A year down the road and the problems start

[Fireprey]

Well after what was a pretty good year with car, I am now having trouble with it. It's a 2002 Protg 5 auto (non sport) with 80,700 KM. None of the dash warning lights are on but I am pretty sure something is wrong with the car.

For starters ABS doesn't seem to be working, I locked the tires up twice now, once during a quick test and another braking a bit late at a light (hand) (it's a Canadian P5 so it has ABS). Is this normal? Can you still lock the wheels even with ABS?

I am also getting some strange creaking sound when I lightly hold down the brake pedal, when I park and am creeping into the spot. Sounds like the ABS is going nuts or something. Goes away when I lift or fully depress the pedal.

Another problem is that car seems to be hesitating, a bit slow and burning a bit too much gas. This is multiplied when the A/C is on. It feels like I am pulling a lot of extra weight. When I am cruising at say 60 or 70 km/h, I have to hold the gas to maintain speed more then I used to. RPM also seem to drop/flutter when holding speed, sometimes it will drop form 2,000 to around 1,000. It's almost like a brake is locked or something (It will roll down a hill in neutral no problem though). I never kept track of gas mileage but it used to make a few trips around town without the needle moving. Now a 22 km drive from work and back takes like 1/6th of a tank or so. Think it works out to a 3/4 of a tank getting me less then 200 km.

Also it seems to have a problem down shifting from higher gears 3rd or O/D I am guessing it will slip. So if I need to make a pass and hit the gas the RPM will hit 6,000 and it won't move for a second. Up shifts are great, normal driving it will up shift at around 3,000 and more spirited driving it will up shift at around 5,000 no problem. It's only the down shifts from the 3 or O/D only when I am on the gas to pass or keep up with traffic once it starts flowing again.

I have checked the tire pressure all are at 32 PSI. Fuses all look good, visually the engine and brakes seems fine. No leaks or anything unusual. Transmission oil was changed last summer and a cooler was added too. Engine oil is clean but could use a change, been a few months but it hasn't hit 5000 km from the last oil change.

I am going to take it to the dealer soon for a check up but if I could get some details as to what to look for it would help. Now that's a long post. (spin)

 

[5PADZAM]

Well after what was a pretty good year with car, I am now having trouble with it. It's a 2002 Protg 5 auto (non sport) with 80,700 KM. None of the dash warning lights are on but I am pretty sure something is wrong with the car.

For starters ABS doesn't seem to be working, I locked the tires up twice now, once during a quick test and another braking a bit late at a light (hand) (it's a Canadian P5 so it has ABS). Is this normal? Can you still lock the wheels even with ABS?

I am also getting some strange creaking sound when I lightly hold down the brake pedal, when I park and am creeping into the spot. Sounds like the ABS is going nuts or something. Goes away when I lift or fully depress the pedal.

Another problem is that car seems to be hesitating, a bit slow and burning a bit too much gas. This is multiplied when the A/C is on. It feels like I am pulling a lot of extra weight. When I am cruising at say 60 or 70 km/h, I have to hold the gas to maintain speed more then I used to. RPM also seem to drop/flutter when holding speed, sometimes it will drop form 2,000 to around 1,000. It's almost like a brake is locked or something (It will roll down a hill in neutral no problem though). I never kept track of gas mileage but it used to make a few trips around town without the needle moving. Now a 22 km drive from work and back takes like 1/6th of a tank or so. Think it works out to a 3/4 of a tank getting me less then 200 km.

Also it seems to have a problem down shifting from higher gears 3rd or O/D I am guessing it will slip. So if I need to make a pass and hit the gas the RPM will hit 6,000 and it won't move for a second. Up shifts are great, normal driving it will up shift at around 3,000 and more spirited driving it will up shift at around 5,000 no problem. It's only the down shifts from the 3 or O/D only when I am on the gas to pass or keep up with traffic once it starts flowing again.

