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Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005 and earlier)

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Comments

  • revdrluvrevdrluv Member Posts: 417
    The rubbery seal on the top of my 95 Miata that is supposed keep rain from getting in at the top of the door windows isn't. Does anybody know specifically what this part is called? I can't figure out if it is a top seal or a rain rail or what?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    There are three seals around each window.
    Mazda's part descriptions are Link Weatherstrip No. 1, 2, and 3.
  • revdrluvrevdrluv Member Posts: 417
    Ah-ha... thank you very much.

    Any idea how much they cost, if I can order them without getting ripped by a dealer or how difficult they might be to install? Looks like they might just be fitted with screws.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    ...around $20 each.

    I'd check Miata.net for an installation guide.
  • dineldinel Member Posts: 6
    I am an old codger and love the look of the miata. I am very close to buying and still mobile, however I would like to rent a miata for a couple of days to test these old bones. I have checked avis etc. but no luck.
    Does anyone know where in North Jersey a miata can be rented?. One test drive is not enough.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You might contact these Miata club folks...they are fairly close to you.


    http://www.delval.org/motorsports.html


    Miata Net has a rentals page --- http://www.miata.net/faq/rentals.html-----


    but as of their last posting nothing very near to you (Maine is the closest place, of all places!). But you should e-mail them and see if there are updates, or just go to Hawaii and rent one and kill two birds with one Miata.


    PS: Can anyone recommend a site online that describes pulling the head on a '93 Miata?

  • sammycsammyc Member Posts: 5
    I bought a 96 miata from ebay. I received the car this morning and found the Engine light is on. Can you guys shares some information how to fix the problem? Thanks,

    -sammy
  • kymikekymike Member Posts: 115
    Quite often this is caused by a faulty oxygen sensor. It is usually MUCH cheaper to replace yourself than to have the dealer do it with Mazda parts. Any independent mechanic will also be able to fix cheaper than the dealer if he uses aftermarket parts (Bosch makes a good replacement). IIRC, your car has two sensors, one on the exhaust manifold and one in the exhaust pipe behind the cat.

    Go to the site below for an explanation of how you can self-diagnose the problem.

    http://www.miata.net/garage/faultcodes.html
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I could not agree more. My wife took her 626 to the dealer, and they charged something like $220 for the part alone. It was insane. You can find aftermarket Bosch 02 Sensors for about $60-70.

    They just screw in, and there is one wire to connect, it's easy. On my Miata, a '93 with the 1.6l engine, it's near the firewall on the driver side, IIRC. I'm not sure about your 1.8l engine.

    -juice
  • lorrybilllorrybill Member Posts: 1
    does anyone know the wheel torque specs for 1997 mx5? the garage i take it to uses an air gun to tighten lugs and i believe they are tightening them too tight, it warps my rotors every 2000-3000 miles.
  • harleybcharleybc Member Posts: 3
    I have a 2002 SE with a dashboard rattle that is coming either from the front vents or the CD/Radio
    area. Has anyone else had a similar problem?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Was an aftermarket CD unit installed? Often this causes rattles because on modern cars quite a bit of the fastening is plastic self-threads or snap-ins.

    Otherwise, about all you can do is get out a screwdriver, tape, little bits of foam, etc., and go under there and poke around. Sometimes some silicon spray in areas where two plastic pieces meet each other will also work.
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    Rotors warping every 2-3000 miles? First of all, you need to find a new garage. If they are using an air gun, you can bet they are exceeding manufacturers specs. Any shop that exhibits this kind of sloppy, lazy workmanship would not be allowed to work on one of my cars.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I believe you can use torque sticks with the air guns to get the proper torque settings, but it sounds like they don't bother to.

    I got a nice torque wrench for about $40 at Sears. Get one with a long shaft for more leverage. Mine has the dial on the end of the shaft to determine the torque setting, then it sort of "snaps" when you reach it. It's very easy once you're used to it.

    Then get a socket set. Most wheel lugs are in the 17mm-22mm range, I forget which ones I use for the Miata, but IIRC they are smallish. Note: make sure the drive size matches, they have 3/8" and 1/2" drives.

    Tighten the alloys to about 70 lb-ft. If the wheels are steel, 75 lb-ft is fine.

    -juice
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    I have a problem with the left one on my 1992. I replaced both front and rear bulbs, but it still doesn't work. All you get is the real fast clicking noise that you usually get with a burned out bulb. Before I take it somewhere and get ripped off on a mad search for wiring problems, is there anything else I can check myself? Oh, I also checked the fuses under the dash and didn't find any burned out.
  • thelthel Member Posts: 767
    check your fuses?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Actually, change the fuse anyway. Some times you get a hairline crack that isn't visible to the naked eye.

    -juice
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Sounds like bad grounding or a bad flasher unit. Try a small pigtail wire on the tail light assembly and see if grounding it better helps the situation. If not, you may swap out the flasher if they aren't too expensive.
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    Sounds like a bad turn signal relay. It probably is getting stuck internally and not closing the circuit to the bulbs.
  • bhb1bhb1 Member Posts: 6
    Has anybody heard about a Mazdaspeed miata for 2003 ???
  • kymikekymike Member Posts: 115
    Check out this link - http://www.miataforum.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=007921#000000
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Did you guys see the Mazdaspeed 6 at the Paris Show? 280hp, AWD, 6 speed manual. Yummy!

