Originally posted by: Actaeon
Alright, I think your Protege uses the same 1.8L that is in my Miata. I don't know about your car shutting off, but I think I know what that "click click" sound is.
Its a common problem in 1990-97 Miatas. I'll type out what my Miata book says about it.
The NA Miata engine uses hydraluic lash adjusters (HLAs) in the valvetrain. The HLAs sit between the cam and the valve and they are pumped up by oil pressure. A common Miata noise is a clatter from these HLAs as the car is started. Typically, it will go away after a second or two, but it's more severe on some cars. It will also sometimes appear after the car has been driven hard. Fixing this noise is usually fairly easy. Mazda has released a number of bulletins on the subject. A little ticking on start-up is not really a problem, but a stuck lifter that hammers away while driving will eventually cause wear.
If you move your Miata in and out of the garage many times without taking it for a drive, the HLAs will likely become noisy. The solution for this is a fun one: go play with your sports car.
In the majority of Miatas, HLA noise is simply the result of old oil. An oil change usually makes it go away. Some people have found that running a lighter oil such as 5W-30 or heavier oil suich as 15W-30 will solve their problem. A good synthetic oil will also help. It might take a bit of experimentation to find the best setup for your car.
After extended storage or after engine work, it will sometimes tak ea long time for an HLA to pump up. Try running the engine at 2,000 to 3,000rpm for 20 minutes. I've seen some cars that require quite a bit more high-rpm running to fill all the HLAs fully, but that is the Mazda recommendation. If the noise presists, check the oil pressure. Make sure it's above 40 PSI when the car is at operating temperature and running at 3,000 rpm. This is easy ont he 1990-1994 cars with a proper oil pressure guage. On later cars, you'll have to remove theo il pressure sender on the right side of the engine and install a different guage.
It's possible that one or more of the HLAs could be faulty. To find one, take the valve cover off. Try to slide a 0.015-inch feeler gauage between the cam lobes and the HLAs. If you can fit it through, the HLA is collasped. At this point, it becomes a more complex job that involves removing the camshafts. If you do have to replace an HLA. Go to a KIA Dealer. The 1994-1997 Sephia GS used the same engine as the Miata and the parts are much less expensive.
Well, there you go. I don't know how much mechnical expertise you have, but assuming you use the same engine (1.8L), it could be possible you have the same problem Miata have. My car had this problem, I changed the oil to Mobil1 10W-30 synthetic, and it was pretty good. Lately its been doing it again on cold startups, but goes away after a minute or so. The oil is gettig old and needs to be changed anyway, that will be done this Saturday. I've also heard of different oil filters helping out with the noise as well.
Change your oil and get a quality filter, see if it helps with the clickity-click.
