97 Protege High Idle Problem

I just bought the car and I don't believe the timing belt has been done yet. I should get it done, correct? Will that fix the high idle, from what you saying the belt may have slipped a tooth? Also, if it's not the belt, can the IAC be cleaned in lieu of buying a new one?

Thanks for the help

I checked for vacume leaks, some weather checking on the air intake boot but no cracks. All other hoses and connections look good. I'm scrtching my head at this point. What about the Throttle positioning sensor? If I take the IAC off, do I clean it with carburator cleaner? I'm taking the car in next week to have the timing belt and water pump done. Thanks.

Do I just spray it down inside and blow it out? Thanks

Well, Good News / Bad News. The High idle problem is fixed. Them mechanic said the timing was advanced and someone had adjusted the idle screw above the throttle body. He also changed out the timing belt and water pump for me. I just changed out the radiator, thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses and a new radiator cap and plugs, at his suggestion. Took the car out for a test drive and it ran great.

Bad news after sitting 2 hours I just tried to start it and all it does is crank. I brought it back in the garage and started checking the spark. The two middle cyclinders shot antifreeze out of them ! The two end cylinders were clear. The vehicle has never overheated. Since I've had it ( 2 weeks). It had been sitting for 4-6 months. Just checked the oil, no antifreeze in it. Under the filler cap is clean oil, no foamy stuff. I did notice when I filled the new radiator, there was a little milky fluid, but it went away. Headgasket? Any suggestions. Thanks. Jeff

Do you have to pull the cams and valve guides to remove the cylinder head? Or can you pull evrything out together, the haynes manual is not clear.

The machine shop asked for the whole thing to be together. Valves, cam, etc.

I'll look and see if I can see the bolts. Thanks.I'll keep you posted.

Well, Just got the car back from the mechanic and the head gasket was replace, head was resurfaced. Now the high idle is back. The car runs and drives great, but when the A/C is turned on the the engine slowly idles down then gradualy dies. Or it will slowly idle down and die when you put it in gear. Without the A/C on, it runs good just idles about 1500 and sometimes 1000. The mechanic said it needs to go to Mazda to have the timing and idel set together. He said it takes a special instrument to plug in and dial in the timing and idle together. He showed me a picture of a device that had a square box with a dial at the bottom and two leads coming from each end. Is this correct? What I don't understand is before the car's head gasket went (or when it was seaping) it ran fine with the A/C on I just noticed a little idle fluctuation. This same mechanic set the timing before and that fixed the idle. Now he's saying it take a special to to set both.

He said because they adjusted the ditributor and the set the timing the idle came down. Now he says since everything is redone from the cylinder up, it takes the special tool (see previous question) to set both. I don't want to take it to a dealer unless I have too. THis same mechanic did the water pump and timing belt as well and it was fine afterwards. I don't know what to do. If you get a chance can you comment on the current sysmptoms (see previous response) The car idles fine without the A/C on. It only dies when the car is at normal operating temp, A/c is on, both auxillary fans are on and you put it in gear. I pulled the IAC, there was a little carbon on the chamber. The two coolant tubes had some build-up in them, but after re-installing. Same thing. Thanks.

Is this something the dealer needs to do?

I finaly got so frustrated I took it to the local Mazda dealer and they are conducting a complete diagnostic check. What I'm concerned about so far is they said all 4 cyclinder have low compression. Varies from 135 to the lowest 105. Could this be because of the Head job that was done? And maybe the cams not put in right?