    -juice
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    Thanks. I'll try all of the suggestions and let you know what works.
  • sammycsammyc Member Posts: 5
    When I drove around 60 MPH the RPM is almost 3k. When I drvoe around 80 MPH the RPM is closed to 4k. Is that normal for 96 Miata stick shift?

    My Odyssey minivan has only 25k RPM when I cruise around 80 MPH.

    -sammy
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Your van has an overdrive automatic and V-6 power. A Miata can't pull gearing that high.

    2,500 rpm at 80 mph? Are you quite sure about that?
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    Yes, 4k is quite normal for the Miata 5 speed. It's geared real low which makes it rev very high on the interstate. This is also why the Miata doesn't get good gas mileage even though it is light and has a small engine.
  • thelthel Member Posts: 767
    is also due to the high drag coefficient that roadsters have. Lots of wind resistance with the top down cuts your mpg by quite a bit.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That Ody probably has the new 5 speed automatic, and I'm sure the final drive gives it much taller gearing.

    But just try keeping up in the corners! ;-)

    -juice
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I believe it. I found out the other day on our '02 MPV that at 100mph, the engine is turning at 3,300 RPMs.

    Disclaimer: Do not try this at home. Professional driver on a closed course equipped with proper safety equipment. Obey all posted speed limits and buckle up for safety.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    ...another 5 speed auto with tall gearing. I'm not surprised.

    -juice
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    100 mph in an MPV? You have more guts than me. And how steep was the hill you were going down? :)
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    it was in your backyard. 5 fwy between Lake Forest and El Toro roads.
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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Toyota or Mazda? ;-)

    Good luck - their buyers tend to be older. Even Corolla owner's median age is 32 IIRC.

    -juice
  • dgraves1dgraves1 Member Posts: 414
    Really, must have been the middle of the night. Normal traffic speed in that stretch is 0.5 mph.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    the Ody must have good aero. Wind resistance gets rather ugly at 100 mph.

    Anyway, part of the FUN of little roadsters is that you are buzzing and blowing and slipping and sliding. That's the whole idea. If it doesn't really appeal, you need a Benz SL or something to be happy then.

    Some people's complaints about little sports cars reminds me of when I sold a 26' sailboat once. The prospective buyer asked me "Can I take it out when it rains?"
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Last Saturday at 1pm in the carpool lane. No real rocket science.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    What's really fun is how much you shock people by having the top down in 40 degrees. You get more stares than a yellow H2!

    Remember these tips:

    * driver window down
    * pasenger window up
    * heat directed to your hands
    * hat and gloves

    Happy topless driving, even in 40 degrees!

    -juice
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    Mileage has as much to driving style as the engine, aerodynamics etc. I tend to use alot of gas because the throttle seems to be fully open so much. Ok, I get some stares as I rip through the gears only to have to pile on the brakes at the next stoplight, but it IS fun, and I really am not usually trying to get anyware faster.
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    What's so freaky about a minivan doing 100 mph? I hit 110 mph in my 00 89 horse Hyundai Accent hatchback. :) I was actually pretty impressed with how well it handled such high speeds considering the small 13" tires. But boy did it take forever to accelerate from 100-110! And talk about wind noise!!
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I think it's the sudden wind shear we worry about. You got a lot of freeboard there which could knock you off course pretty easily at those speeds, and, if you actually measured with a ruler the total square inches of tire that is holding you to the ground....well...it's sobering.

    At least with a Miata is hard to blow on it.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    it's not that bad, especially if you in places that never get sudden gusts, but I suppose it's not something you want to do constantly.
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    My problem turned out to be the flasher (or relay). Thanks.
  • freckles10freckles10 Member Posts: 1
    The key to my 1999 Miata is stuck in the ignition.It will not move to the far left (lock) position for removal. It moves as it should to the start position and the car drives fine, but after the car is stopped and put in neutral, the key will not come out? Any ideas?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I wonder if the steering wheel locking mechanism is jammed. Have you tried turning the steering wheel while trying the key?

    -juice
  • lngtonge18lngtonge18 Member Posts: 2,228
    Finally!! The heat wave has been broken and I can finally enjoy the thrill of top down driving again!
  • thelthel Member Posts: 767
    Highs have been struggling to reach 60 around here lately. I just bought a knit cap and gloves to wear during those blustery days. I aim to keep the top down so long as it doesn't dip below about 45-50. The only problem I have is not cold hands or ears but hot feet. Man that heater can crank out the BTUs!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Oh, it's actually getting a bit chilly in MD. Lots of rain, too.

    You guys think this sniper would go after someone with the top down? I'm driving around in MD/DC top down and just thought about that.

    The heater is great. I got a nice fleece-lined and water-proof jacket. It's also wind proof. Some gloves, too. Time to get out the hat, though.

    -juice
  • thelthel Member Posts: 767
    I don't think he's tried to hit any moving targets, but if you're stopped a bright shiny Miata would be a pretty noticable target. I hope they find this guy soon. Makes me glad I live in nowheresville USA.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Another reason to have the hardtop option.
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