02 Mazda P5 "Bumblebee"

[Protege5 Smoke]

02 Mazda P5 "Bumblebee"

First things first, don't get on my case for the name, someone else called it that. Lol

So, I've had my P5 for about 3 years now, have been active on the forums for about a year and a half, and still have almost nothing done to the car. XD Against my better judgement, I've decided to make a build thread, simply cuz I'm bored. This thread is honestly more for myself, to keep track of things, and to get help and ideas from the community. I'm no mechanic so please be patient if I ask any noob questions. Thx.

Here it is, a 2002 Mazda Protege5, auto tranny, 108k and some miles. (Pls excuse the phone quality pictures.)

Yes, I have a random cloth covering my seat. It's my daily driver and sometimes I drive it to work, and I work construction. Also, if anyone can enlighten me on how to put the pics directly into the post, it would be great. I'm uploading most, if not all of these from my phone, using ImageShack.
Edit: screw ImageShack. Photobucket ftw! Photos should appear directly in the post now.
Edit Edit: acre Photobucket too lol. Updating this thread (finally) and uploading from Tapatalk. [emoji1360]

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

02 Mazda P5 "Bumblebee"

So, first mod was a Cosmo Racing CAI. I love it, well worth the money. Swapped it out since, like most of you know, the intake hoses on these cars tend to crack on the ridges between the filter box and the manifold. Don't have any pictures of that install.

This is brand new plasti dip on the wheels, done about 6 months ago.

Had an incident driving home one night; ran over some moron's 2x4 ends that fell out of his truck. Punched a hole right through one of my wheels. Had the polished aluminum wheels and the only used (wasn't going to pay dealer price for a new one) matching wheel that was available was the painted silver. So I cleaned them all up one weekend and plasti dipped them all black, no need for sanding prep. Bought a wheel kit from dipyourcar.com, 6-7 coats and even had leftover dip.

Just recently installed a set of Yellow Speed coilovers. Dropped the car about .75" up front, 1-1.25" on the rear. Looking for some adjustable front endlinks, possible rear as well.

Notice in this picture, (front coil packs) the endlink is far too long for the mounting tab. Quick fix was to run to Autozone and buy some similar but shorter links. Still want to get adjustables though.

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

Need to find some time one of these weekends and go buy some engine paint. Open to recommendations. Want to paint my valve cover and put my new CR3 bolts/washers on!

Next mod: sway bar or brake kit, depends which one I find a good deal on first. Think I'm set on the Progress bar, not sure on the brakes. Any ideas/things I should watch out for? Thinking to do a MSP swap, will they fit under the current 16"s? Or just rebuild the OEM's?

 

[DOMO]

I would go with msp brakes. Better designed, less likely to seize up and with the right rotor/pad combo ull be fine with braking power. Yes they clear stock 16's I'm running msp brakes and I had 02 rims on my mp3 for a while with no issues

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

I would go with msp brakes. Better designed, less likely to seize up and with the right rotor/pad combo ull be fine with braking power. Yes they clear stock 16's I'm running msp brakes and I had 02 rims on my mp3 for a while with no issues

Thx for the info. Also found these, looks like they fit all but the MSP.
http://thmotorsports.com/i-1822022....type=pla&kw=&gclid=CNzX3_TKtcECFUE0aQodAGEA7A
Worth it? Hmm..

Is there anywhere you can buy the MSP calipers new? Besides dealer, I mean. Most aftermarket brake kits only give you rotors and pads, I'd still need to MSP calipers. Or do I have to beg for someone to sell me theirs lol

 

[DOMO]

Msp calipers are euro-spec calipers so if you search calipers for a euro 323 you should be able to find some new calipers. I would also check with a local brake shop near has some places carry spare sets for quick turnaround or they will be able to locate you the calipers.

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

02 Mazda P5 "Bumblebee"

Just finished installing a brand new set of 505 gauge rings. Completely changes the look of the dash, they're awesome!
Before

After

Being overly careful and a noob, this took about half an hour.

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

02 Mazda P5 "Bumblebee"

New Pioneer FH-X720BT stereo finally installed.

Used a screwdriver to pry the factory radio out, scratched the trim a bit. Didn't have the removal clips..

Question for anyone else using Pioneer: the harness provided has 3 wires designated to illumination/dimmer: solid orange, orange with white, and orange with black. Hooked it up to the orange and white, if I remember correctly, but it's not doing what I wanted it to. Which one is the right wire if I want the unit to dim when the headlights/dash lights come on?

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

02 Mazda P5 "Bumblebee"

Had a can of black plastidip left over from when I did my wheels. Decided to put it to good use and paint the rear valance. Cleaned up the bumper with soap and water, and masked it off.
Bumper prepped. (Was a pain in the rear end)

Finished

Word of advice. Spend the extra money and get the blue painter's tape.

 

[PROTEGEBORI00]

I have a Pioneer touchscreen but the black square (the one that comes with the installation kit) keeps falling off every time I get a bump on the road or something they told me that I have to cut the borders of the housing where the radio goes but I don't know if is just top one and the down one or the sides?

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

Not sure how the touchscreen units are. I'm guessing you're talking about the black plastic frame piece that covers the gap between the radio and the dash trim? On mine, that screwed into the unit itself, on the sides. The whole thing just snapped into the existing opening, no cutting required.

 

[PROTEGEBORI00]

Yes I'm talking about the black frame.

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

It doesn't snap into the dash?

 

[PROTEGEBORI00]

Not completely.

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

Are some of the clips broken? Need a little more info than that, how does the radio unit stay in? Post a pic of the frame if you can pull it out

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

02 Mazda P5 "Bumblebee"

Been too long since I posted anything.. A combination of work and cold weather kept me from doing anything to the car. But I finally managed to find some time and put those P5 door sills on, they've been collecting dust for a while. Peeled the tape off (bought them used) and gave them a good buff.

First piece installed

Update

The rest of them

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

Well, radiator busted today, while on the road. Put some stop leak in it, still overheating. I'm guessing thermostat? Any thoughts?

 

[MrGiggles]

Stop leak doesn't play nice with heater cores....

The thermostat can cause it. When it starts to heat up feel the bottom hose or shoot it with an IR temp gun. If it feels cold chances are the thermostat isn't opening.

 

[Protege5 Smoke]

The hose at the top of the radiator has no coolant in it. The overflow tank is way past full. I don't think any coolant is going through the radiator. The radiator is going to have to be replaced, I just hope there's no damage to the engine

 

[MrGiggles]

You might consider a hydrocarbon test on the cooling system to ensure that the head gasket isn't leaking. Parts stores will loan you the tester, if you buy the fluid for it.