1997 mazda LX protege automatic. Car smells a bit like gas in the inside of the car. Idle at stop is erratic and stalls out. The problem has been going on for a year now but just recently decided to stall now and idles very low. Had my car guy look at it and he seems to think it is a crack in the exaust manifold but I'm not sure he is telling me the whole story or giving me a simpler fix for the idle issue. He wants $500 to fix it. Is there another soluton for him to check into for me or do you think this is the main cause and the solution to my probelm?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLMi95jSARA

Hope this helps

do u still hav the book that was to come with the car? if so; all u ned to noe is in it. ifin u do not, go to mazda.com and ask for tech support,diagrams.lol

It can be low fuel pressure issue or clogged fuel pump. Or its engine related issues,---------------

Check the help link mentioned below to troubleshoot the problem: ------

Engine stalls when gas is given?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/engine-stalls-when-gas-is-given.html

-------------

Car stalls when MAF sensor is connected?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/car-stalls-when-maf-sensor-is-connected.html

------------

Car Engine Stalls While Driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-stalls-while-driving.html

--------------

Car stalls and throws white smoke from exhaust?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-stalls-and-throws-white-smoke-from.html

-------------

Stalls And Dies At Stop Sign?

http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/stalls-and-dies-at-stop-sign.html

------------

GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

------------

Nissan Pathfinder stalls and bucks on Acceleration?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-pathfinder-stalls-and-bucks-on.html

-----------------

1992 Chevrolet stalls and shutdown?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/1992-chevrolet-stalls-and-shutdown.html

------------

Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

--------------

1990 mazda 323 stalls and quit running?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/1990-mazda-323-stalls-and-quit-running.html

-------------

2000 Toyota Camry: Idling and Stalling Problem?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/2000-toyota-camry-idling-and-stalling.html

---------

1995 Toyota Corolla: Stalls, Sputters and Pops Through Intake Manifold?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1995-toyota-corolla-stalls-sputters-and.html

----------------

1999 Toyota Camry: Erratic stalling and high engine RPM at idle?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1999-toyota-camry-erratic-stalling-and.html

--------------

Dodge Dakota stalls, stumbles at idle. Has low fuel flow and runs hot?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/dodge-dakota-stallsstumbles-at-idlehas.html

--------------

1994 Toyota 4Runner: Stalls and Stops While Driving?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1994-toyota-4runner-stalls-and-stops.html

---------------

1997 Toyota Camry: Erratic Idle and Intermittent engine stalling?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/04/1997-toyota-camry-erratic-idle-and.html

-------------

Ford Maverick: No Idle and Stalling issues?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/ford-maverick-no-idle-and-stalling.html

-------------

These details will help.

Thanks.

It can be low fuel pressure issue or clogged fuel pump.Or its engine related issues,---------------
Check the help link mentioned below to troubleshoot the problem :------

Engine stalls when gas is given?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/engine-stalls-when-gas-is-given.html

-------------

Car stalls when MAF sensor is connected?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/01/car-stalls-when-maf-sensor-is-connected.html

------------

Car Engine Stalls While Driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-stalls-while-driving.html

--------------

Car stalls and throws white smoke from exhaust?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-stalls-and-throws-white-smoke-from.html

-------------

Stalls And Dies At Stop Sign?

http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/stalls-and-dies-at-stop-sign.html

------------

GMC Sonoma Stalls and idles low

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/10/gmc-sonoma-stalls-and-idles-low.html

------------

Nissan Pathfinder stalls and bucks on Acceleration?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-pathfinder-stalls-and-bucks-on.html

-----------------

1992 Chevrolet stalls and shutdown?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/1992-chevrolet-stalls-and-shutdown.html

------------

Stumbling and stalling at idle after engine rebuild?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/stumbling-and-stalling-at-idle-after.html

--------------

1990 mazda 323 stalls and quit running?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/1990-mazda-323-stalls-and-quit-running.html

-------------

2000 Toyota Camry: Idling and Stalling Problem?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/2000-toyota-camry-idling-and-stalling.html

---------

1995 Toyota Corolla: Stalls, Sputters and Pops Through Intake Manifold?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1995-toyota-corolla-stalls-sputters-and.html

----------------

1999 Toyota Camry: Erratic stalling and high engine RPM at idle?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1999-toyota-camry-erratic-stalling-and.html

--------------

Dodge Dakota stalls, stumbles at idle. Has low fuel flow and runs hot?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/dodge-dakota-stallsstumbles-at-idlehas.html

--------------

1994 Toyota 4Runner: Stalls and Stops While Driving?

http://whatisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/05/1994-toyota-4runner-stalls-and-stops.html

---------------

1997 Toyota Camry: Erratic Idle and Intermittent engine stalling?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/04/1997-toyota-camry-erratic-idle-and.html

-------------

Ford Maverick: No Idle and Stalling issues?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/04/ford-maverick-no-idle-and-stalling.html

-------------
These details will help.
Thanks.

use a test light and probe the wires .some fans don't work both at the same time so it maybe necessary to let the car reach operating temp to see if there is power and ground to the fans.

Replacing the throtle idle controll valve.Is the most common problem you have sir

Solution 1 would be to diagnose the problem of the low comp in 2& 3 and solve that issue. I would of started w the timing belt 1st. If that didn't solve it,ck head gasket, valves,rings. CK for oil & coolant mixing. Good Luck

You are going to need a transmission shop. Mazdas do not always throw codes. You have an early OBD transmission, which do not send out many codes.

Is the engine light on? Check the air inlet hose between the throttle body & MAF sensor for cracks or leaks. Try unplugging the MAF & see if there is any difference

The idle on my 2003 Mazda Protege started acting strange one day - it kinda surged forward a little bit. Then the RPM would drop and kept wanting to stall out. It stalled out at a stop sign. The check engine light came on. I drove it immediately to my Goodyear mechanic. It ended up being the Idle Air Control Valve. They had to order the part from Mazda which took 3 days to get there. The whole thing cost $700. Runs great now (again).