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It wasn't the engine rattle described above, but rather, the valve clatter on cold starts. The valve clatter started around 20,000 miles and has gotten progessively noisier as the miles have increased (64,000 now).
I have experienced that engine rattle described above from time to time. Of course, I have the 1999 1.8L, so it is not the VTCS. I believe the F-series engine (1.8L & 2.0L) has a serious rattle problem from an abnormal vibration. The 2.0L seems to do it while the VTCS is fully closed. Mine does it just above idle, while the ECU holds revs for a few seconds before coming down to idle. It is annoying, but I seriously doubt it will cause a problem.
Anyway, I'd have your clearances checked, it sounds kinda strange.
The other thing was just a little something I noticed . . . I went to use my sun visor for the first time today (I've only had the car for like a month, and it's been cloudy most days). I'm pretty tall, but I've had no problem with head room in my Protege, especially with the moonroof. But when I went to move the visor to the side . . . first the moonroof control/map lights console thingy got in the way, and then my head got in the way! So I'm sitting there trying to drive in rush hour traffic, and wrestling with my sun visor . . . it was not a pretty sight.
And for the guy that was looking at the $20,000 Protege . . . IMHO, that's way too much. I got mine for $100 over invoice -- minus $1500 in rebates. Of course it could just be that I happened to get a really good deal, but I think $20k is way too high.
and cruise control is not the most precise equipment in the world, so a variance of couple mph is more than acceptable IMO.
as for the visor, maybe you could try lowering the seats a little more to gain some additional headroom? I have mine almost all the way to the bottom and have tons of headroom that I'll never use
Thanks again for the help. I'll have to take a look.
Now I'm able to do it successfully without even thinking about it, so I can't tell you what my system is.
But I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.
*edit*
Okay, just remembered my system:
Visor in down position.
Flip up, move to side and flip down once it gets past my big head.
Practice makes perfect.
*second edit*
Okay, realized that doesn't make any sense. If I'm headed south in the morning, then my visor is already at the side. When I turn and face the sun, I flip up, move it to the front, and flip it back down again. I do the previously-mentioned manuever when the road jogs back south again.
And I'm sure y'all enjoyed reading every excruciating detail of my morning commute and my visor.
About the recent graduate rebate is that high school or college? I am only 18 and graduated high school last year.
I'm going to have to think about this....
I once again explained that I never asked whether it was "normal" in the sense that the 2002 Proteges do this. My question was is this "normal" in the sense of being something Mazda wanted to happen and more importantly, something that they want to continue after having it brought to their attention.
They have no answer to this except to say that if they thought it was a problem they'd fix it. Personally, I'm not convinced. They knew there was a significant hard starting problem on the 00 MPV's v6 and they introduced it to market anyway while working on what they termed a "countermeasure". Of course that did not stop the dealer from first telling me there was no problem and using the same "they all do it" explanation. I don't know if this problem pre-dated the 00 MPV model or not. The 00 is the only personal experience I've had with it.
So, be warned 5 speed owners of 2 situations:
1) if you use your cruise control and then leave the "Main" switch on, if you accidentally hit the "set" or "resume" switch the engine will shoot to redline and stay there until you do something to disengage the system.
2) if you have the "Main" switch on for the cruise control (some people always leave it on) and accidentally hit the "set" button, the engine will once again shoot to redline and stay there until you do something to disengage the system.
If the 02 models used the stalk mounted cruise controls I think this becomes a much more minor risk. But, since the 02 and later cars will apparently use the buttons mounted between the steering wheel rim and hub, hitting the "set" or "resume" switch accidentally is a much larger risk.
I intend to send a letter to Mazda about this, but I won't hold my breath waiting for a response.
Even though it may not matter, I'll have the mobile company come to the house so I can leave the cars in the garage overnight.
I thought the issue was hitting "reset" in neutral after a speed had been set, causing the engine to try to accelerate up to that speed even though the tranny was out of gear.
Meade
Maybe I should have just said this: On the 2002 Protege, the cruise control system does not recognize if the car is in neutral. Granted no one will engage the system in neutral on purpose, but the placem,ent of those buttons certainly makes it a risk to do it accidentally.
I think this goes under the category of people trying to make their car do something it's not supposed to do. In the same theme, I can drive around all the time in first gear and burn up my transmission -- the car will do nothing to protect me from my own stupidity there. Also, there's no lock to ensure I don't suddenly pull hard on my parking brake while I'm on the highway -- no automatic lockout there. I'll bet there's also nothing to keep me from getting up to 25 in reverse and engaging my cruise control.
Guys, there are some things that are just common sense. Not using the cruise control while you're in neutral is one of them -- just like not flooring the accelerator while you're in neutral. Getting NHTSA involved reminds me of that person who sued McDonalds when they spilled hot coffee on themselves.
Sorry, that's my opinion. I await the tidal wave of responses that assuredly will come.
Meade the Outspoken
;-)
Meade
I am going to probably bake a cake tonight for a thing at work tomorrow. That's a whole different thing. I then have the MAPP, which I need to make the crab dip for (hopefully, I can find crab meat). Then I need to make chicken wings and a vegetable plate for another party I am attending on Saturday evening. I have no time for this stuff. It's a mess to be popular sometimes.
All this while planning my trip to Chicago as well (leaving next Wednesday). Good God, what a mess!
I may not be busy preparing stuff in the kitchen, but let me show you just what I've done to prepare for MAPP III:
Two months ago: $73.15 on my AmEx card for the shelter
Yesterday: $67 at Costco for 40 hamburgers, four pounds of hot dogs, five pounds of potato salad, bottles of ketchup, mustard and relish and two bags of charcoal.
Last night: Put the Mazda Motorsports banners in the trunk, along with the charcoal, two coolers and a plastic tub containing my grill utensils, can opener, bottle opener, tablecloth clips, grill lighter and several other odds & ends.
Tonight: Putting the Edmunds T-shirts in the car and giving a final wash to both cars. (Of course, it's supposed to rain here tomorrow night. Oh well, just like MAPP I. Same exact forecast. We can only hope it turns out in the sunny manner MAPP I did!)
Tomorrow: Picking up Dale at the airport. Picking up the three dozen Virginia ham biscuits I've ordered (at $9.95 a dozen). Going out to dinner with Dale!
Saturday: ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM!!!!!!
(I'm not trying to rub anything in by quoting prices. This is money well spent. Just showing Paul my dedication to this.)
This is gonna be great, guys and gals!
Meade
Meade
Guess what happens to the engine?
u got it....
It redlines!!!
so is this normal?
I hope the forecast does turn out like MAPP I did. It was beautiful up in the mountains. I saw about the rain in the weather, and thought instantly about when we went for MAPP I.
Here's the link to the Yahoo group Matthew. If for some reason you can't get in, go to the second link listed and check out Wil's mirrored information.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mazdaprotege
http://mazdaprotege.net/mapp3info.htm
Hope you can make it!
Meade
Yahoo group moderator & MAPP III coordinator
I remember a trip we were taking in my dad's 1972 Volvo -- my mom was in the passenger seat and she leaned down to get something off the floor in front of her, and her elbow hit the shifter -- putting the car in FIRST GEAR at 60 mph! Man, you shoulda heard that engine!
(Didn't damage it, fortunately!)
Meade
The problem is, if you had used the system and hit "resume" while at that light, it would go to redline.
You are 100% correct that none of this should happen intentionally. I just think that due to the risk of hitting the buttons accidentally, the system should know it's in neutral.
Meade
Make sure you lift with your legs!
I'm in Minneapolis if anyone wondered.