To check the hold light blinking of a Mazda Protege, take off the plastic over the shifter tube or bar. Then take off the console below it and look at the wires that come up from the hollow center of the tube. The edge of the shifter tube may have cut through the wire insulation.
tranny problems
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it could have a bad speed sensor
Sorry guys but from experance with 2.0 DOHC 16 valve that blinking hold light means your transmission is about to stop working with mine it started blinking and with in a half an hour of driven the tranny breaks and you loose all gears and the only way to fix is a new transmission or to have it completely rebuilt and a new one from Mazda is about $2100
The HOLD light means you have an electrical problem with your transmission. See your mechanic ASAP.
I suspect your hold switch on the shift lever might be bad..or ahs a broken wire.
get a new transmission
A 2001 Mazda Protege will hold approximately 4.5 quarts of oil. The recommended oil type is 10 W 30. This oil can be purchased at any auto parts store.
mine is about 12-13 gallons
It should hold 4.5 qrts.
I have a 1993 Protege. The hold button keeps the transmission from up shifting. I use it when I am coming down the hill in my neighborhood. Rather than braking the hold button keeps the trans in a lower gear and I remain at a safe neighborhood speed.
around 4.5 qts and mostly people use 10w30.