Hi all,

I just picked up an '02 Protege 5 and, as expected with a used car, I'm having a few issues.

One of them is that there isn't a warning buzzer when the headlights are left on/key is left in the ignition. Is this possibly because the previous owner just pulled out a fuse, or could it be something more?

Also, I'm getting a rattling sound from what I think is the back right suspension. My friend seems to think (after listening to it) that it's the strut and that his '06 Mazda 3 does the same thing, that's it's "not a big deal". Of course, he's not a mechanic, so I thought I'd ask here.

Thanks all!

 

Slight correction. After closer inspection, it seems like it's the front right that has the rattling sound. When I push down on the front left of the car, the front right suspension makes a "k-klunk" sound. I know that's very descriptive

Thanks!

 

It could be a sway bar link. Use a lever to push up on the sway bar near the link and see if it has play.