What have you done to your P5 today?

[TX_SilverP5]

Just finished our first year of MP5 ownership and thought I'd lay out the stuff I've done on it, either by choice or not...

01/12/23 - new spark plugs & wires, transmission mount, oil & transmission fluid change $372.49
01/19/23 - Sway bar bushing $98.26 @133,214
02/01/23 - EONON android radio Q04PRO install with AC Resistor Fix Harness (HPAC1) $450
04/14/23 - Replace fuel injector #2 (stuck open and CEL) $343.90 @133,703
08/28/23 - oil and transmission oil change - $213.79 @135,950
10/24/23 - new battery from Oreilly 35EXT - 3 Year warranty $200
10/23/23 - New Transmission Input Speed Sensor NTK AU0128 - $60
11/10/23 - Brake Booster replacement ($300l + $120m) - $420 @137,238
12/29/23 - Replace Front Cat Converter & 2 O2 sensors ($360l + $340m) = $700 @138,130

 

[BenjiHoggi]

Just finished our first year of MP5 ownership and thought I'd lay out the stuff I've done on it, either by choice or not...

01/12/23 - new spark plugs & wires, transmission mount, oil & transmission fluid change $372.49
01/19/23 - Sway bar bushing $98.26 @133,214
02/01/23 - EONON android radio Q04PRO install with AC Resistor Fix Harness (HPAC1) $450
04/14/23 - Replace fuel injector #2 (stuck open and CEL) $343.90 @133,703
08/28/23 - oil and transmission oil change - $213.79 @135,950
10/24/23 - new battery from Oreilly 35EXT - 3 Year warranty $200
10/23/23 - New Transmission Input Speed Sensor NTK AU0128 - $60
11/10/23 - Brake Booster replacement ($300l + $120m) - $420 @137,238
12/29/23 - Replace Front Cat Converter & 2 O2 sensors ($360l + $340m) = $700 @138,130

Interesting. Is your P5 automatic or manual? Are these prices including labor at a shop? The engine/trans oil change at 135950 is notable to me as being quite expensive at least compared to doing it yourself.

I need to try that ac resistor fix harness. I've tried to fix it manually with no luck and I'm feeling like throwing money at it

 

[TX_SilverP5]

@BenjiHoggi it's an automatic 2002. Those prices include labor, yup. Beware, the last transmission oil change caused the dreaded limp mode from startup to Drive until, I turned it off and on a few times. This might be due to the viscosity of the new oil being slightly different than what the ECU was used to dealing with but as soon as it got a little cooler (October in Texas), there were no issues, but I was trying to troubleshoot with what I could, hence the Input Speed Sensor I did on my own. My local shop didn't want to change out the filter so the next time I'll consider doing this (@ 151K), I'm going to take it to a transmission shop in the area I've researched who will take off the pan and replace the filter as well.

 

[323]

Just finished our first year of MP5 ownership and thought I'd lay out the stuff I've done on it, either by choice or not...

01/12/23 - new spark plugs & wires, transmission mount, oil & transmission fluid change $372.49
01/19/23 - Sway bar bushing $98.26 @133,214
02/01/23 - EONON android radio Q04PRO install with AC Resistor Fix Harness (HPAC1) $450
04/14/23 - Replace fuel injector #2 (stuck open and CEL) $343.90 @133,703
08/28/23 - oil and transmission oil change - $213.79 @135,950
10/24/23 - new battery from Oreilly 35EXT - 3 Year warranty $200
10/23/23 - New Transmission Input Speed Sensor NTK AU0128 - $60
11/10/23 - Brake Booster replacement ($300l + $120m) - $420 @137,238
12/29/23 - Replace Front Cat Converter & 2 O2 sensors ($360l + $340m) = $700 @138,130

It's always fun to see how much a vehicle costs to maintain year to year.

 

[katapaltes]

I just replaced the four bulbs in the instrument cluster. I'm embarrassed to say that they've been more than half burned out for ten years or so, but I didn't know they were so easy to replace. Bulb sizes I used were 194 and 2723. I reused the little orange slip covers that were on the original bulbs, but I may go back in and remove them to make things brighter, and also add some dielectric grease to the bulbs' contacts.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

Just finished our first year of MP5 ownership and thought I'd lay out the stuff I've done on it, either by choice or not...

01/12/23 - new spark plugs & wires, transmission mount, oil & transmission fluid change $372.49
01/19/23 - Sway bar bushing $98.26 @133,214
02/01/23 - EONON android radio Q04PRO install with AC Resistor Fix Harness (HPAC1) $450
04/14/23 - Replace fuel injector #2 (stuck open and CEL) $343.90 @133,703
08/28/23 - oil and transmission oil change - $213.79 @135,950
10/24/23 - new battery from Oreilly 35EXT - 3 Year warranty $200
10/23/23 - New Transmission Input Speed Sensor NTK AU0128 - $60
11/10/23 - Brake Booster replacement ($300l + $120m) - $420 @137,238
12/29/23 - Replace Front Cat Converter & 2 O2 sensors ($360l + $340m) = $700 @138,130

In fairness, adding a stereo isn't "maintenance", but I see lots of familiar faces on that list.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

It's just been a few days, but my 20yr old daughter that learned to drive on our P5 just purchased her first car. She had her sights set on a P5, but there are just so many dogs out there in the $4K price range! Then we talked budget and pros/cons and she agreed to upgrade a little. I asked the Protege FB community who had a clean car for sale for my daughter and someone a few hours away said he had a 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege with a replacement turbo for sale. Has 200K miles, but drives very solid. It is a twin to my Titanium silver MSP. Can't wait for a photo shoot with my Son's P5 and the pair of MSPs.

