I have a 2000 Mazda protege that is showing its running lean and misfireing I have replaces spark plugs and wires and new head gasket new o2 sensor and replaced vacum hoses and air intake system don't know what else to do ready to give up but don't have money for new car nor can I afford anymore might be's. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Mazda/protege/2000/1.6l/Manuel transmission/135000 miles.

 

So the code reader is SAYING its misfiring.....is it? What codes are you getting? It could be a faulty cam/crank position sensor making the ECU THINK its misfiring when it not, lean could be because there is an exhaust leak upstream of the O2 sensor letting fresh air into the exhaust stream thereby messing with the O2 reading. Why did you change the headgasket? Did you get the cam timing correct when you did?

 

I did not do any of the work on the headgasket I took to the shop for that. That's what they told me it needed I have a friend who is a mechanic and he did the rest of it for me. The code I was told it was is p1411.

 

The P1411 code is for a secondary air injection downstream problem, does your car have an air pump with hoses/pipes hooked into the exhaust? This introduces fresh air into the exhaust to help the cat burn the remaining unburnt fuel, if its malfunctioning it will register usually a rich condition (if the rear O2 is used for that on this car) but I can imagine a situation where a blocked port/diaphragm on the pump will make it pump 100% of the time resulting in a "lean" condition. You didnt mention any misfire codes, how do you know its missing?

 

The day after I room it out of the shop it had died on me and so I took it back and gave the mechanic a piece of my mind and was about to give home a piece of my boot up his a** when he stoped me and told me that the code kept bringing up lean and misfiring. I took it to my mechanic friend he hooked the computer up and that was the code that showed up. Where would that be located I am solo right now and would like to get it fixed as quickly as possible since summer is on its way.