Need some help with 2002 Protege Auto

[poolgirl69]

Can any of you guys help me with a mechanical question on a Mazda Protege??? Info on car: 2000 Protege, automatic. Hubby replaced both belts. Now when you go to accelerate, it bogs down. I'm not mechanically inclined but I have the time to do this s*** and get some opinions from other people. He said the plugs were fouled probably because the alternator belt was almost completely shot. Even before he changed the belts, it bogged down a little bit, just not as bad.... Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[speedprotegewi]

Can any of you guys help me with a mechanical question on a Mazda Protege??? Info on car: 2000 Protege, automatic. Hubby replaced both belts. Now when you go to accelerate, it bogs down. I'm not mechanically inclined but I have the time to do this s*** and get some opinions from other people. He said the plugs were fouled probably because the alternator belt was almost completely shot. Even before he changed the belts, it bogged down a little bit, just not as bad.... Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

how many miles? any warning lights? bad plugs would cause misfire/hesitation even at an idle or a stutter on accel. worn alternator belt wont cause plugs to go bad either. plugged catalytic converter would be my bet

 

[poolgirl69]

New cat and O2 sensors were replaced about 8 months ago. It hesitates when it shifts gears as well. Then when it is at a steady speed it stutters. 169,811 miles on car.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

do a tuneup. plugs, wires, coils, and throw an injector cleaner in it. seafoam might also be worth a try.

also, I moved these posts to the appropriate section for you...

 

[bazooka joe]

how's the idle?

 

[poolgirl69]

It has idled rough for a while. When it is in park it isn't bad, when it's in gear it idles pretty rough.

 

[bazooka joe]

It has idled rough for a while. When it is in park it isn't bad, when it's in gear it idles pretty rough.

as well as the other maint type suggestions...get the EGR valve cleaned or replaced...that can be at the root of some of what you describe

 

[poolgirl69]

The check engine light has been on for several years even after replacing everything. Kind of gave up. lol Last year when it got really cold, light went out for a couple of weeks and then when it started warming up it went back on. Well, when he replaced the belts he reset everything which was last week. The light is still off. So who knows. I think my f@$#$$ing car is cursed. Don't get me wrong, love my car, but right now, it's cursed. :'(

 

[Wagonbacker9]

OK, that basically changes everything. what was the CEL code?

 

[poolgirl69]

I'll have to get back to ya on that one. I'm at work and don't remember what the codes were. I know after each thing we replaced and took it through emissions, it failed every time worse than before. Finally got to the point didn't have to worry about taking it through emissions anymore. Just figures, go and fix one thing, and then it runs like s*** afterward. Go figure. I have to drive 72 miles round trip every day for work. Need ma car!!!! He can still drive it to his job because he doesn't have as far to go, but still need to figure out what the hell is going on. Thanks for any input you guys can give. Just a mechanically challenged girl ya know. LOL

 

[Protephile]

If you have the 1.6L I'd say it was a bad/dirty MAF.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

2002 = no 1.6, doesn't it?

edit: apparently I can't read... my bad.

 

[poolgirl69]

We just cleaned the MAF about a month ago. It is a 1.6 2000 Protege DX.

 

[poolgirl69]

OK, that basically changes everything. what was the CEL code?

Hubby said the code was "Bank 1 L1 too lean"

 

[Wagonbacker9]

check for cracks in the intake pipe?

 

[bazooka joe]

that and the o2 sensor as well

 

[slavrenz]

When you got the codes read how did you go about the diagnosis of the problem (i.e., just because the code mentions the O2 sensor doesn't mean the O2 sensor is bad). I'm worried that you're just throwing parts at the problem and not properly doing the diagnosis.

Is there any way you can post the actual code number (P_ _ _)?

 

[Wagonbacker9]

lean codes are ready by the 02, so typically they mean the o2 is functioning properly.. something else is throwing off the reading from what is expected.

 

[Protephile]

But if she's having acceleration/hesitation it's gotta be something with the intake system I think, not the exhaust?
The 1.6 is notorious for hesitation problems. If the MAF is already cleaned then maybe it's just broken.

 

[slavrenz]

But if she's having acceleration/hesitation it's gotta be something with the intake system I think, not the exhaust?
The 1.6 is notorious for hesitation problems. If the MAF is already cleaned then maybe it's just broken.

hesitation/acceleration can be affected by exhaust components, such as the EGR valve and Oxygen sensor.