"or something"... does this mean it may be an alien or some other kind of lifeform? Maybe this rattle is some sort of alien technology that makes cars last forever???


heehee....

 

just wondering if any one can give me an idea on how to disconnect the VCTS system (where is it and what do you disconnect). It's been mentioned before but i didn't see a reply.....thanks.

 

This thread has nothing to do with performance, please leave it in the maintenance section where it belongs.

 

Maybe I'm confused, but with the the new Forum layout I do not see a topic called "Maintenance" or anything similar . And this area here is not called 'Performance" but "Protege5/MP3/3rd Gen".

FrankD

 

The "problem" may not be a problem after all.

This is just one many Technical article that can be found on the web or in dealers manuals relating to engine noise at start-up.

Read the Article for a full explanation and you might not have to worry.


"On vehicles built in the last decade, piston slap that occurs for a few seconds on cold start is quite normal."

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/020320.htm

 

I have the same problem with my P5. It rattles for the first 2 minutes then stops.. well sounds more "healthier".

I don't know if I should just leave it or take it back to the Dealership to get it checked!

 

Dealers are aware about this, Mazda is aware about this problem... so what is being done about it? Did anyone that took their car to the dealer get their problem fixed?

 

I just bought my P5 two days ago, and found this site this morning. Damn, I wish I stumbled upon it last week.

Anyways, I didnt notice it until I read this thread, so I went downstairs to check my car out.

First off, when you start it up it sounds like a damn jet engine. LOL.

Next, I started it up, waited 10 seconds, and then revved it up in neutral to 2700rpm. Damnit! Theres a rattle. It sounds like a piece of metal stuck in a garbage disposal. NOT what Im used to (Ive always been a Honda man, but my fiance wanted this car).

Thankfully I bought the 7 year/160,000km extended warranty. Still, this @&($# sucks... I never had a problem with my half-million km Civic besides wear and tear, so this is a real kick in the nuts. Its a brand new car!!!!!

 

Settle down man, you made the right decision to go with the P5 over the honda crap. My P5 use to sound like a jet engine taking off, but it hasnt in the pass month or so. Im not sure why, maybe its just "breaking in". I dont "think" we have a major problem with this "rattle" thing. I dont think I have the rattle, since the car sounds normal to me...

 

Anybody still watching this thread? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US has received 2 complaints about this engine rattle, and has posted info. Start here: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/proble...hTopic=Vehicle , enter 2002 model year, then MAZDA make, then PROTEGE model, then ENGINE component.

If you wanted another forum to try to get this problem "noticed', how about a couple dozen more complaints at the NHTSA?? That ought to get Mazda's attention.....

 

Thanks for the update, good to see someone looking into it, That **** about the airbags thought is a little scary.

 

Just because the Mazda Protege has these complaints DOESNT mean that all Proteges have this problem. These complaints are basically opinions from the consumer, and are never investigated unless an excessive amount of consumers complain about the same problem. Take a look at the 2002 Honda Civic, it has a ton of complaints. Take a look at the 2002 BMW M3, someone complained that the engine blew up, and pieces of the engine where all over the interior of the car... sounds pretty frighteing...but will this happen in every M3??? I dont think so...

 

Amazing with VCTS solenoid disconnected NO RATTLE DURING COLD START!!


Had rattle disconnected VCTS solenoid via the vaccuum hose (RECOMMENDED EARLY IN THE THREAD) and no rattles.

 

As asked before but not answered (I think), where is the solenoid located? I would like to try this out. My car has done this since pretty new over a year ago and has bugged me since. No-one has mentioned this before in the thread but on my car when you reach the end of the "rattle zone" 3000-3200 rpm the power would come on stronger. This has always lead me to beleive it was a valve timing or intake variable that was emploted during warmup. TIA

Jeff M.

 

VTCS or VCTS or whatever

ON P5

On the back of intake there is a white connector and a green connector.

The white connector do not touch

The green connector should be on the passenger side. DO NOT DISCONNECT THE CONNECTOR. DISCONNECT ONLY THE HOSE. Make sure that the hose goes to the control arm towards the passenger side and not the lower control arm.

If you are going to leave it disconnected, remember to plug both ends of hose and every once in awhile reconnect to see if it still works properly.