About 5 months ago i got a really good job one that required me to drive to the city everyday. So i would need something practical then my del sol and more economical then my a4. So i sold my del sol and bought a 2002 protege5 with about 90000 miles on it. At first i loved it, it was great on gas and handled really well but then things started to go here and there (i was expending to have some maintenance since the car was 10). list of all repairs in 5 moths (all done by me cause im to cheap to bring to a shop).

the window regulator in my driver side door
all new tires
new radiator and thermostat
new head light harness

Now the Knock sensor needs to be changed
its up for timing belt and water pump
and the car rides like a dump trunk

Is this normal, im about feed up with the car cant seem to get a brake.

 

also my steering wheel make my hands smell awful

 

Sucks to be you! I'm guessing you never have had the cooling fluid flushed and re-filled with coolant or changed the thermostat before? ---- this goes to pay me now or pay me later, you are in the "Pay me later" category.
With that mileage you probably need new struts/shocks.
Make sure you clean your throttle body, MAF sensor and make sure they change your PCV valve.
Change your transmission fluid.
Ever change your spark plugs? Know when they were done?
The joys of buying a used car with hi mileage!

 

Never changed the MAF but i did the plugs, pvc, air filter and cleaned the throttle body. The shocks don't seem to be leaking and it feels almost like a control arm or sway bar, also the check engine light just went away. Should i try to clean the sensor or just replace it.

 

CLEAN IT

 

Im talking about the knock sensor?

 

Change it

 

thanks for the info