I have checked the tire pressure all are at 32 PSI. Fuses all look good, visually the engine and brakes seems fine. No leaks or anything unusual. Transmission oil was changed last summer and a cooler was added too. Engine oil is clean but could use a change, been a few months but it hasn't hit 5000 km from the last oil change.

I am going to take it to the dealer soon for a check up but if I could get some details as to what to look for it would help. Now that's a long post. (spin)

Wow, I had to take 3 piss breaks while reading that book, lol.

Sounds like you need to get that into a shop for a proper diagnosis. But I'll give it a shot.

First of all, ABS should not lock up. That is the A stands for, Anti-lock. I don't have ABS on my P5, but I have had other vehicles that did. They never locked up. And when they were active, you would know it because you can feel and hear the brakes pulsing very quickly. The first time I felt it I thought something broke on my car, lol.

The creaking while breaking is probably related to the ABS problem, but that's just an assumption.

The hesitation and bad fuel mileage, I have no idea really. How long has it been since it had a tune-up? Air filter. Maybe a brake caliper sticking. Does it pull to one side at all? That's usually a pretty good indicator, especially if it's a front brake. Is your e-brake adjusted properly? Wheel bearing? A/C compressor locking up? There are too many possibilities.

With as many problems as you are having with your P5, you should just take it in and have everything diagnosed. Then you can decide if you want to fix it yourself or have them do it.

good luck with this.

 

[Fireprey]

A tune up was done when I bought it, just over a year ago. Air filter is clean, too. A/C is pretty damn cool so I think it's fine. Could be a wheel bearing, maybe I'll try getting it up on a jack and giving the wheels a free hand spin before I take it in.

The parking brake did stick once on the passenger side rear but a few pulls on the hand brake and a jab at the brake pedal made it pop and it hasn't seem to stick again.

It's not pulling at all, it drives straight just fine.

Without any warning lights or ecu error codes I wonder if they can find anything wrong with it. The ABS light should be on warning me it's disabled but it's not.

Thanks, for help.

 

[bazooka joe]

sounds like a bunch of issues...the bad mileage and poor throttle response sounds like a bad o2 sensor, easy cheap fix!! good luck!

 

[fkmp5]

have you ever put any fuel injector cleaner in when you fill up?

 

[5PADZAM]

sounds like a bunch of issues...the bad mileage and poor throttle response sounds like a bad o2 sensor, easy cheap fix!! good luck!

Bad o2 sensor will usually throw a code, but not always right away. How long has it been running poorly?

 

[Fireprey]

It's be running poor less then a month maybe the last ten days, that I noticed.

Passenger rear wheel was squeaking on the way home at speeds lower then 40 km/h. From what a read on the forums squeak seems to be a wheel bearing or worn pads, no?

Never used any fuel injector cleaner, any recommendations? Sea foam seems to come up a bit, any others?

Guessing it could be clogged injectors or the o2 sensor along with the rear wheel/hub/brake. That would cover everything but bad down shifts when accelerating and abs.

 

[5PADZAM]

If it's been like that for over a week, I wouldn't suspect an o2 sensor. Try the seafoam and fix the wheel bearing/hub problem. Just be ready to splain to the neighbors why your car is smokin' up the block when you are doing the seafoam treatment... lol.

After that you might want to take it in to the shop for the tranny and ABS problems.

 

[niky]

The only way to tell if your ABS is functioning is to find a straight, rough road, drive down it (even at low speeds) and slam the brakes hard. I've gotten tire squeal out of my ABS equipped car at times, but when I test the ABS function, it's just fine.

 

[NVP5White]

Has the temp been significantly hotter since you've noticed the problem. Its at least hot enough to use A/C. Anyway, you could have a number of problems that, when combined with the hotter temps, make you car perform poorly. I'd check: EGR valve, spark plugs, try the seafoam, get name-brand gas at the next fill-up, and listen for pinging. Pinging will sound like marbles in a coffee can under your car while accelerating.