2000 Mazda Protege 2000 Mazda JUST DIED? TIMING BELT? OIL

MYLITTLEMAZDA

MEMBER
2000 MAZDA PROTEGE
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
141,000 MILES

HEY THERE!
MY WONDERFUL LITTLE MAZDA DIED THE OTHER DAY GOING AROUND 30 MPH AFTER MAKING A HORRIBLE CCCCCCCKKKKKCKCK---- SOUND (A LITTLE HARD TO EXPLAIN OVER EMAIL). ANYWAY, THE OIL LIGHT HAS COME ON OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, BUT WE CHECK THE OIL AND THINGS ARE FINE. A BELT HAS ALSO OCCASIONALLY SCREACHED-USUALLY AFTER TURNING THE HEATER ON, OR WHEN ACCELERATING WHEN THE FAN/HEATER IS ON. SO, MY QUESTION IS. COULD THE CAR BE DEAD BECAUSE OF THE TIMING BELT OR OIL PUMP OR BOTH OR WHAT! WHEN TURNING ON THE KEY, THE CAR DOESN'T MAKE ANY UNUSUAL NOISES, JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO TURN OVER.
MY HUSBAND DID SAY THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR MADE THE HORRIBLE NOISE, OUR DAUGHTER HAD TURNED THE HEATER ON THEN OFF. WE HAVE CHECKED ALL VISIBLE BELTS, THEY ARE ALL FINE. WE ALSO REMOVED THE OIL CAP, TURNED THE ENGINE OVER AND SAW NOTHING MOVING INSIDE. IF THIS MEANS ANYTHING (SAW IT ON ANOTHER FORUM). PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS. MY HUSBAND IS VERY MECHANICALLY INCLINED, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO PAY TO FIX THE TIMING BELT IF IT COULD BE SOMETHING MORE SIMPLE.

THANKS SO MUCH!

~~~MELISSA & JAY~~

2 Replies

JAMES W.

MECHANIC
2,395 POSTS

Well, we need to slay one dragon at a time here. First, if you can peer inside the timing cover and see if the camshaft is turning when you turn the key. Let me know and we can go from there.

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Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 AT 7:24 PM

TH52

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I had the same problem. Oil light on and always checked full. Unfortunately I waited too long and when mine made a big noise and it came to a sudden stop and wouldn't do any thing. What had happened was my oil pump had clogged up and oil wasn't circulating and my motor froze up. Time for new engine. So have your oil pump checked before disaster strikes.