy checking out new bands at the local bars and working. Then I got married to the lovely Mrs. K and purchased several sensible, but boring cars. Don't get my wrong, I liked my Ford Taurus, Toyota Corolla and Ford Escort, however washing and waxing those cars, was still low on my list of priorities. Well, my priorities shifted, when I replaced my 91 Escort and 94 Corolla with a pair of Emerald Mica 2000 Mazda Protege ES's! Alloy wheels, power moon roof, lots of features, sporty handsome styling and PRIDE of ownership converted me to a blitheful detail devotee.

Well pride of ownership only goes "so far", I have a 5 year old who demands my time, and he IS my first priority. Sooo, detailing my PRO-ES's has replaced some of my hobbies, nonetheless I try to minimize my TIME detailing and maximize my RESULTS. You know, "work smarter not harder"!

IMHO, you can maximize your time using the following tips:

*Wash/clean em inside and out once a week, it's MUCH easier to keep them looking brand new, than it is to restore them!

*Use a cotton wash mitt to cut your wash time in half.

*Westlely's wash and wax car soap is cheap and works well. The wax in the wash, in my opinion; helps to preserve the wax/polish finish.

* Meguiar's Quik Detailer or Final Inspection products do a nice job touching up after a wash and enhance the wax finish. Keep a bottle in the trunk for bird poop attacks or a big bug splats.

*In the winter, I use Prestone Bullet Wax, it is a long lasting synthetic wax/polish like NuFinish, however it is easier to use and according to Consumer Reports lasts longer then N.F. Prestone Bullet Wax is much cheaper than Zanio and it is real good stuff IMHO.

*The rest of the year, I use a 2 step polish/wax combo to really make my Protege shine and pop! First a coat of 3M Imperial Hand Glaze and then, a coat of Meguiar's Hi-Tech yellow #26 Carnauba Wax to protect. A couple of hours every 2 or 3 months is all it takes.

*Really good cloths to remove the wax, will cut your waxing time by 50%. Nic Sand makes a great towel for this purpose.

*A California Dash Duster, really saves time, when dusting the interior. Dust at least once a week. Trust me, the California Duster is worth its weight in gold, awesome product!

*Purchase a foam spray window cleaner product and a NicSand towel dedicated for window cleaning. Get a foam spray for better control and the products sold in auto supply stores are really good. Check to make sure it is safe for tinted windows. BTW, Windex is NOT. Clean your windows weekly and you will never have hazy build up on the inside of your windows.

If anyone, has some time saving tips or some ideas/products to improve the Care and Maintenance of our Protege's, please post them at this discussions. I'm always looking for ways to "work smarter" and keep my PRO's show room new!

Respectfully;
Larry

cablesnake

You only do the Wax/Polish every 2 to 3 months. Is more frequently than that bad for the finish? Can you get a buildup of wax if its not removed properly? Is that what the NicSand towel is for?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm interested in learning more about keeping the interior and exterior of my car in shape and looking good. I've been washing my Civic more lately and it each time I do it, I get a great feeling of satisfaction! Its fun to have a clean car!

-- rob

protegextwo

Rob, my Protege's are garaged kept, at my home. This cuts down the need to wax more often. However, once every 8 to 12 weeks for a better wax is about right. More frequent waxings will not hurt. Most of the top box waxes can be "layered" and will add depth and improve the wet/shine effect of your finish. Also, hand washing versus using an automatic soft-cloth car wash, will help the wax finish last longer. A good rule of thumb: You DO NOT need to re-wax, when water forms high tight beads on the paint.

A great place to get different opinions on car care is right here at Edmunds. Check out the different topics at the Maintenance and Repair discussion. There is a Town Hall member there that answers lots of questions in the wax topics. His user name is bfratz, I believe he is a detail professional. He turned me onto the Meguiar's Final Inspection/Quik Detailer products. Good Luck! ;-)

Respectfully;
Larry

theparallax

Speaking of car dusters, I just went out and bought one of those today, along with a dashboard brush to get the dust out of the nooks and crannies. I used the duster on the outside, and it works really well picking up dust that has accumulated on the car thoughout the day. Excellent $10 investment!

orinocoflow

Thanks for the car care info. I see a trip to Pep Boys in the very near future. Hope they have that California dash duster.

Regards,

Gene

nikecar

I wash our cars anywhere between once a week to once every 2 weeks. If the weather is bad or stuff comes up, I have even gone a month but I detest that.. I'm going to wax our car at the 6 month mark because water still is sheeting off the factory wax and its as smooth as the day we bought it..

I actually washed our pro on Friday (just the front) and LAst night because we took a trip to miami and had to get the bugs off.

