Bent plug electrode

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Thanks garretts77. (bowdown) I checked out the manifold and the engine definitely do not need lifting. Any suggestiion on where exactly in the exhaust I should look for the screws? One of the replies said there is a TSB on this problem but alldata.com did not have one for the P5 so I might purchase the Protege to see if it contains this TSB.

The manifolds are going for about $75 for each half. I only found parts for Proteges not P5s. Are they the same? Is it possible to remove just the upper half for the repair? If I have to pull the manifold I would definetly do what you suggested.

What is really funny is when I was driving home from the dealer the check engine light turned off and the engine ran like nothing had happened. I'm not the one that does not take chances so I drove it all day putting on more than 100 miles and it ran fine with no rough idle.(2thumbs) I hope I'm not taking a chance of doing some major damage. Looks like I have a project for the coming 3 day weekend. Thanks again(cabpatch)

 

[garretts77]

I am pretty sure that all the 2.0l protege intake manifolds are the same with the exception of the MP3. The difference being there that there was never VTCS installed, so it would not have to be removed. The VICS is still there though and the potential to loose the screws is the same. My screws were found by removing the exhaust manifold. They were sitting on top of the pre cat. Two screws fell out of the butterflies and were sucked into the combustion chamber. They bounced around in there for a while, causing a wicked rattle and major hesitation (probably by getting stuck in one of the valves). Finally they were blown out the exhaust side after crushing the gap on a plug. Damage to look for would be to the cylinder walls, piston, valves. The pulg can be replaced and if there is no damage to the cylinder, it will be the same as ever. Until it happens next time. That, and now you have at least one butterfly valve with a missing screw...

All of this is assuming that this is the same problem that I had. I imagine it is since they want to do the same repair work...

Are you going to Cush Mazda? That is where mine was done. Whatever you do, I would avoid Wescott Mazda. Those guys were terrible and knew absolutely nothing. I would come in with pages out of the factory service manual and ask for a part, and they would have absolutely no idea what I was talking about, even with the picture and a description in front of them...

 

[crashed]

I went to John Hine Mazda. The adviser told me the tech had made the diagnosis and he had to button it back up before I could leave. Checked under the hood when I got home and all the dust is still on the entire engine and bay. The only thing that the tech did was topped off my radiator. Charged me $85 and wanted $1245 more for repair. I was 996 miles past warranty. Called this morning and left a msg to cancel my apt for tomorrow.

The advisor acted like he didn't know what was wrong with my car when I brought it in and later he acted like he knew all about the problem and told me my problem was common expecially with the Focus. What a scam. This should be a recall. The turbo Eclipse's crank walk problem is well known and cost about $2k to repair. Just another way they make their profit.

My car is running fine right now and will trying to get all the necessary gaskets for the repair this weekend. If I can't find the screws I'll tack weld the butterflies. Thanks again.

 

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I bought my P5 at Cush in Sept of 2003. Salesman still sends me BD cards and Xmas cards. The tech who repaired my mirror was nice. Didn't have an apointment but he came out and spent the time to check it out and fixed it right in the parking lot. I've moved back to SD since so Cush was a little far for the rough drive right after the problem.

 

[RaiderMS3]

Man, I do not know about others out there who have not had this problem, but I am a little worried. I got 30K now, and am thinking I oughta pull off the intake mani to put locktite on the screws just in case. I have a 72K mile warranty though. My local dealer sucks ass, and the one I bought it from is 45 minutes away.

What to do...what to do...

 

[crashed]

Raider fan, win or lose. Did I mention I was raised in Oakland. Almost made me cried when they move to smella.

If I knew this loose screw problem is so common I would have taken my manifold off and loctite all the screws long ago. Looks like it would take about 3 hours of work if you tag all the lines but much less time if you've done it before.

I was lucky I wasn't traveling 70 in dense traffic. That would have been exciting.

 

[garretts77]

I was lucky I wasn't traveling 70 in dense traffic. That would have been exciting.

That's where I was... I had just merged on the freeway in Chula Vista and was working my way to the fast lane. All of a sudden there was severe hesitation and the CEL was flashing. I just drove it straight to Cush.

The week before I had really bad rattling problems and hesitation. When I drove it to Cush, they said that they couldn't recreate it and sent me on my way. A week later a second screw came loose and crushed the plug gap. That one didn't need to be recreated. I think I was the first one on here that it happened to. At least the first that posted about it...