2001 Protege 2.0 random misfire - symptoms

[Diehonda]

Wow, reading this thread, seems like a fairly common problem. I've got 77k miles, and recently car started hesitating while driving, felt like misfiring. If I put it in neutral, car will drop in RPM's and almost die, fluttering the gas will eventually bring back the proper idle, and reving the car will usually fix the problem, temporarily. However, lately this is happening more often, like every 10 minutes of driving. and today, my CE light came on. Went to autozone and the code came back as P0401, EGR System Insufficient Flow Detected. I think this may be a symptom, not the root cause though.

I see alot of talk about replacing the "coil packs". On rockauto they sell an "ignition coil". Are these the same thing? (dunno)

Check this thread out:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94788

Clean your EGR valve, oil the spring, and reinstall. The thread has more detailed instructions.

ALso, you have two ignition coils on your valve cover. You will either get a misfire code or a multiple cylinder misfire code. At that time you will either need to replace one or both ignition coils or change to the 1.8l igntion coil from a Miata or 2000 Protege.


Welcome!

 

[rpenfi77]

Thanks very much for the help!! Weather permitting, I'll give this a go on Saturday.

 

[Dave_Etude]

I have a 2001 Mazda Etude 160ie (here in South Africa the Protege/Familia is sold as the Etude) with same issues. The car would drive like a dream one moment but the next moment loose power to the extent that I have to gear down to 2nd gear. I would loose RPM's and car would have no zoom-zoom to drive any faster than 60 km/h and sound like a tractor. I would have to keep it in 2nd just to get up the hill to my house. Idle would be all over the place, starting at 1500 RPM when first started for the day and under 100 RPM while idling (if you can call it that). Took my Etude/protege in to have it checked. The second time I took it back they replaced spark plugs but it did not resolve issue. I am now getting somewhat frustrated with the dealer for not getting the problem resolved. I will be taking the vehicle back for the third time tomorrow morning. Please help me urgently!

 

[Diehonda]

Is there a check engine light on? Codes ran to retrieve the reason for the light being on?

Do that first, then if it comes back as a misfire code replace the ignition coils.

 

[kevsnova]

Hi Diehonda,

The symptoms are the same as described in the Jan. 9 email in this thread - on top of this, I notice that if the loss of power starts and I put the clutch in until the engine nearly stalls, it runs ok again after giving it gas.

Mechanic checked the codes again and found the following:
P0300 - random misfire
P0302 - cylinder 2 misfire
P0421 - dead cat

According to these codes and the symptoms, he thinks the following is true:

Not an EGR valve issue
Not a coilpack issue (ie. random misfire has happened several times, vs. specific cylinder misfires)
Not a vacuum leak issue

May be a sensor issue
May be a computer problem or related electrical issue

He replaced a front pipe but not the cat to save me some cash, so I'm only a couple hundred bucks out at this point.

This uncertainty is killing me, but you're right, I need to relax a little....

EGR valve is sticking causing a large vacuum leak leaning out the mixture.
the electronics of the egr work fine but the mechanical plunger sticks Remove throttle body and 4 screws at the egr this will seperate the electonics from the EGR.
Spray penetrating fluid into the bottom hole of the throttle (this you can see once the throttle body is removed(2 bolts 2 nuts)
Work the plunger (you can see the penetrating fluid move up and down the hole ) until the plunger is free and re-install throttle body.
I have found 3 cars within the last 4 months with the same problem.

Kevsnova, Midas Baseline rd. Ottawa

 

[Diehonda]

EGR valve is sticking causing a large vacuum leak leaning out the mixture.
the electronics of the egr work fine but the mechanical plunger sticks Remove throttle body and 4 screws at the egr this will seperate the electonics from the EGR.
Spray penetrating fluid into the bottom hole of the throttle (this you can see once the throttle body is removed(2 bolts 2 nuts)
Work the plunger (you can see the penetrating fluid move up and down the hole ) until the plunger is free and re-install throttle body.
I have found 3 cars within the last 4 months with the same problem.

Kevsnova, Midas Baseline rd. Ottawa

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94788

 

[VIV]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum, but with the old and common problems : P0300 +
P0421 and experiencing the same symptoms.

