1999 Mazda Protege LX from North America - Comments

3 Check engine lights for problems below.

Fuel Pressure Regulator - 45000km 5 yrs

3rd or 4th set of Brakes

EGR Valve went @ 61,000km 6 yrs causing multiple stalls, replaced by Mazda for $300.00.

2 Batteries 35,000 & 63,000km 4/6 yrs

Rough Idle.

4AT transmission runs rough in cold.

Fuel Economy is poor for a 1.8L.

Great little car, looks good in silver.

Could use more than 120hp, but is fairly good for everyday use.

No major repairs, but very little KMs.

Fully loaded interior.

This is my wife's car, and I prefer if she had a Civic... but so far seems to be a great little car.

Handles great in snow and dry pavement.

Update.

Now have 76500kms.

- Replaced Brake pads & rotors (caliper pins wore out and caused a horrible banging noise) $320

- Timing belt - $317

- Flushed fluids per manual

- Auto Transmission continues to rev high in first gear, but other gears are smooth especially on the highway.

For the high revving at 1st gear, check to see if there's any air leaks coming from the air intake hose or the smaller hose connecting to the PCV valve, if not, change your PCV valve.

Car now has 105,000kms and its running fairly well.

Transmission still has the same issue, I believe it to be non-serious and a characteristic of this transmission.

Drums are original and have rusted with age causing a scraping noise (goes and comes, easily solved with new drums).

I have a lot of suspension noise right now, endlinks were replaced but it looks like my struts, strut mounts, and bushings will all need replacing this spring.

The engine seems to have developed a light "screaming" noise near higher RPM. Other than that it runs fine.

I'm still on my original water pump, starter, and rad after 10 years.

Fuel economy seems to be my only problem right now, can't seem to get much better than 10-11L/100kms even with new plugs and air filter. Might be a bad O2 sensor... although the car passes emissions test without any issues.

I hope to have this car for another 2-3 years.

Sorry forgot to add:

The Air Bag Control Module went out on me at about 90,000kms. Mazda wanted $500+ for a new module. I picked one up from a junkyard for $80.

The fan control module went out on me at about 100,000kms, this was an easy fix and only cost $30 from Mazda. This allowed the A/C to work again and my fan for settings 1-3 (only worked on setting 4 before I fixed it).