Fix it or chuck it?

[razor2025]

I've just finished off my semester at school, so I've got the time to deal with this issue.

Backstory: I bought a 98 Protege to learn how to drive stick. My original plan was to learn manual on it and then go for a better car in 1/2 year. Well, that plan has been on indefinite extension. I've almost had this car for 1.5 year now. It's nice little compact car, works well, has sunroof, installed a nice Kenwood head unit on it. There's really nothing "wrong" with it, save for the puny little 1.6L engine. No upgrades is worth the time, short for swap for 1.8L and new transmission along with it.

Issue: I've had the CEL (check engine light) on for better part of this year now. My dad has taken it to two shops to get their opinion while I was at school. He couldn't really tell me what the 2-3 issue they found was. They cleared the OBD and we got it to pass emission. It ran for another 400 miles before CEL turned on again. I just took it to a shop that a friend recommended, and they checked the OBD read out. It's P0400, P0400 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Malfunction. Looking up online and hearing from the mechanic, it looks like it's a common issue with my car. It could also be a nightmare of a code to pinpoint. The mechanic believes that it's carbon build-up in the exhaust restricting the flow back.

Another issue that's creeping up is the clutch. I bought the car @ 87k miles with 30% clutch left (as quoted by mechanic who took a look at it). It's at 103k miles and it's starting to slip (noticed by jump from 2300-3000 rpm, with no pick up). Clutch job could cost me another $600. And this one, I don't think I can do it myself.

Solutions?

- Fix it myself. I would like to know how hard is it to do this EGR exhaust valve clean up myself. My skills and knowledge are next to nill (I've only changed oil & basic fluids). I have the patience and willingness to learn though.

- I have ~ $10k in bank saved up and my parents have voiced that they'd be willing to help me out with a new car to reward me for my college work so far. I've always wanted an Impreza RS / Mazda 3, so I'm tempted to go for it.

- Let the mechanic fix it and drive the Protege to the ground. This sounds like the most practical way of dealing with this. Mechanic had quoted me $250 for the EGR cleaning. If things are really bad, $500 for labor and parts to replace the EGR.

So.. gearheads of AT, which option do you think I should shoot for?

*edit for grammer. Brain still fried from exams.

 

[Chunkee]

spend money on current car to get it fixed. take the remaining money and money parents said they would help with and buy yourself a house, after you get a job

jC

 

[thomsbrain]

It is almost always cheaper to fix your current car than to buy a new one. With only 103K miles, this car still has plenty of life in it once you replace these wear items. I think that since you aren't done with school yet, I'd save the money, ask your parents to help you fix your current car, and that you'll wait until you've finished college to get the new one. The last thing you want to worry about in college is door dings in the campus parking lot. And it will be a huge help to you to have that chunk of cash ready when you graduate for moving expenses, money to tide you over while you look for a job, to put towards a new car then, or to save for your first home as Chunkee suggests.

 

[bruceb]

EGR problems can be anything from the so called carbon build up
in the engine (not too likely with that mileage) or more likely a
bad EGR Valve itself which gets carboned up and is not hard to
replace. It can also be caused by bad hoses running from the EGR
valve / cannister to the other parts of the engine / emission system.
Also check or replace the PCV valve as that can also affect EGR. And
clean out the Trottle Body or Carburetor depending on what you have.
Try new spark plugs and and O2 sensor. Run Fuel Injector cleaner thru
the system if you have fuel injection. And you can also use GM Top End
Engine Cleaner (any GM dealer has it) to clean the carbon off the top
end of the engine, including pistons and valves. As to the clutch, if it is
front wheel drive, you will need a mechanic to do it, as the engine needs
to be supported to remove the transaxle. It also comes out from the
bottom, so it needs to be about 3 feet or so above the floor. If it is a
rear wheel drive car, you should be able to do the clutch yourself. A
one day job, which may include flywheel resurfacing, new clutch, pressure
plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing & a check or rebuild of the hydraulic
slave cylinder. Have fun doing it. Or if you can, take an auto shop class
at the local high school or tech school. You can work on it there and get
help from the instructors. And you will learn quite a bit.

 

[Bignate603]

Replace the EGR (or clean it, throttle body cleaner and a toothbrush can fix these issues 50% of the time). It's not hard, you can do it with a few hand tools and a Haynes manual.

 

[iamwiz82]

The Miata has the same issue with carbon since they share the 1.8L. I had this problem and it took about 20 minutes and a can of carb cleaner to fix it. You take off the upper portion of the intake manifold, turn it upside down, and then clean the miniscule hole that gets clogged.

Here is a Miata write up: http://www.madracki.com/miata/intake.html

Note that the writeup mentions P0402, but I had P0400 and both are the result of the same problem. It's VERY common and it's not hard to fix at all. Use the money you would have paid someone to fix this get the clutch replaced.

 

[dud]

Keep and fix it. I bought my wife a '99 Protege new and it was a great car for her, getting about 32-35 MPG. If it not for the fact that we gave it to my son last year (and he totalled it) she would still be driving it. These cars are becoming gold right now ...

 

[Shawn]

Definitely keep it. I would get the clutch fixed and try to fix the EGR problem myself. The EGR isn't really a big deal. It just causes some of the exhaust to get sucked back into the engine for cleaner emissions (kind of like a dog eating it's own poop). It's debatable whether it even does anything other than steal a few HP.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The Miata has the same issue with carbon since they share the 1.8L. I had this problem and it took about 20 minutes and a can of carb cleaner to fix it. You take off the upper portion of the intake manifold, turn it upside down, and then clean the miniscule hole that gets clogged.

Here is a Miata write up: http://www.madracki.com/miata/intake.html

Note that the writeup mentions P0402, but I had P0400 and both are the result of the same problem. It's VERY common and it's not hard to fix at all. Use the money you would have paid someone to fix this get the clutch replaced.

:thumbsup: You just won this thread.

 

[Gand1]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The Miata has the same issue with carbon since they share the 1.8L. I had this problem and it took about 20 minutes and a can of carb cleaner to fix it. You take off the upper portion of the intake manifold, turn it upside down, and then clean the miniscule hole that gets clogged.

Here is a Miata write up: http://www.madracki.com/miata/intake.html

Note that the writeup mentions P0402, but I had P0400 and both are the result of the same problem. It's VERY common and it's not hard to fix at all. Use the money you would have paid someone to fix this get the clutch replaced.

:thumbsup: You just won this thread.

:thumbsup:

my 96 protege lasted 250k miles and the check engine light was on since 60k. There is a small joke out there... if you own a mazda protege, I bet your CEL is on!