How I fixed the rough idle. And resolve OBD2 readiness issue on 95 96 Mazda Protege

ATTENTION ALL!

For many of you who most commonly have a problem with rough idle on the older cars.AND NOTHING YOU DO SEEMS TO FIX IT. For my case I had the wrost nightmare about the OBD readiness monitors on my 96 Protege. 4 of them was just NOT getting Ready! Fails the smog because of it. Got very frustrating! For so many months, I've NEVER been able to make out "What's causing those monitors to NOT be ready!" Also along with it, the problem with rough idle. "Didn't bother me too much, BUT for the smog check it DOES bothers". Also often get the CEL light showing "Fuel trim problems" and "Cyl 2 misfire". I just kept resetting the codes. So I don't have to see that annoying "check engine" light. Of course since I bought my car, those 4 OBD monitors NEVER got "ready" 5 months.

THEN (this is the INTERESTING part), after researching the web for months! I decided to check the MAF sensor! I had bought some MAF sensor cleaner, $7. I removed the top of the air cleaner assembly (just the top) out of the car. I then cleaned the hell out of the sensor, including the area of the "hot wire". Plus I cleaned the inside throttle body as well using this same cleaner. Put it back together. Also replaced the PCV hose from the valve cover to air cleaner. (Not the hose to PCV valve, the other PCV hose) I used my 96 the next day and.................

I GOT THE NICEST NEWS, A GREAT SURPRISE!!! The rough idle STOPPED!!!!!!!! My gosh!!! All those months of "scratching my head". Finally fiqured it out! And here's the BEST PART.................

As of the next day. Two of 4 OBD monitors in my 96 protege are NOW READY! Will pass smog now (since its only 2 that are not ready, if more than 2 are not ready it fails) MY GOSH! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. All those months of frustration!!! And.......

STILL NOT ONLY THAT! I have reasonable belief that the gas mileage is IMPROVED! Ever since I clean the MAF sensor.

UNBELEIVABLE! I can't beleive a LITTLE thing like that caused those HUGE problems! This is the neatest experience I had in so long!

So for my point of advice. When you clean the MAF sensor. Buy the cleaner DESIGNED for MAF sensors. Other cleaners can ruin the sensor, they have spray cleaners that say "MAF sensor cleaner". Evidently this MAF sensor is a BIG thing in a fuel injected car.

So where is the MAF sensor located at, some may ask. Well on this particular car, 96 Mazda Protege. Its the rectangular shaped box just behind the air filter area. On the air cleaner hose going to throttle body. Its not the rectangular box you're paying attention to, its what's under it, and inside the hose. When you remove the air cleaner TOP, spray on all parts of the circular part including the screen and all thin metal lines "hot wire" crossing the circular part. Don't do this while sensor is connected! Disconnect everything before working! Clean this really good and WALLA! UB STYLIN!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• rough idle
• 95 Mazda Protege

[a1boforcen]

Hi, I have mazda 323f late 98' BA, does this car uses ODBII socket? If so how much pin shout it have?

[fueledbymusic3]

@a1boforcen If its a USA car. It has to have one. The socket is trapizoidal shaped and usually located anywhere just below the glove compartment or steering wheel area. Im not sure how many pins there is. I just know the socket where the scanner is hooked to is trapizoid shaped

[hudsonjamesc]

hey i am getting OBDII P0302 code and i am idling rough. I thought it was the transmission but my book says it is "cylinder 2 misfire detected." What should I do to resolve this on my own with the least amount of work and cheaply?

[fueledbymusic3]

@hudsonjamesc Hey! That's the exact thing I had. Cylinder 2 misfire! I know the rough idle will cause that code. I just cleaned the MAF and also the throttle plate on areas where plate closes. I never had this code again. WELL it worked for me anyway.

[shnawdude03]

california air resorce board is a bunch of thugs people losing good cars left and right over some bull crap emissions tests.

[nearkolob]

This was the least articulate yet most informative video I have found about my car. Thanks a bunch!

[relyat89]

Wow man, thanks a bunch for that. I feel like that is exactly my issue. I took apart the entire intake system on my '96 protege today just to see if I could unclog it or something and changed out the air filter and all of the stuff because I was having rough idling issues. After that the rough idling became worse and the check engine light came on and the car actually started stalling at every stop sign and light after a few hours of driving. Hopefully I can fix it tomorrow.

[jasthomar]

I had a similar problem with my Mitsubishi Carisma here in SW London, UK. The throttle body was totally full of crap and dirt. I bought a can of clutch and break cleaner for £6 and gave a good clean. Everything is fine now. It still drops in rev's at times but nothing compared to before. Before it used to stall the whole time. Soon I'm going to remove the throttle body completely and give it a proper cleaning. My mpg has improved and I seem to have a lot more power too! Happy days :)

[SBC20]

to fix misfire replace spark plugs it work for me 2 days ago had a misfire on cylinder 4 after replace spark plugs and clear code the car runs good and not check engine light anymore