Recent content by faral

my car has been throwing the P0421 code...and then turning it off on its own for the past 4 months. It'll stay on for 2 weeks. Go away for 2 weeks. Repeat. I haven't done squat to it. I've read for this code, it's either 1) bad o2 sensor, 2) bad cat, 3) exhaust leak. But with any of...

is there any harm in replacing just one caliper? one mechanic was totally okay with replacing just one...the other said for safety he wants to replace both. the place okay with replacing just one is charging ~$330 (new caliper). the other place is charging ~$200 if he's replacing just one...

yeah...i've never had this until now. two different oil filters. it doesn't seem to be progressing so far...so i may sit and wait for a little bit...see what happens. i might also need a new cat...my car is intermitently throwing a P0421 code...so i can't just up and ditch this car =(

400 for parts and labor?? but that's just one wheel, right? so i'd have 3 p5 calipers and 1 mazda6?

mechanic said it's the caliper leaking. they suggest getting a brand new caliper. job total is estimated at $330. i'm a bit iffy about doing it on my own...but damn...$330?!

okay so i brought it into the shop. he couldn't reproduce it (and i wasn't surprised...it is pretty random), but from my soundbite and description, he thinks it is rod knock. he thinks it stops so fast because 1. it isn't so bad (yet) and 2. once the oil pressure fills in, it stops knocking...

does vtcs happen on 2002's? I thought that was only 2003

hmm, i *just* changed my oil last night (and filter). the noise was there on the first startup after the oil change, but so far hasn't happened again (2 or 3 startups since that noisy one). but the problem isn't entirely repeatable...i can't tell when it'll happen and when it won't. i plunked a...

when i do a cold start, there's a string of knock/vibration sounds. it always goes away after 1 second or so of this. i don't hear knocking when driving at any range, hot or cold. anyone know what this might be? it's a 2002 protege5

So I took a look at the brake fluid reservoir...it's at least 1cm above the minimum line. I added some in anyway, just in case. I looked at where I usually park...there's some kinda oil smudge stain there. I guess it's my rear drivers side leaking. Crap. Weird thing is if I sit there and pump...

does anyone know what kind of brake fluid the 2002 protege 5 uses?

thanks for all the feedback!! I'll definitely check the fluid levels when I get home. how do you go about checking the lines? i've never done that before. do i jack up the car and follow hoses that come off the caliper? the braking doesn't feel soft when i brake...it pretty much feels the same...

earlier this week i noticed my ebrake light went on even after releasing it. I noticed that if i brake hard, the light goes on, and when i move, it turns off. but now it just stays on, full time, rarely turning off (except on a fresh start). a quick search here shows it might be low brake...

How can you tell if a caliper is leaking fluid? Will it be obvious, where there's goop everywhere?

so the shop called me and told me what they found. values on cylinder 2 and 4 are very slightly bent...so it's causing a vacuum leak on low rpms but is small enough that at high rpms there's no issues. cost to fix, about 1.5k =( this is so strange. before the timing belt tensioner fix, there...