I bought a used 2000 Protege ES (says LS on side, but aparently it's the same as ES in the US, I am in Canada) last year. 78K on it.

For the last three months or so, the engine has been pinging for about 5 minutes after I turn it off. Mechanics can't seem to solve it.

I had a tune up yesterday hoping it would be fixed, but it's back.

It pings while driving, but it's not that loud. It is rythmic, onces about every 5 seconds. Doesn't matter if I am idleing or 100K on the highway. It is fine when the engine is cold, but starts up after about 5 minutes or so into driving.

It also pings about ten times (2-5 minutes) after I turn the engine off.

mechanic doesn't seem concerned, he said it's probably just the heat (been hot here, but it started when the spring was cool still).

Air filter, trans fluid, and spark plugs were replaced yesterday.

Any ideas? All the websites I have found don't seem to be the same pinging I hear.

Higher octane gas didn't solve it either.

 

Nothing at all? Should I not be worried then?

 

it's just the sound of the engine cooling down...no biggie

 

Even though I hear it sometimes while driving?

 

Is it speed related? Does the pinging get faster or louder the faster you drive? Some engines do "ping" after you shut them off. It's just the different metals cooling down. When they cool down they shrink and make noise. Has it always pinged since you've owned it? Where abouts in Canada are you?

A lot of times constant pinging is also a sign of premature detonation. This can be caused by carbon buildup on the pistons. You should run 3-4 tanks of higher octane gas through your system first to see if this fixes it. If it does, then there is carbon buildup. The next thing you need to do then is to take it to your dealer and get the fuel injectors cleaned. They pump fuel injector cleaner through the fuel injectors, which in turn sprays it into the combustion chamber where it cleans the pistons, EGR, O2 sensors, catalytic converter, etc. This should help.

They recommend you get your injectors cleaned once a year. If you just bought the car last year, it's hard to say when the people you bought it off of had it done last. It's well worth the $100 or so to get it done yearly. Your car will not only run better, but your gas mileage will increase as well. Hope this helps. Get back to us.

 

^None of those fix an engine in the O*F*F mode

They are the right solution for a running engine with predetonation....

I would not worry about it m'self...

 

I realize this Da P-Funk. I guess I wasn't clear. Sorry. I wasn't trying to help "raingirl's" O*F*F mode question. She asked...

...that was what I was refering to in my last post.

 

^that is what i figured... I was jus' pokin' ya'. Like i said - your advice is spot-on.

 

the pinging stays the same no matter how fast I drive.

I will see about having the injectors cleaned. I was told that the 2000 proteges are prone to fuel injection buildup. I freaked out one day on the highway when my fuel gage went from just under 1/2 tank to zero! I took it to the mechanic, he said that the "sensor" in the tank was probably dirty, which can be related to the fuel injection system, so he put a cleaner in the tank. It still happens sometimes though. Who knows?

If it was just pinging after shutdown, I wouldn't worry, but since I noticed it while it's running, I was concerned because i don't want to kill my engine.

 

thanks Da P-Funk. Just checking. Wasn't too sure about comment. Some boards I've been on have been pretty malicious. Everyones just out to flame everyone else it seems. This board seems pretty good though.

Get back to us raingirl and tell us how you make out.

 

*cough* MSProtege *cough*

 

^yeah... i prefer this one.

The 'pinging' continues even when off really says it is not the engine per se but perhaps something else...

Def'ly take to a dealership for this one and just describe the noise/demonstrate it for them. Don't tell them what you think it is...