 

[LankyKiwi]

Daaaaang, what a first car!

The full family photo is going to be epic

 

[LankyKiwi]

Ticked over a fun milestone (Or would it be Kilometrestone?) on the weekend:

 

[323]

It's just been a few days, but my 20yr old daughter that learned to drive on our P5 just purchased her first car. She had her sights set on a P5, but there are just so many dogs out there in the $4K price range! Then we talked budget and pros/cons and she agreed to upgrade a little. I asked the Protege FB community who had a clean car for sale for my daughter and someone a few hours away said he had a 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege with a replacement turbo for sale. Has 200K miles, but drives very solid. It is a twin to my Titanium silver MSP. Can't wait for a photo shoot with my Son's P5 and the pair of MSPs.

Doesn't it feel good to know your kids' vehicles are mad easy to work on and cheap to maintain? lol

 

[TX_SilverP5]

Ok this is so minor but why not show off something I did for my kid's P5.
Grabbed this guy...

https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)​

 

[RedPanda7]

Turns out the guy that did my timing belt didn't tighten my timing belt correctly. $60 bucks in labor later and no more squeaking!!!

Not sure if any of you guys are experiencing this, but my family is staring to pressure me into buying a 'new' car to replace the protege. Maybe I can get one more year out of her before the baby comes. HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!

 

[323]

Haha don't let them bully you into selling it! Baby will come, car can sit for a few years until you can tend to it again

 

[Diamond_Dave]

Doesn't it feel good to know your kids' vehicles are mad easy to work on and cheap to maintain? lol

Right?! There's definitely pros and cons to having 3 Proteges. Being able to swap most parts - wheels, battery, strut bar, suspension, etc. across all is nice. Replacing a part on one and then realizing you need 2 more so you can replace on the other two cars.

Daaaaang, what a first car!

The full family photo is going to be epic

It sure is. I'd looked for months to find a clean P5 for her and A) majority were piles of crap and B) already $4K to $5K so I was like P5 for $5K or MSP for $5K? No brainer.

Can't deny - I'm definitely looking forward to a fun photo shoot like that once the nice weather gets here.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

What's the consensus on upgrading the P5 driving light bulbs to 100W H3? Is that too much heat when the car isn't moving and will crack the lens? Can those housings use the light properly or just blind oncoming traffic?

 

[BenjiHoggi]

Haha, I resonate with this. Additionally, I like to browse the local marketplaces for P5s and sedans. I don't need another one, but I like to look at them.

Speaking of, I've been meaning to post this one for a bit - probably the cleanest modified P5 I've ever seen. I got so excited looking at it. Not sure what it sold for but I'm sure it couldn't have been too far off the asking price, and it was sold in only a few days.

2003 Mazda Protege Hatchback 4D

Selling my manual transmission 2003 Mazda Protege5 with 104K miles. I'm the second owner of the car (third, if you count the dealership that the original owner sold the car to and I bought it from)....

www.facebook.com

I have a real problem with liking these cars. And my Facebook Marketplace recommendations aren't helping that. Here's this absolutely amazing example of a P5 up for sale again. The link in my quoted post from two years ago is from the last time it sold.

2003 Mazda MAZDA Protege5 · Hatchback 4D

Edit Added interior photos Also the rear window wiper fell off at some point. Never used it, so i didn't replace it. Front head light has hid installed, I didn't do it, who ever did it before me...

www.facebook.com

 

[TX_SilverP5]

I have a real problem with liking these cars. And my Facebook Marketplace recommendations aren't helping that. Here's this absolutely amazing example of a P5 up for sale again. The link in my quoted post from two years ago is from the last time it sold.

2003 Mazda MAZDA Protege5 · Hatchback 4D

Edit Added interior photos Also the rear window wiper fell off at some point. Never used it, so i didn't replace it. Front head light has hid installed, I didn't do it, who ever did it before me...

www.facebook.com

Great advice on the wheels and brakes!

 

[Diamond_Dave]

I have a real problem with liking these cars. And my Facebook Marketplace recommendations aren't helping that. Here's this absolutely amazing example of a P5 up for sale again. The link in my quoted post from two years ago is from the last time it sold.

2003 Mazda MAZDA Protege5 · Hatchback 4D

Edit Added interior photos Also the rear window wiper fell off at some point. Never used it, so i didn't replace it. Front head light has hid installed, I didn't do it, who ever did it before me...

www.facebook.com

Yeah, that's a great looking P5. Interesting - I tried to purchase a set of gold BBS STI wheels and the bore size was not correct for Proteges (too small). I didn't fit them as I didn't want to risk that $800 to end up with a set of wheels that wouldn't fit.

 

[BenjiHoggi]

Yeah, that's a great looking P5. Interesting - I tried to purchase a set of gold BBS STI wheels and the bore size was not correct for Proteges (too small). I didn't fit them as I didn't want to risk that $800 to end up with a set of wheels that wouldn't fit.

Interesting. They may have been machined to fit. I've heard of people on here doing that for Lexus wheels. I've seen a few Proteges online with the STI BBS wheels so people must be willing to go through the hassle. If it were me, I'd go the Mitsubishi route, as the Evo Enkei wheels I believe do have the same bore and do come in some good sizes for the Protege.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

Since we’re doing milestone photos, here’s my daughter’s new MSP. We did a car swap (funny swapping a titanium MSP for a titanium MSP) and as I was getting ready to drive away she tells me “Im so close to 200 - just get a picture for me”