Proton Problems

The Preve was not a huge success in this country, which is probably why many parts outlets don't carry spares for it in Australia. But if you jump online, you'll soon find plenty of overseas suppliers selling what you're looking for.

Alternatively, you can ask a transmission specialist to investigate supply of the cooler. Perhaps that same shop can match the cooler with a part number from another car that will fit and do the same job. As a last resort, there's every chance a completely different cooler could be adapted to fit your car. This could take some fiddling and workshop time, but if it keeps the car on the road, it's probably justified.

Proton's Preve comes with an 80kW naturally aspirated 1597cc (1.6-litre) four-cylinder, or a 103kW turbocharged 1561cc (1.6-litre) four-cylinder.

Get out of the car, it’s a money pit. Have an auto electrician check the electrics for you. I assume the transmission is automatic, if so have it serviced, but it could need a rebuild.

Just because Proton isn’t selling cars in Australia any longer (the brand disappeared in 2017) doesn’t mean replacement parts can’t be obtained. Even if you can’t find the rocker cover gasket you need in a conventional parts store, there are lots of online sellers (both here and overseas) who can supply what you need.

The engine in your car was hardly an orphan, either, and was found in many other Proton models including the Waja, Gen-2, Persona, Saga, Satria and others, so don’t rule out a search for those models too, as the rocker cover gasket should be interchangeable between them.

It’s most likely to be a faulty engine sensor, perhaps the crank angle sensor.

Sadly, the Jumbuck has gone the same way as the Subaru Brumby — the world now wants bigger utes. In any case, the Jumbuck was based on the old Mitsubishi Lancer, which meant it was barely safe, and Proton has insufficient funds to develop a new model.

Get out of the car, it’s a money pit. Have an auto electrician check the electrics for you. I assume the transmission is automatic, if so have it serviced, but it could need a rebuild.

Proton used to use engines it built under license from other manufacturers (notably Mitsubishi). In those days, there was a decent chance that a Proton rocker cover would have been interchangeable from another make or model that also used the same or similar Mitsubishi-designed engine.

Eventually, though, Proton progressed to the point where it was building and fitting engines of its own design, and the one in your Preve is that first of those. As such, you probably wouldn’t be able to switch it for another make and model’s cover, although you might find that other Proton models from the same era as your car (and which used the same engine) will, in fact, have rocker covers that can be mixed and matched. But be very careful, as even a different location for the EGR valve or breather tube might be the difference that renders the two covers non-interchangeable.

While it wouldn't really be considered a bad car, per se, there are plenty of other cars in the Proton Preve's class that you should buy before considering the Malaysian-built sedan. However, if you are buying on a tight budget and looking to update to a modern car you could definitely do worse than the Preve.

It would seem likely to be an air leak in the system, which you should look for. Perhaps a damaged hose, loose fitting, or something like that.