Just bought a 2000 Protege ES 1.8L with 5 speed manual, 84K miles. The car runs well and feels strong enough, but it idles roughly and seems to want to cut out, but never has so far. Idle speed is about 700 rpm. I've read a fair bit in this and other forums about idle issues in various years and models of Proteges, but could anyone tell me the most likely culprits for this particular engine/car? I will look for leaks in the tubing connecting the air filter housing to the intake manifold. Is the EGR valve an issue with this particular engine? Also, the (stock) intake is partially disconnected. I could fix this easily enough, but there also seems to be an opening on the bottom of the tubing, right where it connects to the air filter housing, so that either way I'm not really going to be taking in air through the intake. What is missing? Can anyone post a pic of what the intake is supposed to look like on the 2000 1.8L engine?

I have reason to believe the car was taken care of well enough for the first 4 or 5 years, but have no clue as to the recent maintenance history. What maintenance should I do (for reasonable $)? The timing belt is probably original.

Thanks for your advice.

 

I have the same car but with automatic. I brought it into the dealer at just around 85K because the check engine light was on. It cost me around 300 bucks for clean out the intake and replace intake gasket. I didn't know it was leaking and the car idled well. I hear the EGR is often the problem and it can be cleaned out and put back into service. Good luck with the car. It has been so dependable for me and fun to drive. I'm at 104K right now and it runs like new, no intention to buy new.

 

Hi, it must be the EGR valve, you just need to take it off, and to clean it. You'll see, there is for screws once you took it off, you unscrew them with visegrip , and once its open , you'll see a little cylinder in the middle and un little spring, it must go up and donw easily, if not, clean it with carbon cleaner, and lubricate the shaft with a bit of oil, till it moves easily, i repaerd 5 mazda protege that had this problem :O).