2002 Mazda Protege What to Replace at $215,000 Tune-up

Tiny
MAZDA_CAR
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 215,000 MILES
Dear Carpros,

I have a Mazda protege with 215,000 miles on it. Other than a failed thermostat at about 130,000, the car has been flawless. No problems at all. I've replaced the timing belt on time (at about 120,000), as well as the water-pump. But other than that, nothing else has needed replacing (except of course, brakes and tires, and battery). I'm still on the original clutch (I know how to drive manual quite well!).

My question is rather straight-forward, though your answer may be more complex. I like this car, and want to keep it going up to 300,000 at least. I'm willing to invest $1000 to $2000 in in right now to keep it going. I want to be proactive in replacing things BEFORE they break and leave me stranded. My question is, at 215,000 miles, what would be the top 10 (or more) things you'd tell me to replace to increase my odds that the car does not leave me stranded headed up to 300,000? I want to be able to take long trips across the country with the car, so I'm willing to replace parts even if they are currently working fine. For instance, if the alternator usually goes by my mileage, I want to replace it before it does somewhere on the highway. That's the kind of advice I'm looking for regarding which essential engine parts to have replaced before they "go". What is your top-ten (or more) list on which engine parts are probably going to "go" in the next 85,000 miles or so? I want to know that I'm driving a reliable car as I cross the country. The protege has been OUTSTANDING so far, so I want to treat it right so it'll keep performing well.

Thank you very much for your advice... Also, I live in Montana, where temps can can go to 0 F on winter days (or less, but seldom so) and up to 100 Fin the summer.

Dan.
Sunday, June 14th, 2015 AT 12:20 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
YOU SEEM TO BE GETTING BY WELL WITH YOUR RIG

THE THINGS YOU ARE REQUESTING (AND MAYBE A BUNCH MORE) HAVE ALREADY BEEN OUTLINED ALREADY!

THE COOL THING IS, THIS INFO HAS BEEN CHECKED AND DOUBLE CHECKED BY THE "BIGGER GUYS", AND MIGHT EVEN BE CONSIDERED ALMOST "LAW"

YOU HAVE MANY KINDS OF VEHICLE OWNER'S, THE DRIVE IT TILL THE WHEELS FALL OFF (DISPOSABLE DRIVER), THE, I'LL SORTA DO (SOME OF) THE MAINTENANCE DRIVER, THE LET'S ALWAYS JUST DROP IT OFF SOMEWHERE AND LET THEM BE THE SCAPE GOAT MAINTAINER, THEN THERE'S THE "I WON'T EAT FOR TWO DAYS SO I CAN GET THIS ISSUE WITH MY RIG TAKEN CARE OF." (I FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY)

MY WAY OF THINKING IS YOU MUST FIRST "LOVE" YOUR VEHICLE, WHICH LEADS INTO "CARING" FOR YOUR VEHICLE. MEANING: DOING EVERY THING IT TAKES TO KEEP HIM HAPPY, WHICH WILL KEEP YOU HAPPY TOO! YOUR VEHICLE IS EQUIVALENT TO A FAMILY MEMBER, JUST LIKE THE DOG!

IN BEING THE LAST CATEGORY I MENTIONED, YOU MUST BE SUPER AND TOTALLY DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE - EVEN IF THEY LAUGH AT YOU!

A COUPLE OF "DOs" YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL (MIGHT NEAR ALL OF 'EM) SAYS TO CHECK (AT MINIMUM) YOUR OIL AND COOLANT LEVEL WEEKLY. IF YOU DROPPED IT OFF AT SUPER DOOPER COOPER'S LUBE - A "LOVER" WILL CHECK THE OIL PRIOR TO CRANKING IT UP IN THE PARKING LOT,.,.,.,.,.,.,.SO WHAT IF COOPER SEES YOU DOING IT, IT AIN'T HIS, HIS CELL PHONE MIGHT HAVE MADE HIM FORGET TO ADD THE NEW OIL!

WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS, SOME VEHICLES COME WITH ONE (MAYBE NOT AS IN DEPTH) BUT THERE ARE REPAIR MANUALS WHICH SHOW A FULL SCALE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IN/ NEAR THE FRONT (HOW TOs FURTHER IN) THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES ARE USUALLY BROKEN DOWN INTO "MILEAGE" OR "TIME PERIODS"

SOME EVEN GO AS FAR AS REPEATING THE STUFF (WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING, LIKE EVERY 3 MONTHS ANYWAY) EVERY TIME THE "MILEAGE" MAKES IT TO THE NEXT BIG STEP. A STUPID EXAMPLE MIGHT BE THE SONG ABOUT THE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS. (NOT LETTING YOU FORGET THEM TWO TURTLE DOVES, IN EACH STANZA!)

SO

YOUR BEST CHOICES ARE TO GET A PAPER OR ONLINE MANUAL (PAPER BEING ALMOST EXTINCT)

YOU CAN ORDER ONE AT A PARTS STORE (MAYBE) OR YOU CAN GET AN ONLINE MANUAL FROM THIS SITE. RELATIVELY CHEAP (USUALLY FOR A SET PERIOD OF TIME)

I'M NO SALESMAN, JUST PASSING ON INFO (I LIKE PAPER MANUALS MYSELF-THEY NEVER TIME OUT) I ALSO LIKE "DIFFERENT MANUALS" AS ONE MAY OFFER MORE THAN ANOTHER. SEE THIS LINK

https://www.2carpros.com/manuals.php

I EVEN GO OVERBOARD WITH MY MAINTENANCE, THEY SAY EVERY 2 YEARS, I DO IT EVERY YEAR!

WHEN YOU GET HOOKED UP

SIMPLY DO THE "CATCHING UP" / THE STUFF YOU AIN'T DONE AND THINGS OUGHTA CONTINUE TO GO WELL.

I ALSO KEEP DECENT TOOL KITS IN ALL OF MY VEHICLES. SHOULD SOMETHING SOMEWHAT SIMPLE HAPPEN TO THE WIFE'S RIG, I'D HOPE A GOOD SAMARITAN WITH MECHANIC'S SKILLS COULD USE MY TOOLS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I KEEP "SPARE STUFF" IN MY JEEPS/ MY BABIES/ MY BUDDIES (A LOT OF STUFF!) TO INCLUDE, A MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP, A COIL, AN IGNITION MODULE, HOSE REPAIR COUPLINGS, 5 GALLONS OF FUEL, FUSES, ETC, ETC, ETC

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THESE HAVE AIDED OTHER JEEPS OR CARS ON THE ROADSIDE. JUST IMAGINE THE LOOK ON THE OTHER CJ-7 FELLER'S FACE WHEN I TOLD HIM HIS FUEL PUMP WAS SHOT, I COULD SELL HIM/ AND INSTALL MY SPARE FOR HIM IN 10 MINUTES TIME!

HERE'S YOU SOME OF MY LINKS SOME MAY BE SORTA BORING

http://blog.kaiserwillys.com/my-willys-jeep-will-be-enjoyed-for-a-lifetime

https://www.google.com/search?q=2CARPROS+CJ+MEDEVAC&rlz=1C1CHKZ_enUS436US436&espv=2&biw=1360&bih=677&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIhqOa6IyQxgIVi5qACh0bggBT

LET US KNOW HOW IT GOES

THE MEDIC

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Sunday, June 14th, 2015 AT 2:14 PM

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