2001 Mazda Protege 2.0l

CHRISJHERE1 · 06-28-2007, 12:23 AM

MY CHECK ENG. LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. WHEN TESTED IT SAYS THE catalytic converter. A FEW TIMES IT HAS WHILE DRIVING LOOSES POWER... I CAN NOT ACCEL. AND CHECK ENG. LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. I CAN KEEP GOING BUT LOOSE ACCELERATION. RPM'S STAY WHERE IT WAS WHEN IT BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. IT EITHER KICKS BACK IN AND RUNS NORMAL OR IF I TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART IT, IT'S FINE. ALSO WHEN I GO TO STOP, A FEW TIMES IT ACTS LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL, NEVER HAS, BUT RPM'S GO VERY CLOSE TO ZERO. I HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, AND WIRED THINKING IT WAS THAT... BUT THAT DIDN'T DO IT... COULD MY catalytic converter HAVE GONE BAD??? IF I HAVE BEEN INFORMED RIGHT THERE ARE 2 ON THE 2.0 MAZDA PROTEGE? WHICH IS THE ONE THAT IS BAD? O2 SENSOR WAS TESTED AND WAS WITHIN RANGE IT SAID!!! REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP SHELLING OUT MONEY FIXING ON PART AT A TIME UNTILL IT'S RIGHT WHAT DO I DO!?
THANKS CHRIS

Lenny · 06-28-2007, 12:20 PM

Ok, first off no need to yell. It makes your post really hard to read.

You catalytic may be failing, but it is part of the overall emmsions picture. Lots of people yank thier cats out all together, it has no negative effect on the performance of the car, except for the warning light.

Part of it sounds like the Map sensor, that would cause the engine rpms to fluctuate all over the place and reduce power when you stomp on it.

If you turn the car off and restart it, and it runs fine, it could be your ecu getting messed up. Find the fuse and pull it for 5 minutes then put it back in ( if you have a radio code, make sure you know where it is before pulling the fuse )

the car will run a little wierd for a while as it learns, then it should settle down. You can try that first, it's free.

Krank · 06-29-2007, 11:33 AM

Could very well be that your cat is plugged, and causing too much back pressure on the engine.

Do you live in a climate where it could rust out?

CHRISJHERE1 · 06-30-2007, 01:36 AM

I live in GA. But the thing is I can't find one for my model that is with in my price range at the moment, so I would buy the universal cat.
has anyone ever put one on before? Can it be clamped on or does it have to be weldded on? Plus there are 2 Cat. on my car, which to replace is the question....

Chris

DaBomb · 06-30-2007, 02:37 AM

Installing a cat is a pretty basic thing, but...is your current cat welded to the pipe? ( I don't know the Protege ) if so you would have to have it cut, then you could clamp on the cat, it doesn't need to be welded on.

There is no way that I know of the know which cat is giving you the problem. If you want to be sure that is the problem, and they are clamped on in the first place, you could get a stright peice of pipe and by pass them. the warning light will stay on, but you will be able to tell if all your power comes back. Likewise, try one, then the other to help figure out which on is the culprit.

It will take a little time, but if you got some tools, and can get under your car it's not overly difficult

MPS · 06-30-2007, 12:25 PM

Chris,

You might want to visit your local Mazda Dealership. I am not sure where you are writing from but in Canada, Mazda has warranty up to 96 months or 128,000 kms on certain Emission Systems items. If it is your Catalytic Converter and you meet the other warranty criteria they may be able to replace your Cat for you.

Harpoon · 06-30-2007, 12:32 PM

Good call MPS...

I found this quote on the Mazda website
"The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. "

06-28-2007, 12:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
CHRISJHERE1 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2	2001 Mazda Protege 2.0l MY CHECK ENG. LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. WHEN TESTED IT SAYS THE catalytic converter. A FEW TIMES IT HAS WHILE DRIVING LOOSES POWER... I CAN NOT ACCEL. AND CHECK ENG. LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. I CAN KEEP GOING BUT LOOSE ACCELERATION. RPM'S STAY WHERE IT WAS WHEN IT BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. IT EITHER KICKS BACK IN AND RUNS NORMAL OR IF I TURN OFF CAR AND RESTART IT, IT'S FINE. ALSO WHEN I GO TO STOP, A FEW TIMES IT ACTS LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL, NEVER HAS, BUT RPM'S GO VERY CLOSE TO ZERO. I HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, AND WIRED THINKING IT WAS THAT... BUT THAT DIDN'T DO IT... COULD MY catalytic converter HAVE GONE BAD??? IF I HAVE BEEN INFORMED RIGHT THERE ARE 2 ON THE 2.0 MAZDA PROTEGE? WHICH IS THE ONE THAT IS BAD? O2 SENSOR WAS TESTED AND WAS WITHIN RANGE IT SAID!!! REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP SHELLING OUT MONEY FIXING ON PART AT A TIME UNTILL IT'S RIGHT WHAT DO I DO!? THANKS CHRIS

06-28-2007, 12:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lenny Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 153	Ok, first off no need to yell. It makes your post really hard to read. You catalytic may be failing, but it is part of the overall emmsions picture. Lots of people yank thier cats out all together, it has no negative effect on the performance of the car, except for the warning light. Part of it sounds like the Map sensor, that would cause the engine rpms to fluctuate all over the place and reduce power when you stomp on it. If you turn the car off and restart it, and it runs fine, it could be your ecu getting messed up. Find the fuse and pull it for 5 minutes then put it back in ( if you have a radio code, make sure you know where it is before pulling the fuse ) the car will run a little wierd for a while as it learns, then it should settle down. You can try that first, it's free. __________________ Mazda 3 ownnzz

06-29-2007, 11:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
Krank Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 93	Could very well be that your cat is plugged, and causing too much back pressure on the engine. Do you live in a climate where it could rust out? __________________ 06 MazdaSpeed 3 Arctic White

06-30-2007, 01:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
CHRISJHERE1 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2	2001 Mazda Protege I live in GA. But the thing is I can't find one for my model that is with in my price range at the moment, so I would buy the universal cat. has anyone ever put one on before? Can it be clamped on or does it have to be weldded on? Plus there are 2 Cat. on my car, which to replace is the question.... Chris

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06-30-2007, 02:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
DaBomb Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 88	Installing a cat is a pretty basic thing, but...is your current cat welded to the pipe? ( I don't know the Protege ) if so you would have to have it cut, then you could clamp on the cat, it doesn't need to be welded on. There is no way that I know of the know which cat is giving you the problem. If you want to be sure that is the problem, and they are clamped on in the first place, you could get a stright peice of pipe and by pass them. the warning light will stay on, but you will be able to tell if all your power comes back. Likewise, try one, then the other to help figure out which on is the culprit. It will take a little time, but if you got some tools, and can get under your car it's not overly difficult

06-30-2007, 12:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
MPS Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4	Chris, You might want to visit your local Mazda Dealership. I am not sure where you are writing from but in Canada, Mazda has warranty up to 96 months or 128,000 kms on certain Emission Systems items. If it is your Catalytic Converter and you meet the other warranty criteria they may be able to replace your Cat for you.

06-30-2007, 12:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Harpoon Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 59	Good call MPS... I found this quote on the Mazda website "The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. "