Hi there,
Just found this club, nice site....
Anyway, I just changed the plugs in my daughters 93 protege and now the car runs rough and wants to die when its idling.
So my question is, what is the correct spark plug gap? .044 is what I was told.
Anyone else know for sure?
The car was initially running rough at all times, I changed the air filter and plugs today for good measure.....It quit running rough all the time, now the problem is at idle....
Lemme know,
PotatoeHead

P.S. Where do you guys buy your (K&N?) Air filters?
I have always used a K&N on my blazer and corvette, and don't really want to fight with removing the stock air filter next time on the Mazda...What a pain that was

 

Doesn't really misfire, more or less sounds like its struggling to get gas....Once you get going it runs great though

 

Honestly, I have no clue...We just bought the car about a month ago....
Hard to change?

 

Ok, I'll do that first thing in the morning.....before the big game that is.....
Take out the fuel pump fuse and run the car until it dies right?
The take off the filter, replace it, then replace the fuse and start it back up, correct?
I've never done a fuel filter replacement, so I'm just double checking.
Thanks for your help on this issue by the way.

 

I would blame ignition wires. It's the only part messed with during plug install-if they are 8 years old there could be damage. Also check if plug at air flow sensor sitting in tight. Concerning fuel filter-go for it too, it's not that expensive as said before.
Alex

 

Thanks Alex, I'll probably change the spark plugs wires while I'm at it like you suggested....As far as the air flow sensor, this would be where? Right on the duct that goes from the airbox to the intake?

 

circled is the air flow sensor.

 

Gotcha!
Thanks again everyone!

 

In your Mazda 323/323 Protege Owner's Manual (1990), go to the section called "specifications." My page number is 9-3, and on that page there is a chart on the bottom right hand called "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM." In that chart is says "SPARK PLUG GAP 0.043 (+0.000/ -0.004) in 1.1 (+0.0/ -0.1) mm." That would mean whoever told you that 0.044 was the proper gap is most likely wrong. The manual says 0.043 with an allowed difference of -0.004 (0.039 ~ 0.043 in). Gap your spark plugs between these two numbers and you should be fine. Hope this helps. By the way, this is based on the 1990 owner's manual. But im sure this works for all First Generation Pro's.

 

make sure the PCV valve is in the valve cover, with no air leaks, it also causes the car to idle rough and kinda stall. my 90 protege had this problem since when me and wil were lookin at the car he broke it off, then when we started it, it was running rough cause of that.

but try that, and make sure you have the correct wires on the distributor correctly. Lookin at the dist. clock wise 1, 2, 4, 3 is the pattern.

 

oh one other thing, maksure the plugs are tight too. Ive figured out that could be a problem also.