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Comments
but if it's not the cowl that's shaking, I'd first look at tire balance and then alignment. inspect the tires for uneven wear. highly uneven pressure can do it too, but that's rare.
anyway, I recommend at least 30psi for spirited driving with most tires, only a few will have a rigid enough carcass to perform acceptably at 26psi. I've never had a problem with shimmy at any pressure though.
-Colin
drove the wife's Miata today, top down woo hoo
My dad will pull the Miata out of the garage at the house perhaps... never mind, 40 degrees F high again tomorrow. My family's on vacation for Easter... Virginia or thereabouts.
I would have preferred he bought a Prelude, but he is the old man with the money, and his money says inexpensive, reliable MG... sounds like a MX-5 Miata to you, does it not? Meanwhile, the Integra suits me wonderfully in all weather. Mazda needs to carry something like it... I'd like to park a 2004 MX-6 next to that 2000 MX-5 in the garage when I visit my parents, periodically.
-juice (top down in 70 degree Washington)
A terrific bunch of people and 11 great Miatii'...
Wish us great weather, warm sun and great sites to see.
-juice
-juice
Nice drive but too straight to be ideal for a Miata. I love that speed limits in Florida are reasonable, too.
-juice
The cruise ship terminals are pretty new. I remember watching them building them a few years ago. I wondered if they would be successful. I guess they are, they keep building new ones.
We had to put the top up and really crank the a/c daytime in the Valley which is basically a desert in the late summer and early fall.
Anyone making that trip should time to drive through the Valley at night when it is often 20 to 40 degrees cooler than the day.
Napa Valley and the surrounding mountains (during the week, when the crowds are not there) is about as perfect a Miata drive as you can find.
We now have 12 cars for the Arkansas run and pray for nice weather. We have earmarked Mt. Nebo for a definite run....great 5 mph switchbacks ending in a large plateau about 2500 ft up overlooking a hugh valley and mountains. Can get a nice tail slide making the switchbacks in low and pushing that little pedal as you crank the steerng wheel...Mrsbjrich thinks this is not such a great way to drive.
By the way, just put an Eagle One brand of paste carnuba on the Crystal Blue, over the Mcquires clean and wax, andthe body is really sharp. We shall slide thru the wind with ease...
Got a big birthday coming up and look forward to many more years with Mrsbjrich and Crystal Blue. We have had it just one year and it shows 17,200. I do get the clutch shudder some mornings. but not worried..if it goes, it goes, and if Mazda stands behind it fine.....if not, fine too.
Hopeing to hear some nice info about the Savannah area from some Miata folks..Take care. Bob
-juice
I tried to detail it with a toothbrush, but no luck. I imagine the stains have had plenty of time to set.
I'm not sure how it would look if I had been cleaning it since the beginning.
-juice
However, the entire car looks just like new.
I would say that if you plan to take care of you car with routine washings, the tan top will hold up fine. My car is also garaged at nite.
I think I make decent effort to keep after things like that. It is really sortof a necessary option if you care to keep the top looking good, as welll as the rest of the car. I would think a black top can get pretty ugly if you do not take care of it.
Getting anxious for the Arkansas run. Take care you guys...one weekto go. Bob
The first time, the dealer replaced just the top. The second time, the dealer replaced the top and the frame - I thought that would get it. I don't know what they will think this time. It looks like something I am doing but I can't imagine what. I always raise and lower from the driver's seat. Any ideas? Has anyone else had this happen?
-juice
Find a busy and active trim shop, and that will tell your if they are good.
Good luck! Bob
Are you lowering it and raising it too quickly? Maybe the top is getting pinched or something.
-juice
The problem I have with it is the rubber seals on the top tear off, and tend to stick out when it's up. So far it isn't leaking though, so I can't bring myself to spend money to fix it
I'm thinking of getting into the 'dirty work' of the car more, I've never really dealt with it mechanilcally, and would like to start. She is my (other) baby after all ;-)
Is there any reasons I shouldn't attempt to do certain things to my car? RIght now I'm thinking fluid changes, sparkplugs and wires. removing the baby teeth. basic stuff to start, or so I think. I just don't want to dig a hole I cant' crawl out of.
The best way to learn is from watching/helping other, more knowledgable people. See if some of the guys at the local Miata club will let you watch over their shoulder as they do stuff on their cars. Some clubs even have tune and repair days where a bunch of owners get together and do stuff on each others' cars.
Also, work on a Saturday, so you have Sunday to correct any mistakes you made before needing the car for your commute.
Finally, make sure to get all the supplies in advance. I think you need about 4 quarts of gear oil (75w90, BTW) to do the tranny and rear diffy. And it doens't hurt if you have your significant other around to drive you to the shop to get any missing parts/tools.
-juice
This weekend, as long as it doesn't rain the wole time, I'm going to attack the tranny fluid. So far it seems I can do it with the fluid and a commonly available hand pump. I haven't started looking, but I imagine I should replace any rubber seals involved as well. Will typical automotive supply shops carry these?
I think Miata.net has diagrams. I used Hakuna's photos for guidance. The rear diffy is a lot easier than tranny because it's easier to reach.
-juice
PS The pump is stiff to operate if it's cold out. The oil is thick, and even thicker when it's cold.
Do get a bunch of members together, have a Bud for me, and have fun. this is he greatest car in the world, bar none. Bob
-juice
As a side note, I have decided to hold off on replacing the top for another month or two. I'm about to move and won't have a job initially so I need to save up my money. When I do get it done, I will let you all know whether it's as bad as everyone says to do it yourself.
Will Redline tranny oil actually help, long or short term?
If so, where the heck can I find the stuff?!
-juice
As to whether it works, some people report much smoother shifting while others report no difference at all. There is also a GM product that some swear buy which may be easier to get a hold of. I'll see if I can find details.
Now I've got to figure out the problem with the roof. At the back of it there are two cross bars in the frame. One stays still, and the most rearward one shifts as the roof is closed and opened. But it doesn't shift the way it is supposed to anymore. It moves properly for opening the top, but doesn't return to the normal position when the top is raised again, so the back of the roof ends up sagging until I manually push back this bar. It looks like there is too much slack in the straps on each side, but I don't see how that can just suddenly happen. Any thoughts?
(I don't know if that made sense but I don't know how else to describe it!)
Fred
http://www.miataforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi
engfr - for cleaning, a lot of people use Simple Green. Meguiar's #39 is also popular. For protection and looks the "big three" are: Meguiar's #40, Lexol's Vinylex, and 303 Space Age Protectant. I've been using these 3 in rotation for about 6 months and currently am favoring Vinylex, but there isn't a great deal of difference between the three.
-juice