My friend has a '90 Protege. She said her mechanic said one of the cylinders does not fire and it would cost more to fix than the car is worth.

I was wondering where I should start to diagnose the problem.

She doesn't know a lot about cars and doesn't really know the history since she bought it used. I have never even seen the car. Are there any common issues I should be aware of? Sensors that should be replaced. Upgrades, etc.?

I'm no master mechanic, and I usally work on GM cars. So please bear with me

Thanks!

 

I know my cars and stuff, but im not master

but have you tried spark plugs wires? or would it have something to do with compression?
(just a question for thought)

 

This is the hard part heh.

I have never seen the car. My friend said the mechanic said it was not firing and said that it was going to cost more than the car was worth. I assume if the wires were bad, the mechanic would have done it. I'm guessing like you said the compression (bad piston rings) or maybe a blown valve. But since I don't know anything about how a Mazda engine works, (and not even having the car in front of me hehe), I can only guess. I don't think it would be as simple as replacing the plugs or wires. But who knows, maybe the mechanic was trying to rip off a poor girl.

Trying to see if I should even try to help her. She will be without a car if I decide to take the engine apart. I think I can put it back together correctly. I just feel bad if I can't fix it and made her ride the bus or something.

Thanks!

 

some mechanics are known to do that, "fixing is more than car is worht" sounds to easy to be said, either that or a lazy mechanic, if it was he would atleast say what was wrong with it...oh well

Good luck on fixing ur prob

 

Any luck?

 

Haven't had anytime to take a look at it. She said that her dad and mechanic said it was fine to run with only one cylinder, which I find hard to believe. These engines were not meant to run like that. I'm wondering if there is a way to disable one cylinder. Maybe these engines are that advanced. I don't believe you can do that with American engines (what I know a little more of). So what is going to happen is fuel will get into the cat and clog it up. Compeletely killing everything. But, she says it's "fine" and she doesn't have another car to use. Can't do anything about it....

 

I'd say you could do that temporarily, but nothing I would rely on for a long time, before I got my piston rings changed mine ran on 3 for who knows how long, but now, im hittin all 4...