2003 Mazda Protege LX high idle + vibration problem

Tiny
CHRIS660
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE
I'm having a few problems with my 2003 Mazda protege LX @ 44,500 miles.

1) After I start the car, and the car is still in park, the car is idling around 1500 - 1700 RPM's and a humming noise is coming out of the front end. The normal idle for the car is apprx. 700 - 900 RPM's

2) When the automatic transmission kicks in, it's shifting at a higher RPM than usual. Through low gears to high, it usually shifts around 2500RPM's. Now it's shifting around 3200RPM's.

3) When I accelerate over 60MPH the front end of the car begins to vibrate and shake. The weird thing is that it's random. It'll happen about 70% of the time when I go over 60MPH. I'm not sure if this is related to the previous problem?

Thanks for your help.
Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 2:50 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
COSMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 347 POSTS
Have any repairs been done recently? Alos has anyone adjusted the throttle? Also what size engine do you have 16.L or 2.0L?

Cosmo. Mazda Tech
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Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 3:28 PM
Tiny
CHRIS660
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  • 7 POSTS
Just scheduled maintenance that was done around 42,000 miles. (Oil change) The problem started about a month after that.

No one touched the throttle as far as I know.

The engine is a 2.0.

Thanks
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Saturday, December 30th, 2006 AT 9:29 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
HAve it scanned. Sounds like the Idle Air Control might be having some problems. Check for vacuum leaks any time there is a high idle condition. Does the front end only shimmy on the same stretch of road?Get back to me
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Sunday, December 31st, 2006 AT 7:54 AM
Tiny
CHRIS660
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Wow, it's funny you mention that because it always happens more on my way home from work than to work. It'll happen a few times on the way to work, but it always happens as soon as I get on the expressway on the way home from work. I'll go up the onramp, and as soon as I hit 60+mph on the expressway, the front end will vibrate. Then I stay at 60mph or below for the rest of the way home.

Thanks
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Sunday, December 31st, 2006 AT 1:22 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Have the front end looked at. Ball joints can do that as well as a few other things. Better safe than broke down
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Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007 AT 5:01 PM
Tiny
CHRIS660
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Just thought I'd let you guys know incase anyone else had problems with this:

I took it to the mechanic and he said that the high idle and high shift was caused by a faulty water pump. It was leaking and that was draining my coolant, causing the high idle and high RMP's during changing gears.

The vibration at the front end was caused by poor tires.

And also, my battery was bad.

So I got a new battery, water pump, and 4 new tires. The water pump was covered under warranty.

The weird thing is that it didn't give me the high idle on startup when I left the dealership; however, after 2 days of driving, it is giving me a high idle again when starting the car.

But everything else is fine. Oh well, I guess back to the dealership for round 2.
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Friday, January 12th, 2007 AT 2:58 PM

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