When the EGR valve in your Mazda Protégé starts to fail, you will experience issues while idling in your vehicle, such as jumping and shuddering. Many Protégé drivers have discovered that the EGR valve can only last around 50,000 miles before it needs to be cleaned or replaced. Cleaning an EGR valve can be a chore, so some drivers just opt for replacement, since the valve itself is under $100. As long as you can locate your EGR valve, you should be able to safely change the EGR valve in your Mazda Protégé.
Get the correct EGR valve for your vehicle. The EGR valve that you need will depend on the year of your Protégé. Consult your owner's manual or use the touchscreen computer systems available at most auto stores. You will enter the part you need and the make, model and year of your vehicle. The system will tell you the correct part for you car. If the auto store doesn't have a kiosk, consult a sales associate.
Disconnect the car battery so that the engine does not receive power while you are working.
Locate the EGR valve. In a Mazda Protégé the valve is on the driver's side of the engine, near the back. Use your owner's manual to help you find the precise location.
Unhook the hoses and the wires connected to the valve. There will be a vacuum hose, an air supply hose and a few electrical connections. Most of these connections are made with a clip system and will just pull out. Others will be attached with screws. This varies slightly in the Mazda Protégé from year to year, but keep a screwdriver on hand just in case. Pay close attention to where the hoses and wires are connected to the valve. This will make the task of reattaching them to the new valve much easier.
Loosen and remove the two bolts that hold the EGR valve in with a 12 mm socket wrench. Use an adjustable wrench to remove the EGR tube from the valve.
Replace the old valve with your new EGR valve. Bolt the valve back into place and reattach the tubes and wires to the same places on the new EGR valve that you removed them from on the old valve.
Hook up the battery. Test out your work by taking the car for a drive. If possible, let your car idle for 1 to 2 minutes at each stop and you'll feel the difference your new valve has made.
