1993 Mazda Protege Car Won't idle Anymore

1993 MAZDA PROTEGE
225,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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POKIE
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I brought my Protege out from 5 years of mothballs. Ran great. Emissions wouldn't pass, but ran great otherwise. I decided to perform a tuneup, (i.e., plugs, filers, rotor & cap, wires). When I installed all of these, it cranks but does not fire. I back-tracked and installed all of the original equipment and it still cranks but does not hold idle. It revs up, but dies. I noticed a broken EGR/solenoid valve and replaced it (used). Same problem. She ran great until I touched it. Any ideas? Thanks!
Jul 19, 2008 at 4:00 PM
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RASMATAZ
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Pull the coil wire from the distributor and ground it to the engine, have helper crank engine over-you look for a snapping blue spark-do you have it? Report back
Jul 19, 2008 at 4:25 PM
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POKIE
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Just out curiosity, if the #2 spark plug hole only allows the plug to go 8 turns instead of 16 like the others, would that be the cause of the problem? Thanks!
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:57 PM
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RASMATAZ
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The sparkplug is not properly seated-even if it disconnected it will not prevent the engine from starting.

it cranks but does not fire:

Get a carb cleaner and spray into the carb or the throttle body on an EFI. Did it start and die? If not disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine -have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel problem, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil,distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors-

If both fuel and spark is present-check the valve and ignition timing, this will lead you to problems with compression and valves opening and closing at the wrong time
Jul 21, 2008 at 3:34 AM