meGrimlock

hi, ive got a lot of issues with this 2003 ES. problem is i dont know enough about whats going on to search properly.

by researching, i think i have the clutch chatter problem. bought the car with 6k miles it started around 9k miles when winter hit. every morning the clutch would shake the car mad when i shifted from a standstill or from 1st-2nd gear. i just figured it was my inexperience with the clutch. but then in the spring, on cold mornings, it would act like that for a brief moment. now that the car is at 20k miles i dunno if the clutch is warrantied anymore.

next issue is i think its rattling (according to the protege faq by edwin man) at 1000-3000 rpm. it makes a noise similar to gurgling mouthwash in the back of your throat when i lift my foot off the clutch and apply pressure to the gas pedal. according to the faq mazda says it doesnt hurt the engine but its annoying and sounds like gasoline is about to shoot out its front nose.

my only other major problem is the grinding in 3rd gear, usually from 2nd to 3rd. My main concern with all these issues is that from what ive read, most people get d*cked by the dealer when approaced about these problems. if i asked the dealer to look at all these things, how long am i gonna be w/o the protege? a day, 2 days, a week? just looking to see how i have to plan for this. when i bought this car used from a toyota dealer, i didnt mail in any warranty cards or anything. will i qualify for warranty repair if applicable? thanks for any input on this subject.
-meGrimlock

Roddimus Prime

here's my take on it. My car had the clutch chatter also. I replaced the clutcvh with a SPEC stage 3...still chattered. I installed the AWR front and rear mounts...it went away. I'm sure it still chatters just now you can't feel it.

As for the engine noise I've also heard a strange noise but it doesn't sound like gurgling..it sounds to me like the powersteering pump burning up bearings...which is funny because my power steering pump is disconnected. Maybe I'm hearing what you're hearing.

Dealers are scam artists. The clutch chatter thing was only covered for 12K miles IF that. I took mine in it 1K and they told me to get bent. Take it to them. If they tell you ANYTHING is not covered by warranty pick the car up and take it home.

hughes412

Hey there. To make a long story short the is a TSB (i think thats what it's call, or a warrenty issue) on out clutch. Be nice and respectful when you go there. Call first! Be up front and tell them you've done some research and you've found alot of pros are getting this at 20+k. They will say that the clutch is only covered for 12k but tell them the problem isn't just the clutch but the flywheel also! The clutch and flywheel don't like each other. Don't get all bent out of shape and they MIGHT help you out. They replaced mine at 24k. Tell them you've heard thet they are supposed to change out the clutch flywheel and throw out barring, and I think the fork also.

The noise I can't help you, mine don't do that.

The grinding. Well don't take this the wrong way but you messed up the clutch. If it started to chatter a 6k you should have takin it back then. But I understand that you didn't know better. This might be one way that the dealer will try to get out of fixing it. But stand your ground. Tell them this just started about 2 weeks ago. Maybe they'll help. Hope this helps

meGrimlock

hmm, i think i'll print out as many TSBs as possible that ive been experiencing and hand it to them. see what they can do about it. i just dont want to drop it off for a whole day and find out they wont fix it under warranty.

as for the grinding its intermittent and rare when it happens, and i think there was a TSB out for the 2001 and 2002 models. you think might apply to mine? thanks for all the advice.
-meGrimlock

bbsf2

with the grinding from 2nd to 3rd, my trans did it almost all the time whether shifting hard or slow. if you change your trans fluid and put in 2 quarts of penzoil syncromax for gm vehicles and 1 quart of lucas oil stabilizer, it will go away. i did this and after i drove it for about five minutes with the new "trans cocktail", i have not grinded third since. this was almost five months ago. believe me it works. try it. it will cost you less than 25 dollars at the most. my 2 cents. i know it works from experience.

Roddimus Prime

i run straight royal purple gear oil and havent any tranny problems for 23K miles.