red_vixen_protege5

Hey everyone, I'm new here. There is a bit of a problem with my Protege 5. Every time I start the car, or when I come to a stop and after I put it into first gear, it makes this really strange squeaky noise. This only happened this winter. In the summer/fall seasons, there was no noise. Some friends suggested that it might be the breaks? I'm not exactly sure, I want to take it to Mazda after the holidays.
Any suggestions what it may be?

Thanks

J-Protege

Does it make the noise as you stop, or when you are fully stopped?

If it's as you slow down, it's most likely brakes.

If the car does it while at 0km/h, or idle, then something might not be lubricated right. Make sure your car is not low on oil, or in need of a change. As well, you may have a bad engine belt causing the sound.

kargoboy

Welcome to the forum. If it happens when it's cold outside only, I'm thinking it's the stock struts, they have a tendency to make a squeaking noise in cold weather.

eggynatey

...to the club!

I'm thinking that your noise may be a squeaky belt. How many miles are on the P5?

red_vixen_protege5

Thanks everyone... I've got 131Ks on my red baby

umm..well usually only when I first start the car it usually makes loud squeaky noise. When I drive, it's not as frequent.

eggynatey

I'm with JProtege. Sounds to me like a belt. Freezing weather, only happens at low RPMs and when the motor's cold, just about the right milage for one to begin to sing....
Does it squeak for a few seconds when you take off from a stop, then quiet-down as you speed up? If so, I'm 90% sure you need to swap out an old belt or two.

red_vixen_protege5

yes exactly, eggynatey. Every time I speed up, the car stops its squeaky, annoying noises, lol. It makes me so mad sometimes I press on the gas more so it stops... haha

alternatekev

Mine is doing the same thing (I'm brand-new here, too, red '02, 65k). I plan on getting some belt lubricant and trying that out, I'll let you know how it goes.

J-Protege

The timing belt should be changed at 100,000kms, so if that might be your trouble area.

It's kind of hard to pinpoint the problem, and it's a small engine to take apart and find it :/

If you do need to take it in, just don't bring it to Canadian Tire. They'll 'find' more problems than you could have possibly had.

red_vixen_protege5

hahahah seriously!? well I was thinking I'll take it to the Mazda dealership...I know it'll be pricy... where else do you suggest I take it?

Da P-Funk!

Any good mechanic can change the accessory drive belts. Look at the manual to determine when other scheduled maintenance is due. Ask the shop if they can perform the work as well. You really shouldn't have to go to the dealership and pay the extra labor charge for relatively simple tasks like these.

Keep asking questions! We have all been there/done that to some degree and can help.

red_vixen_protege5

thanks everyone (I'm assuming you're all guys). I don't know much about cars except how to drive stick. lol

DaleK

I definitely agree with the Canadian Tire assessment - I'd shy away from them. I don't know anything about the Ontario dealers, so I can't help there.

red_vixen_protege5

how much would Mazda charge?

Olestra

Probably standard 80 bucks per hour labor.

Cdn tire is hit and miss. Mostly miss. =\ They basically have mechanics that are gaining experience and so if you get a guy like that fixing your car, he may break something else, fix something that doesn't need to be fixed or just fix it incorrectly. That's not to say you could get lucky and get an experienced mechanic. But yes, stay away from Cdn Tire to be safe - they will probably also put cheap parts into your car.