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25 mpg).Īnnual mileage has gone down as I no longer need to drive to work.
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The P5 is still nimble, safe and fuel efficient (avg.
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Overall, I have had a great time with it.
#MAZDA PROTEGE CAR SOUNDS LIKE NO MUFFLER UPDATE#
Here's an update on my 2002 Protege5 which will be celebrating its 7th birthday in a little over a month. I am considering keeping the car for another couple of years and have not decided what to do about the situation. The problem is minor for now but it won't take long before it grows into something more serious. In the Protege, I've noticed the rust starting to re-emerge in the wheel wells, two years after the problem was corrected. bottom of doors) and to not being rustproofed early enough (I waited until the second year). as a result of scrapes and scratches in spots difficult to see (e.g. My previous car, a Toyota Corolla, also started rusting at the door bottoms, rear quarter panel, etc. Yes, rust is a definitely a problem although I wouldn't say it's unique to Mazda vehicles. That would actually be ok but the car itself is rusting to pieces in the rear wheel wells, the bottom of all 4 doors and the middle of the hatch. Of course today at 112K the car needs a wheel bearing again and the hub and a control arm for a good $1200 bill. The total bill should be about $300.Our 2002 Protege5 has been very reliable over the years never breaking down. If you take your car to the shop, the parts will be closer to $150 and it should take about an hour of labor. It’s just a couple bolts and some sheet metal, but can become a headache. You’ll need to buy new heat shields ($40 or more per) and be prepared to remove the old parts and reinstall new ones. This is doable, but can be tricky if you haven’t done it before. Option 2: Replace the Heat ShieldĪnother option you have is to completely replace your heat shields. Additionally, you’ve got to protect your vehicle’s underbody components. A gas tank heat shield especially should not be removed permanently, car manufacturers put them on your vehicle for a reason. Heat shields help prevent those accidents from happening. When you park your car on grass, hot exhaust elements can cause fires. Hot catalytic converters are the biggest culprit. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported 100 wildfires caused by vehicles in 2015 alone. Although this technically may stop the rattle, we do not recommend this solution. Some vehicle owners are inclined to just throw away a heat shield once it gets loose or cracked. Option 1: Remove the Heat Shield Completely (Not Recommended) Although no car is immune to heat shield rattle, older cars and lower-end models are more likely to have this issue. Not all manufacturers use the same materials or weld with the same processes. Some cars are more prone to heat shield rattling.You should be able to find the problem and fix it yourself. We’ll go into more detail on this in a moment, but for now, know that fixing your heat shield rattle isn’t a multi-day operation. It’s easy to find the source of the problem.Although you can technically still drive your car or truck without a heat shield, it’s a needed safety feature that was put on your car for a reason. Don’t just rip off a rattling heat shield. Before getting started, there are a few things to know: Thankfully, there are some tricks to make it a quick and inexpensive fix. The result for you is an annoying heat shield rattle that drives you a little bit crazy every time you reach a certain RPM. Heat shields rattle because the welded sheet metal car manufacturers use can rust or come loose after years exposed to the elements and daily wear and tear.