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Mazda Protege5
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Comments
Bruno
I notice the sunrise red on my sedan's touch-up paint doesn't match the baked-on paint from the factory.
Since they're different formulations, it's pretty hard to hit an exact match. As you've witnessed, they will weather differently too, especially with exposure to UV radiation. UV inhibitors (basically, they either reflect or absorb UV light) can lessen this effect, but not eliminate it. You might try polishing those areas as the color change may be only "skin deep."
Just goes to show that no paint we can put on is nearly as tough as the paint they can bake-on at the plant.
I'm sure that airborne contaminants figure into it as well. I'm just glad I don't work down-wind of a chemical plant. I bet those people get new cars more frequently due to the damage to the paint and exposed metal parts on them.
good point, especially if they don't wash and wax regularly the car.
Bruno
Right on!!! ;-)
Bruno
Bruno
>>>praying the calipers is easy. You will have to jack the car up 4 times unless you can manage to get more than 1 wheel of the ground and get the car onto stands. Here is what I did:
1) Loosen lugnuts on tire you are going to remove.
2) Block opposite corner tire.
3) Jack car up so the wheel is off the ground. I use a hydraulic jack and then I use the standard jack as a backup in case the hydraulic one were to fail (I don't have jack stands).
4) Remove tire.
5) Lay out some cardboard or plastic underneath the car to catch any drips.
6) You can clean and sand the caliper if you want. Since the car was so new I just wiped the caliper down with damp paper towels and then dried it.
6) Put some masking tape in the holes in the caliper (kind of a pain) and a little underneath the caliper where the disc is.
7) Take a whole bunch of plastic bags (like the kind you get from the grocery store or trash bags) and tape them around the wheel well behind the caliper and just under the caliper (it should cover the whole disc). I put the bags all around the back of the caliper so they even covered the rubber portion on the rear of the caliper. Isolate that caliper as best as you can!
8) Get close and apply the paint. Use short strokes carefully spraying so as not to create a cloud that blows all over. Be sure to work in a well ventilated area. After applying a coat I positioned a fan to blow on it. After it dried (usually <30 minutes) I'd then apply another coat or two filling in the parts that the paint doesn't fill as best I can (there will be these small parts).
9) Once its dry and you are satisfied, Remove bags and tape and put the tire back on and repeat.
The first time you drive the car just be careful in case you got any overspray on the brake disc itself. You really shouldn't have if you masked it well but any that you did have will come right off the first time you brake (just like the rust always does).
I did two a night. The paint is easy to find and should be at most autostores. I don't remember the name right now but its in a silver can, is 500 degree resistant and comes in a wide range of colors. I think the red I just applied was Ford Red (ha!). It was a close match to the strut tower brace. I applied a more crimson like Universal Red to my 1991 Toyota Mr2 Turbo like 3 years ago and it still looks great to this day, even with infrequent autox'ing which heats the brakes up.
-Finn<<<
So my next question is; Is the rotor held on by rust, or do I need to remove the axle nut? I couldn't tell where the rotor ends, and the hub begins, because of the rust.
On a semi-related note. Does anyone know what the current incentives are on the 2002 Protege sedans. The Mazda website says 0% for 48 months for the 2003's but doesn't say anything about the 02's. The local dealer has a seabreeze green one with a moonroof and spoiler that looks pretty sharp.
I'm going to post this in the Protege board as well.
You can always write the dealership's customer service manager a note.
They're fixing the problem they caused. Too bad they're not going the extra step to minimize your inconvenience.
Audia8q, do you know what, if any incentives are available for the '02 Protege sedans?
FYI - the rebate to dealer is not advertised - my salesman told us about it (he's great... Morries Mazda in Mpls, his name is Pete).
The only thing difficult was that the brake line interfered with the upper bolt when trying to fit the socket wrench over it. I had to use a little WD-40 to loosen the bolts (watch your knuckles .
Your going to want to have some way of hanging the caliper once the bolts are out so you don't end up damaging your brake line (coat hanger wire might work). Crank the steering all the way to the left for better access to the drivers side caliper before jacking up the car. Crank your steering to the right for the passenger side.
When you put everything back together make sure you clean any debris off the smooth mating surfaces of the caliper and mount.
Good luck.
There is NO zero percent financing on 2002. It was discontinued on 10/14/02...You waited too long!!!
The program now offers $2000 customer cash as Wayde mentioned.
Rich
Thanks
Bruce
The dealer tells me that they are aware of this problem, but it isn't hurting anything.
I believe when you hear a metallic knock, things are going wrong.
I am also experiencing a problem when you start out. The transmission acts like you are starting in second gear. It used to snap your neck when you punched it from a light, but now it is starting one gear up. The dealer tells me that we have a learning transmission. Sounds like bull to me!
Category: B Piston Engine
Repair Reference # 3562
Subject: 2.0L Engine noise with cold coolant temp
ALL 2.0L between 2001-2002 are affected
Customer may experience an engine rattle under light to moderate acceleration with engine coolant temps below 149 deg F and engine rpm's between 1500 to 2500.
Confirm noise only occurs within the VTCS ( Variable Tumble Control System) operation "valve closed" period (when ECT is below 149 deg F)
This noise is currently believed to be the result of the timing between VTCS plates "opening", and the ignition spark advanc command. This is an operating characteristic of this engine and no repair attempts should be made. Although the noise is present only during cold start up and disappears once the engine coolant reaches 149 degrees F, Mazda realizes that it is an annyance to some customers and its engineers are investigating possible countermeasures in an effort to address customer satisfaction.
As for the tranny problem, sounds like the dealer is feeding you bull. I don't have an auto, so don't know for sure, but I sure don't remember anything about a learning tranny on the pro. Did this piece of info come from a dealer or a service rep?
The car shouldn't start out in 2nd gear no matter how smart it is. I don't think the P5 has a snow mode for the auto; generally snow mode would have the car start out in 2nd gear.
Also, are there any incentives out for the 03's yet? The Mazda webiste only has info on the 03 sedans and the MPV.
I couldn't tell you more because I finally bought a yellow one with factory moonroof.
BTW, I prefer a moonroof having a one-touch button and the two buttons swap their places (or combine to one), but it's not really a big deal.
Bruno
Here's the thread I was talking about:
http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13536
Here's a snip from a useful post:
The rear cup holders are not, I repeat not $130.00. They can be had for $59.00 CDN. at any dealership in Canada. That would mean $40.00 U.S. It is a 2003 part. Unfortunately it's only available in Canada in Black.
Alot of the roofs we have added include more features than the factory roof...like being able to close it with the key in the door and remote..
I prefer the factory roof because of price but sometimes consumers want a roof in a non roof car and these have been good for us.
Can you get the part number in Canada?
Thanks
Bruce
Bruno
Bruno
Notice the higest I ever got was 31.3. That was the only time I ever drove my car out of town. These figures are on 87 OCTANE.
My P5 is a stock, manual tranny, with a K&N drop in filter. I installed the K&N filter on 8-8-02.
I drive about 98% city.
Does these numbers look ok? Should I bring my car in to get something checked out?
http://members.cox.net/mazdaprotege5/MPG.gif