2003 Mazda Protege Engine problems

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mazda protege. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine and timing belt needed to be replaced. The engine was taken apart and the mechanic found a screw inside of the intake valve. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 188,000.

Rough idle causing to stall while driving, check engine light on for cylinder misfire, found cylinder 4 with a bent spark plug with the gap closed. Replaced all 4 plugs car ran fine for a few months only to have the same issue cylinder misfire with cylinder 4 with another bent plug gap closed. Possible something loose inside cylinder 4 causing the misfire issues to the plug. Mileage 130,280

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mazda protege. The contact attempted to start the vehicle but the engine failed to start accompanied by an abnormal knocking from the engine. The contact also mentioned that the failure occurred more often when the engine was cold. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 13,200.

I recently purchased a '03 mazda protege5. While driving down the road yesterday at 65 mph, I heard a loud bang and heard something hit the bottom of the car. The car exhaust suddenly became much louder. I immediately pulled off the road. I looked under the car, and the exhaust had come apart. The piece of the exhaust after the cat was hanging about 1 inch from the ground. This piece is after the catalytic converter, near one of the hanging points of the exhaust system. Two bolts, which hold this piece together, and the exhaust gasket were missing. Luckily, there was no damage whatsoever. This problem could have ended tragically. *Tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mazda protege. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where it was stated that the intake manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.

On at least 3-5 occasions this 2.0L engine has suffered the exact same fate as nhtsa id# 10422484. Check engine light on, misfiring, associated noise sounding like a bolt / screw bouncing around in the engine for maybe 15 seconds, then would return to normal. Each time there has been a different cylinder misfire, upon spark plug removal it was found the gap was closed causing no spark. Each time, a new plug was installed and corrected the immediate problem. After seeing these complaints and a recall regarding...

My 03 protege has vics screws falling out and all issues that comes with it. My car has been parked in the driveway untouched because I cannot afford to pay for the repairs due to how many times my car has had issues and cannot pass emissions. So I have to turn my tags in within the month because mazda wont recognize the issue being their recall since my vin is out of their window for cars being defective. I don't understand why if so many people are having the same problem; why those months when we have the same...

The car suffered a failure of the intake manifold whereby the screws inside the intake had come loose and caused damage to the engine. It is unclear at this time if my car is covered under the current recall 3005 c. *Tr

The tightening torque of the screws used for mounting the intake manifold shutter valve loosened and fell out (1 into the spark plugs and caused damage to plugs and coils).Caused misfiring, affecting the exhaust emissions. There was a recall in 2006 but not for my car's vin - but my car had the exact problem from that recall. Waiting to see if mazda will honor this recall and pay for repairs/parts. *Tr

2003 Mazda protege. Consumer states electrical problems with vehicle and several other concerns *tgw the consumer stated the lights stayed on and the alarm would sound intermittently. The dealer replaced the electrical module. The consumer also stated the engine overheated due to a water pump leak and leaking radiator, the battery was replaced several times, the vehicle was out of alignment, and the consumer had to purchase three sets of tires. *Jb

My son bought a 2003 mazda protege 5, back in late july 2010. Shortly thereafter, on august 3rd, 2010 in fact, he knowing of an open recall, had the car serviced at the local mazda dealership. Apparently they performed part a of recall 3005c and did a compression check and slapped a "recall completed" sticker under the hood. Come late august, my son takes the car away to school. On november 1st, 2010, he calls complaining of a "'loud engine noise". 2 Days later, we had the car towed to a nearby performance shop....

While driving on highway at about 60 mph for 40 minutes, the car began sputtering, jerking, making noises, losing acceleration and the check engine light came on. It initially felt like someone was taking their foot on and off the gas. We pulled off road and were towed to our garage. Mechanic found that the spark plug for cylinder 4 was smashed shut, he replaced it and told us to take it to the dealer since this was the 3rd time we had this problem. In dec of 2009 the spark plug for cylinder 1 had same problem...

