rustychops41

A Very Bad Thing: My 2002 DX was totaled in an accident last Monday morning. I was cut off on the freeway going about 75mph, and a well sorted auto-x car can be a real handful at those speeds, and it was indeed. The 3rd wag of the tail sent me into the median gaurd railing, whereupon I bounced off of it. Three times. A Good Thing: I picked up a used 2002 Protege 5, with 37K miles and power "everything." I feel right at home in the new ride, but I won't be racing it since I have secured a ride in a 2nd gen STS Integra for the 2005 Solo II season. A few hopefully easy questions:
1. Any way to cure that horrid rattle from the rear license plate when you shut the hatch?
2. I had put some nice Kenwood speakers in all the stock holes on my DX, and plan the same for this car. Any suggestions for the rear doors on the P5? I know I won't be able to match the sedans rear 6x9's "oomph" but I had forgotten how horrid the OEM speakers really are.
3. I need to get: a front license plate mount, all 4 of the roofrack "covers" since I plan to remove the crossbars, and the rear "luggage compartment cover" ($248.00 from Mazda!!! Are they nuts?), all of which are missing. Anyone willing to sell any of the above contact me.
Yeah, it's a little heavier than the DX, but the power goodies are sweet, and hey. . . . .I finally got a tach!

Roddimus Prime

they want $248 for the covers??? they are $17 for all 4 here at my dealer....

chiefmg

Rear license plate: Buy a license plate frame. Install two of those nylon screw/nut fasteners into the bottom holes with the nuts on the outside. Put some silicone (I used the black automotive kind) on the screw heads where they will touch the trunk lid. Let that dry before installing. With the attachment screws snugged up, you should not have any rattling.

Phantom Cruiser

Yep. Mine stopped rattling when I put a frame on it.

kargoboy

So I take it you are okay?
Good luck with your new rides.

rustychops41

No Roddimus, $248.00 is for the rear cargo cover, that removable lid-dealie that goes up and down with the hatch on the little bungie cords. They wany $19.00 (each! $76 total) for the 4 pieces I need for the roof rack. And $25.00 for a license plate holder.
I am fine, no glass even broke, all four doors still opened, the airbags didn't even deploy, but the drivers seat mounting brackets were cocked over about an inch due to my 180 lbs of blobulence. What was so sad was when I went to get my personal items out of the car at the boneyard, they brought it out on a big-*** forklift. Ouch!! On a brighter note, Farmer's Insurance is giving me $8,100.00 + tax & partial DMV fees to total $8900. I owed $8000.00 on it, and I also get $500.00 for not renting a car. In plain english that means I Got Wheel And Tire Money for the new P5.

chiefmg

On the rear license plate if you prefer not to have a frame, alternatively you could just pick up some self-adhesive rubber spots (Wal-Mart has them the cheapest) and put them directly on the plate itself. You can find these spots in the area where they have picture hangers, furniture coasters, and so on (I think they are meant for drawer bumpers). I used some to quiet my girlfriend's glove box door.