Just to let you know guys that I was able to replace EGR vlv at Mazda stealership (Canada) under the recall , i.e. for free. So make sure that you get one as well before you go somewhere else.
Mazda ES 2.0 (FS)-2002

It did not fix the problem though. (blarf)

 

[Diehonda]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum, but with the old and common problems : P0300 +
P0421 and experiencing the same symptoms.

P0300 - Ignition coils.

P0421 - Cat or the aftercat O2 sensor.

Welcome to the site!

 

[VIV]

Thanks,
I have INNOVA 3130. Went to the dealer to buy an EGR vlv gasket (wanted to take EGR vlv out for inspection/cleaning), ended with a new valve. He-he.
Coil packs/wires will be the next step.

 

[blueamcat]

Coil pack solved my misfire problem! Its fun to drive again.

 

[irishadam]

I wanted to give props to those who helped me out with my misfire problems. I changed the 2L coils out about a month ago and I'm back Zooming away like the good olde days, I also go it done really cheap by a local mechanic, I was going to the dealership but those days are gone, they changed my EGR valve that didn't help at all.

Thanks again - after 4 months of dealing with the issue and getting one or two shudders merging on the LA freeways I was seriously considering changing my car - I'm so happy to have my car-confidence back.

 

[cards-gotta-go]

I'm having this problem too... my engine would start, and drop RPM almost immediately... give it a shot of gas and run fine. Monday: no start at all!

2001 Mazda Protege LX 2.0

Diagnosis: Misifire on cylinders 3 and 4.

Work done:
Major tune up including air filter, PCV valve, new spark plugs and wires, decarbonization of air intake system, fuel injection system flush, flush combustion chamber and exhaust sysytem.

Drove exactly 7 miles (11km) before the light came on.
Back at the shop today...

Should I be looking at EGR? Coil? Both?
Or should I just point them here?

HELP Please!

 

[Diehonda]

Replace both ignition coils. Sorry you spen over $700 for it not to be fixed. Your gas mileage will thank you though.

 

[cards-gotta-go]

Replace both ignition coils. Sorry you spen over $700 for it not to be fixed. Your gas mileage will thank you though.

Well,

Had the EGR valve replaced - after I told them to look at it, they told me it was shot.

This morning: CEL is back on! (argh)(argh)(argh)(bang)

 

[Diehonda]

Ignition coils, and the EGR can be cleaned if the issue is a gunked up spring. Too late for that now.


Get new ignition coils. Sorry you have spent that much to still have a CEL.

 

[Frez]

Wow, I'm glad I found this thread.

My daughter has a 2001 Mazda Protege 2.0 automatic with 111,000 miles on it. Today her check engine light came on and her idle is rough and car seems to start harder than normal sometimes. No knocking and car runs fine at highway speeds. Stopped in to Autozone today and computer kicked back a code of P-0300. He told me it was a misfire code. So I picked up a bottle of lucas injection cleaner and 4 new NGK spark plugs. Replaced the plugs and dumped the cleaner into gas tank. Engine light is still on and car is still semi rough at idle.

From viewing this thread is it a coil pack that is causing the misfire?

I will check back and really do appreciate any replies to help me out with my daughters car. I'd like to fix this thing myself with the knowledge and help of this forum.

Thanks for taking the time!


Frez

 

[Frez]

For my 2nd post.............


I'm going to attempt to clean the EGR valve sometime today. Just read about 19 pages on the "how to".

 

[Frez]

and for my 3rd post...........

I cleaned EGR valve and cleaned MAF sensor.............cars rough idle is GONE!

Thanks so much for all the information.

If you don't mind, I'll be hanging around for a little bit.

Thanks

 

[cards-gotta-go]

Lucky for you...

Work done:
Wednesday: Major tune up including air filter, PCV valve, new spark plugs and wires, decarbonization of air intake system, fuel injection system flush, flush combustion chamber and exhaust sysytem.
Friday: EGR valve replacement
Satruday: Ignition Coils replaced.

Still not fixed. ARGH! (argh)

 

[Frez]

Lucky for you...

Work done:
Wednesday: Major tune up including air filter, PCV valve, new spark plugs and wires, decarbonization of air intake system, fuel injection system flush, flush combustion chamber and exhaust sysytem.
Friday: EGR valve replacement
Satruday: Ignition Coils replaced.

Still not fixed. ARGH! (argh)

I would try your fuel pump or the fuel pump sock.