JosueP5's '03 Protege5 Build Thread.

[PrinceValorum]

Is the fact that the car immedietly dies once you touch the gas an indication of anything specific?

Sounds like it's so rich it can't burn. But that's a big guess. I'm just going off the fact that yard implements will die very quickly if they're running and you turn the choke on. I don't know how that could just change so suddenly to create the problem that you had, though.

 

[Josue6WGN]

Boy O Boy...Things just keep getting more and more interesting...

I checked the timing after work today, and it was right where it needed to be. Before digging into the fuel pump situation, I decided to try and start the car for s***'s and giggle's.

THE CAR STARTED AND RAN COMPLETLY NORMAL!!!???

I was like....'Alright, it idled fine on the side of the highway....surely it's going to die once I push the gas', but alas, it stayed running! On that first fireup, I revved it to 3000K, and for a split second it burped/sputtered, but that was the only time. I let it run for over 10 minutes, both idling and revving it, and it was as normal as it's been for the past 2 weeks.

As excited as I was to find the problem gone, I'm equally as nervous about it coming back and leaving me stranded on the side of the road again. If it can go away that easily, it can come back just as easily ya know? The only thing I can think to check, is the fuel pump situation though, so I'm going to do that before I start driving it again. Other than that, I guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that this doesn't happen again. I still can't explain the P0340 though...so who knows on that one.

 

[THE Phen]

I'd be willing to be that there's s*** in the tank. Sitting for as long as it has, it may have settled out, and isn't plugging any more. Perhaps you had a nice chunk of solid crap that got knocked around when you hit the big pothole. Know what I mean?

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Why not spray a little contact cleaner on the cam sensor's terminals? It sounds like an electrical issue, or _really_ bad gas.

 

[Josue6WGN]

I'd be willing to be that there's s*** in the tank. Sitting for as long as it has, it may have settled out, and isn't plugging any more. Perhaps you had a nice chunk of solid crap that got knocked around when you hit the big pothole. Know what I mean?

That's all I could come up with as well. I'm going to try and get the sending unit out tonight. Of course there's always ONE ******* SCREW that has to strip out of the 8 that hold it on...so I need to get creative with removing it. I'll also need to find something to go back in there, and that may present a bit of a challenge. Silly question, but how much pressure is put on that area of the tank? Would 7 out of the 8 screws be sufficient in not causing leaks? Or is it essential that there be all 8 screws in there?

Also, will I need any kind of new gasket/seal for the unit? I saw they sell just that piece, and didn't know if it's a one time use type of thing where i'll need to replace it once I crack open that lid.

Why not spray a little contact cleaner on the cam sensor's terminals? It sounds like an electrical issue, or _really_ bad gas.

Like, the cam sensor plug? I can do that.

The rubber that surrounds the wires is split, right at the very very base of the plug, so there are bare wires showing. It's very small though, and the wires don't look frayed or anything. I'll have to wrap some electrical tape around it though, maybe some water got on the bare wires or something?

 

[THE Phen]

I think mine is missing one and no issues. YMMV tho.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

Like, the cam sensor plug? I can do that.

The rubber that surrounds the wires is split, right at the very very base of the plug, so there are bare wires showing. It's very small though, and the wires don't look frayed or anything. I'll have to wrap some electrical tape around it though, maybe some water got on the bare wires or something?

That's very bad, tape won't really help if it's at the base of the plug. You can either take apart the connector and shorten the wires so you don't have any bare copper exposed or get something like Goop (unlike epoxy when it dries it's still flexible) and cover the wires/connector.

 

[Josue6WGN]

I think mine is missing one and no issues. YMMV tho.

Probably the only thing I could've done, is shove some random screw in there. I really doubt I'd find a fine thread screw that small...short of a junk yard trip. It was just a regular protege that I got the cruise cable out if on Sunday, not sure if those have the same setup where it's easily accessible under the rear seat?

That's very bad, tape won't really help if it's at the base of the plug. You can either take apart the connector and shorten the wires so you don't have any bare copper exposed or get something like Goop (unlike epoxy when it dries it's still flexible) and cover the wires/connector.

I'll have to squirt something on there...I hate messing with depinning plugs and putting them back together. lol

 

[THE Phen]

Damn near everything is similar between the two aside from front and rear ends. P5 is 4" shorter than the sedan. For the most part, everything else is similar.

 

[Josue6WGN]

Maybe I'll take a ride down there again and see what else I can strip off of it. Wanted to do that on Sunday, but it started douching on us.

And I might just replace the fuel pump/filter assembly for the hell of it. Might not be bad, but everyone's telling me the fuel filter isn't servicable, and I need to buy the fuel pump assembly to get it. After 8 years/100K, it's probably not a bad idea to put one in. Locally is <$150 for the pump/filter/strainer, and it looks like Rock Auto has one on closeout (2 left) for around $100, but only a 90 day warranty due to the closeout.

 

[THE Phen]

Nothing is "not servicable"... it's more along the lines of do you feel like going thru the effort to tear it apart to get to the filter. I've done it before on a Volvo. In that case it was an expensive piece to replace, so dad and I tore it apart, cleaned everything up, replaced some of the wiring for the pump, and reassembled it. Good to go after that.

 

[Josue6WGN]

$100-$150 didn't seem to bad for this though, is it?

 

[Josue6WGN]

Meaning...I wouldn't pay that much, tear all that apart, and just replace the filter. I'd just put the whole thing in.

 

[THE Phen]

Nah, that's not a bad price at all.

 

[Lewis7789]

I've got an assortment of little screws I keep around for my basses. I'll bring them with me tonight/tomorrow.

 

[Josue6WGN]

Welp, another dead end. Pulled the pump out, and we couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. I'll just have to drive it and hope it doesn't happen again...or if it does, maybe I can pinpoint it better. Maybe it's one of those super wet problems...because it was raining pretty good when it happened? lol

Got the cruise cable on too...can't wait to try it out!

 

[THE Phen]

You've got a full length CAI, don't you?

 

[Josue6WGN]

Yea, same one that Evan had.

We thought maybe it sucked up some water, but the filter felt dry?

 

[THE Phen]

How long did the car sit before you felt the filter? Consider the amount of air being sucked thru at any given moment. It can feel dry, but damage can already be done. When you said it was raining, that's the first thing that popped into my mind because when I hydrolocked my Civic, it did the exact same thing you're talking about. I had to move the filter because any time it so much as slightly rained, it behaved the same way.

 

[Josue6WGN]

Ah. We felt it on the side of the highway while we were sitting there.

Evan said he never had that problem though in the few years he ran the setup. And we didn't run through a huge puddle of water or anything. We were just driving down the highway, and it started acting up.