Battery and Air Filter replacement - Protege5

[mark2000]

I can't find any how-to's on here for replacing a battery and air filter on a Protege 5. I have a 2003 model and I want to save some cash by trying to do it myself.

As a Saturn owner previously, this was pretty easy but opening the hood on the Mazda, it's looking a little more challenging.

Could someone point me to a how-to on it?

From what I see, I have to remove the big red bar, then remove the bolt holding down the battery cover, and then... ? It looks like there's a few more bolts I might need to remove.

For the air filter - again, it was super simple as a Saturn owner, but in the Mazda, I can't even see where the air filter is.

Thanks.

 

[Tzar177]

I can't find any how-to's on here for replacing a battery and air filter on a Protege 5. I have a 2003 model and I want to save some cash by trying to do it myself.

As a Saturn owner previously, this was pretty easy but opening the hood on the Mazda, it's looking a little more challenging.

Could someone point me to a how-to on it?

From what I see, I have to remove the big red bar, then remove the bolt holding down the battery cover, and then... ? It looks like there's a few more bolts I might need to remove.

For the air filter - again, it was super simple as a Saturn owner, but in the Mazda, I can't even see where the air filter is.

Thanks.

Is your car completely stock? Removing the red bar would help with replacing the battery. Its 4 17mm nuts, 2 on each side...real easy here. Theres a black box on the right side in the engine bay looking from the front. It will have a hose going to the throttle body. There is 2 clips you undue..they just snap down. Pull cover off and replace filter, reverse install

 

[CheeseHelmet]

For the battery, before doing anything remove the negative lead then the positive (you'll need a 10mm wrench). It's important to do it in that order for safety. Then you remove the strut bar and then the 10mm nut that holds the right side of the battery holder bracket. From there you should be able to remove the battery holder bracket and then the battery. Once you replace the battery and put everything back together, connect the positive lead first then the negative lead.

The air filter is right in front of the battery in a black box (there's a big tube leading up to it). There are two clips on the right side of the box, undo them and then lift the top off the box. That's it, the air filter is right there.

 

[mark2000]

Wow, sounds simple.

So just remove the red bar, and then remove the bolt which is connected to that long rod beside the battery, and then the case should come off?

The air filter sounds just as easy, just lift the clamps?

It looked like there were a lot of electric wires going into the air filter box, so I wasn't sure that was it, and if it is it, it seems complicated because of all the wires going into it.

If the battery were considered "north" in the engine, then this box you're referring to is just south of it, near the rod that holds the battery cover down, correct?

Everything is stock I think, so I will probably need to spray some penetratin' oil onto the battery leads and strut bar bolts first.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Red is the clips for the air filter, blue is the nut you need to remove to get the battery holder off:

Don't worry about the wires, there's enough slack that you'll be able to get the filter box open wide enough to change out the filter.

The left side of the battery holder is simply hooked to the bottom of the tray, so when you remove the nut on the right side you'll be able to lift the holder off (you'll see what I mean).

Those 17mm strut bar nuts are pain to get off if they haven't been removed in a while, penetrating oil is a good idea (and a strong arm )

 

[BoostedPR5]

I can't find any how-to's on here for replacing a battery and air filter on a Protege 5. I have a 2003 model and I want to save some cash by trying to do it myself.

As a Saturn owner previously, this was pretty easy but opening the hood on the Mazda, it's looking a little more challenging.

Could someone point me to a how-to on it?

From what I see, I have to remove the big red bar, then remove the bolt holding down the battery cover, and then... ? It looks like there's a few more bolts I might need to remove.

For the air filter - again, it was super simple as a Saturn owner, but in the Mazda, I can't even see where the air filter is.

Thanks.

The nice members above gave great advice. Kudos to you for taking initiative in doing it yourself, just be careful with the battery cables like stated above and make sure if the radio has a security code you have it!

 

[slavrenz]

I used to have a Saturn SL, and I thought changing the battery was an f-ing nightmare, because of the position of the side terminal screws.

 

[mark2000]

Thanks all! Now that I've heard the explanation and taken a second look at the engine, it looks fairly easy after all. If all goes well, thanks in advance, I won't have any more to add to this thread...

Someone should move this to the how-to's... It seems like one of the simplest things to do but for complete n00b's, it's still necessary to explain.