I highly recommend that you use these forums to your advantage, our cars are relatively expensive to work on, but once you learn how to work around them yourself, you can save yourself a ton of money doing your own work. We're here to help you!
A few things that you may or may not know:
1. The 4 cylinder probe and 6 cylinder probe shares the same engine as: Mazda mx-6, mx-3 and protege.
2. Ford is slowly phasing out probe parts, however mazda carries parts for the mx-6 in bulk. Mazda parts are also much cheaper, skip the ford dealership, head to mazda.
3. It should never take 2 hours to change an alternator. Ask people on forums how to do it yourself, you'll save so much money!!! The first year I owned a probe it cost me over 4000 in repairs and maintence. later that same year I disccoverd some of the forums I'll share with you at the end of this thread. Last year would've cost me 9000, after totaling it all up on cost me about 400 (not including tools I bought, just parts for the car) Learn about your car. Period.
4. eBay is your friend!!
5. Buy the big ass factory manual (see #4 for the best place to buy it) for your specific year.
6. Learn how to self diagnos your car when you get a check engine light, if you have a 96 or above, you can take it to autozone and they do it for free. Otherwise go here and learn:
http://www.performanceprobe.com/index2.php go to the do it yourself and the click on diagnostics and the select your year.
here's another one too...
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mx6-uk/malf/malfcode.htm
6. Here's some forums to read from, they're all free, they're listed from my preferences and that's all. No politicking just me and my opinion. I highly recommend joining one or all of them, and getting to know the people in you area.
A.) forums.probetalk.com ( to me the best probe forum based website out there
B.) mx6.com (Lost of great info here and very cool how to's.)
C.)
www.performanceprobe.com (nice site, a little outdated tho
D.) probefaq.org (lots of nice info, but not regularly updated)
The only reason I didn't list this forum is cuz well... you're already here aren't you? So help out those in need here as well. Pay it forward...dammit.
There, That should get you started. Enjoy and happy modding!
J.D.
