I bought a '99 Protege back in December and have had numerous problems with it.

I bought it from a "friend of a friend", who neglected to tell us it was a salvage. The title told us that.

-The horn and A/C never worked, and about a week and a half ago, the dashboard lights went out. I took it to the mechanic who had done approx. $1400 of work on it prior to the "friend-of-a-friend" selling it to us. He said it had probably been in a front-end collision, and the A/C compressor was dented. He replaced the horn, and the fuse for the dash/tailights.

The next day, the fuse blew again, so the following day I took it back to the same mechanic. He checked for a short circuit, but didn't find anything. He told me, and I quote, "this is a strange car", and he warned me not to drive it on the freeway/over 80/90 mph.

-Literally the day after this, the car starts jerking as I drive on the freeway. When I exited on the city road, the car cut off at a stoplight. When I turned it on, it continued to act like it was going to cut off whenever I stopped, and actually has a couple more times since. The battery light comes on, and the car jerks into first and doesn't want to speed up.

-I took it to Pep Boys for a diagnostic. They told me the alternator was overcharging and causing the computer to turn off. They recommended cleaning the fuel injector and replacing the filter. I want a second opinion.

I'm broke and at the end of my rope here. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is what Pep Boys is saying sound right?

 

find reputable mechanic (ASE certified) for second opinion
what does cleaning injectors and chging filter have to due with
alternator overcharging ??????

 

That's what I don't understand! I felt like I was being ripped off.

 

few more specs? manual/automatic? sounds like a fuel/air flow problem. Check the MAF/MAP sensor. I'd definitely change the fuel filter and clean the injectors either way. Those are the first things that come to mind with those symptoms. The air flow sensor will run a few hundred, but easy enough to do on your own. Fuel filter is a little difficult to get to - itll be on your firewall, and may take some contortion of your arm to get to - just do it when the car is cool, and make sure you relieve fuel system pressure before you do at it, unless you like gasoline in your eyes.

The filter and injector cleaner can be done yourself pretty easily for under $30, provided you have the tools. you shouldn't need more than pliers and a 1/4" ratchet (probably 10mm socket) to get it done. You may need to run the injector cleaner through a few times. If it takes more than three cycles, then its something else. In an automatic, your trans could be shot. Or, you may need new fuel injectors. I can't say too much without seeing the car myself.

 

as far as alternator overcharging, sounds like it was a separate opinion. the two have nothing to do with each other. with the other electrical problems, there is obviously a short or bad ground somewhere in the car. my recommendation, if financially feasible, is to buy a new car. if you cant, youll have to just dump some money into it until you can.