nezwick's 1998 ProDX worklog

[nezwick]

WELL it's been a while since I updated this thread... but the car has been running great and I've also purchased a bunch of replacement parts. No more complaints here, other than that the squealing alternator belt and squeaky brakes still exist.

I have done the following since last post:
- Installed missing lid for console
- Replaced front door panels
- Installed factory mud-flaps
- Replaced dome light
- Replaced stock intake tube (no more duct tape!)
- Found brand new distributor cap+rotor at junkyard - not yet installed
- Found very good condition rear seat back and bottom
- Replaced clip that holds hood prop rod down
- Installed missing RF inner-fender plastic

Also gave the car a tune-up last weekend... cleaned plugs and wires, cleaned old distributor cap+rotor up because there was a thick layer of corrosion and oil all over them, cleaned MAF, topped off fluids, etc, etc. I've been running the 15" EGT wheels and Fuzion ZRi tires this summer, since I have the Escort torn apart for repairs and paint. I wanted to paint the 13" steelies before winter but I don't know if I'll get to it or not.

The repaired exhaust manifold that is pictured above cracked again in the exact same place, so I broke down and purchased a brand new aftermarket one from 1Aauto.com. It's a great looking piece and took care of the exhaust problem.

The CEL is still on, but I haven't read the code to see what it's complaining about now. It doesn't seem to affect driveability.

I need to post pics of all this new stuff. I'll try to clean up the car and post pics soon!

Oh yeah, just rolled 241,900 miles this week and I've had the car for a year now. 21,900 miles in a year.

[rusty]

sounds like u have been very busy, glad to hear u have the car running and ready to garage the escort. My escort has been in a garage finally for the first time in just over 2 years. Gonna be nice to have it inside this winter, maybe even get a chance to work on it.

[nezwick]

Well, nothing exciting to report here since last post - just been driving the car and keeping it on the road. Here's an update:

Things that are going to need fixed before next year's safety:
- Driver side CV joint has faint clicky noise when making tight turns
- Both axle seals leak fluid - they did slightly when I bought the car but now they're worse. In the year since I last had the axles out, it lost a whole quart of fluid.

The passenger side rear brake is dragging a bit, going to tackle that this weekend.

Last weekend I also tried another thing to figure out why the car runs like dogcrap, researched clogged catalytic converters and found that my car fits ALL the symptoms. So I took the exhaust system down, knocked out the 2nd cat (the one that's unmonitored), took out the air intake silencer from the front bumper, and reassembled - it might have given me a TINY bit of top end but did not give any significant power increase.

I know the "pre-cat" is not clogged since I just had it all apart when I changed the exhaust mani.

Next step is to see if perhaps the engine is timed incorrectly. That one's not going to be fun. Definitely not as easy to change a timing belt on this car as my Escort is.

[nezwick]

Here's a picture that Nikki took the other day!

[3ni_tricksta]

my car throws a p0455.. always thought it was my cracked exhaust manifold

[nezwick]

Cracked exhaust manifold you say?







Yeah that happened when I pulled off the road to fill my washer fluid, and drove over a concrete barrier that was covered in snow and not marked. Fortunately, it only broke the manifold and one other exhaust bolt.

So I replaced that, replaced the broken downpipe bolt, cleaned out the catalytic converter, cleaned the downstream O2 sensor (all caked with white flaky stuff), SeaFoam'd the engine, ran a bottle of Lucas through the fuel system, got new NGK Iridium IV plugs, new air filter, and did an oil change.

Result= much quieter car, runs a tiny bit smoother, and best of all...


46 MILES PER GALLON (mostly highway plus a little city)!!! The best I was ever able to get before was 31 and that was in the summer. It's about 40 degrees today.

[nezwick]

Well it's been a great 2 years but today I sold the Protege. Sold it to my brother so it didn't go far... He's going to use it as a DD while he does a 5-speed swap in his truck. Overall it was an awesome car, though the body is super ugly still.