As for the car duster.. I have a question.. what do you do when its old? I had one that had the "wax" in it, and it WAS great, but after some time, it would leave little wax spots on the finish. The instructions said you didn't need to wash it, just shake it which I did.. Do anyone of you wash your duster?

pcalvin

Just a question on which duster to buy. There is a California CAR duster, and a California DASH duster. I saw the dash duster for $10, but the car Duster was around $15. Would anyone recoment both, or just one or the other? There is also something call a California Water Blade that is supposed to help with drying. Has anyone used this? It's $20, and it seems a bit high for an advanced squeegee.
Thanx

nikecar

I know someone who has it and swears by it.. I'm tempted to get one and use it too..

chikoo

went to the world-famous PEP-BOYS and inquired about the 205/55-15 tires. Their price:

4 tires + installation = 514/- USD

Holy cow!

Is their tire brand FUTURA so good that it rivals top world manufacturers?

gitarzan

While we're all on a cleaning frenzy, I'll also testify for the CCDuster. Don't pay more than $10, however. I paid $12 at K-Mart and then found them for $9 an $10 at Walmart and Pep-Boys, respectively. I'm tempted to get the dash duster but the Swiffer would probably be more than fine and cheaper in the short run.

I also use Armor All Window wipes. They are in a plastic tube like baby wipes, and are great for a quick wipe down on the glass, removing waterspots and wiper tracks. I use them while I'm waiting for the ball and chain to get off of work...

I also bought a thing that is a sponge wrapped up in a chamois. It's a waste of money, it's really is lousy. I'll have to get the real thing.

For a quick wash I pour about a cup of Westly's inside of my washing mitt then I don the mitt. I wet the car, then wet the mitt, and zoom zoom over the car, soapy mitt in one hand, hose in the other. Takes about 5 minutes. I do the parts like around the wheels last since there might be more scratchy stuff there.

digidave

(from a few posts back...)

Got the chance to talk to the local dealer's service manager about this and he took a test drive with me. Sure enough, he heard it and said it was not normal. Initial prognosis: transmission gears on the top end reaching a certain force threshold (at the specific RPM) when going in one direction (i.e. acceleration / cruise), which may explain the immediate reduction of noise when the gas pedal is let up and the metal-to-metal direction of force is the reverse (cruise / deceleration). Said he will be contacting the manufacturer to see if he can find out more. May want to take one or two other ES' out on the road to try and reproduce.

Will let you know what develops...

jk111

man, you guys wash a lot. I think the last time I washed was like.. last year. It kinda sucks when you live in an apt in northern jersey, where there is no self wash in sight. It is either machine wash (scratch paint) or detail shops (too expensive.) I like to wash it myself, but can't find a place to do it. I been using nu Finish, and it works pretty well.

protegextwo

I love the car soap inside the wash mitt trick. Very cool, I'll need to try that one. I'm going to check out AutoZone, Thursday for some new products. I'm getting low on Quik Detailer and Endurance Tire Gel.

-Larry

nikecar

well if you live facing the parking lot or close enough, you can buy an adapter to your faucet and hook a hose up to your faucet. I've seen folks do that in apartment complexes without any outside sigots or car washes..

conheady

I bought a California water blade a few weeks ago and it is well worth the money. takes most of the water off in about a minute. It has trouble getting in the cracks, but the sound it makes when driying the car is just too good!

Whhheeeeeeeeeeep. Whheeeeeeeeeeep.

chikoo

make sure it doesn't scratch the paint..

gitarzan

Don't they have the ubiquitous Do-It-Yourself Spray Washes out there? I take mine there now and then to clean out the wheel wells.

conheady

No chance of it scratching the paint unless it was dragging a rock or something- This thing it silicone- and it's really soft.

nikecar

That's what you have to be careful of. Any dirt not washed off is a possible pain in the butt..

I will not use it to do the sides of my car when I by the Cali blade.. I'll use a chamois for that..

conheady

Wouldn't chamois do the same thing- even worse- if dirt was still on the car. You'd just be rubbing it all over the finish?
At lest with the Cali-blade you have more control and can see exacty whats on the blade at all times.

protegextwo

I'm am not an expert, lol!!! However, the detail experts claim the best way to dry a car is with 100% high quality cotton towels. They claim the thick nap in those towels will catch any impurities left on the paint-work after washing. Nonetheless, I use a chamois to dry and finish up with a cotton hand size towel. BUT,....I will probably try a California Water blade in the near future. I'm not a purist and am always open to new stuff. I think it is MORE important to avoid scratching your paint-work during the washing process then in the drying process.

Respectfully;
Larry