I've had problems with this car for about 3 years now but have "learned" how to drive it to get from a to b. Now I have a new but not necessarily unrelated problem. I drove it to work and got to the parking lot and it died like the battery was dead. I left it where it was... didn't make it INTO the parking lot just the entrance. I had my wife come to jump me after work and thought I would try it before hooking up the cables. It started fine and I was able to get it ALMOST home and the same thing happened. After about 10 minutes I tried it again and was able to get it home.

It acts like the battery is dead and the engine won't crank and all lights and electronics go dead when I turn the key. After time it all goes away. It has to be heat related but I'm at a loss. I've been told that the problems in the past (runs terrible) have been from coil packs... I haven't come up with the money to replace them yet. I can't imagine coil packs making the car battery appear dead though. But then again that's why I'm on here, because I'm not an expert.

I can only make it a couple miles now before it exhibits this problem.

What year Mazda Protégé? What engine?

Thoughts:

. Remove and fully charge the battery. Most auto parts stores will do this for free. Jumping the battery on a modern-day vehicle greatly increases the chance of a voltage spike or incorrect cable hook-up frying the ECM, alternator, or various sensors.

. Check the ignition switch for wear, pitting, or signs of melting. The process should be similar to that below:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-2.html#post224652

. Replace the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil. ICMs are notorious for causing vehicles to intermittently die. I recommend replacing them every 120,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first.