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mazda protege 5. The contact stated that when driving approximately 45 mph, he noticed a loud rumbling sound coming from the engine motor. He turned off the vehicle and pulled over. The vehicle was towed to a dealership and the dealer replaced the intake manifold shutter because the valve broke off and fell into the engine. He called the manufacturer and was told that they could not assist him. He had no problems with his vehicle since the repair. The current mileage was approximately 214,000. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mazda protege 5. While idling the engine, it misfired and two of the cylinders did not make a connection. An authorized technician removed a screw from the cylinder within the engine at his own expense. The technician also stated that the intake manifold was losing screws and affecting the cylinders. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The current mileage was 83,000 and the failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mazda protege. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibits a no-start condition. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and a technician concluded that the failure was caused by screws that have fallen from the butterfly shutters inside of the intake manifold and that the repairs would cost $1000.00. No repairs were made. The manufacturer was notified; however, no assistance was provided. The failure and current mileages were 107,000.

My 2002 protege 5 (built december 2002) had a catastrophic engine failure, due to loose vics screws from the intake manifold coming loose and being sucked into the combustion chamber. These screws sheared off the top of my spark plug, and destroyed my piston and valves. The outward symptoms was a loud 'coin in the washing machine' sound coming from my engine, followed by a sudden loss of power and stalling. After the engine was opened, 3 of 8 vics screws were off completely, and the remaining 5 were loose. This...

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mazda speed protege. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle began to shake severely when the contact released the accelerator pedal. He experienced difficulty steering and controlling the vehicle. He took the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the variable tumble control system shutter valve became stuck in the closed position. The failure prevented air from entering the vehicle. Through online research, he discovered a recall for the same failure on the regular mazda protege. The manufacturer stated that the mazda speed protege had no recalls. The failure mileage was 72,000 and current mileage was 75,000.

Tl*the contact's son owns a 2003 mazda protege 5. While approaching a red light at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled and had to be restarted. The contact heard loud noises coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact pulled to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to a service station. The mechanic diagnosed the cause of the failure as a blown rod. The vehicle was then towed to a mazda dealer, who stated that there was engine failure and it needed to be replaced. The current mileage was 31,289 and failure mileage was 26,490.

Loud rattling noise at highway speed, engine light came on. Took to mazda dealership, found problem to be butterfly valve screws backing out and falling into intake manifold. Estimated repair cost ~$900.00. *Tr

While driving to work my car began to shudder and hiccup. Then the engine light cam on so I pulled off the highway. I started it back up and the car had a more serious shudder. I got it to a local service station and they ran a computer diagnostic and said it was a misfire in the #4 cylinder. The sparkplug was smashed. Nothing was found in the cylinder so the sparkplug was replaced and temporarily fixed the problem. Two weeks later the same shudder problem and again the engine light came on. This time the #1...

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mazda protg. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated. The mechanic checked the codes and stated that the engine misfired. The current mileage was 84,000 and failure mileage was 80,000.

2003 Mazda protege 5 with rough idling and other engine issues. Consumer states the vehicle had a rough idle and that it would have trouble starting. *Kb when the mechanic inspected the engine, he found the screws had passed through the engine and were found in the catalytic converter. The consumer discovered there was an intake manifold shutter and variable tumble control valve emission recall for mazda protege's, however the consumers vehicle identification number did not fall within the range. *Jb

Purchased a pre owned 2003 mazda protege with approximately 50,000 miles on it. I drove the vehicle for about 4000 miles before there was an engine failure. There were no events that lead up to this incident. The engine began to make a loud knocking noise. I had it towed to the dealer of purchase. A screw on an the intake came loose and went into the engine cylinder. Damage caused the engine to need to be replaced. Mazda has recall 3005c for this problem for the exact year, model, and engine as the one I purchased. However, the vin number was a few thousand numbers outside of the recall range. Im stuck with a 15,000 piece of junk. *Ak

While driving normally to my home after work the car stalled at a stop light. )When restarted there was a loud clanking/hammering noise from the engine for about 15 seconds then the sound went away, the cell lit up and the engine started shaking. When checked for codes a misfire on cylinder -4 was found. (The spark plug on cylinder 4 had been smashed flat by a foreign object that caused the hammering noise, nothing was found inside the cylinder , using a magnet. The spark plug was replaced and the car worked as...

I purchased vehicle new in jan 04. While exiting the freeway, I felt a "hiccup" in the engine at which time it ran very poorly and check engine light came. The serpentine belt had also jumped about 25% off drive pulleys. I was traveling out of town at this time and took it to a local service station. Technician identified problem as an engine misfire and installed a new belt. I decided not to have service station perform any additional diagnosis preferring take vehicle to dealership instead. Dealership...