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Mazda Miata Problems and Solutions - READ ONLY

372 messages,  Last post on Oct 18, 2006 at 9:46 AM

You are in the Mazda Miata Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda Miata, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Electrical, Engine, Steering, Suspension, Transmission, Convertible

Messages Page 38 of 38

#363 of 372 Electrical smell by playachild

Sep 18, 2006 (10:18 pm)

tonight heading out to check the mail I got the worst electrical smell coming inside my car from the engine. Lifting the hood to check the engine I saw a craftsman magnetic laying on from what I can tell from the manual is the canister purge solenoid valve & EGR boost sensor. Left side if your looking at the engine in the middle of the windshield fluid bottle & radiator bottle. This is also a 1990 Miata
 Can anyone tell me if this might've been a interference causing a electrical smell? I noticed that when I put it in 2nd gear it didn't seem to have the power it usually has, this was before the smell.
 Of course once I saw the tool & took it out, I drove it back home, ran it for 5 min looking to see if wires were touching or if I could see smoke. Smell is gone from the engine & seemed to run fine, but I had to leave the windows open to air out. Any thoughts would be great! thanks

#364 of 372 Re: Shifting help [swetnika] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 19, 2006 (8:22 am)

Replying to: swetnika (Sep 18, 2006 10:52 am)
It's just a way to keep your transmission from shifting into high gear...it's a manually enforced downshift and will cause your engine RPMs to go up---which you will see on your tachometer....You use it for going up hills, so that you don't "lug" the engine in the highest gear.

#365 of 372 Miata's Traction in Ice and Snow by casaug

Sep 23, 2006 (4:58 am)

I recently bought an '06 Miata (loving it) and gave my '96 to my son who lives in eastern TN. I live in FL and never had many weather driving concerns. However, a friend recently told me that he had a Miata while living in New Hampshire, and it was rough driving in ice and snow. Is that a serious problem, and if so, what can my son do, e.g. sand bags in trunk or certain types of tires?

#366 of 372 Re: Miata's Traction in Ice and Snow [casaug] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 23, 2006 (12:08 pm)

Replying to: casaug (Sep 23, 2006 4:58 am)
tires + driving skills are 50% of it, definitely. Sand bags are a sort of compromise...you may get a little better traction in the rear, but then you have also upset the balance of the car.

#367 of 372 Re: Miata's Traction in Ice and Snow [casaug] by driveright

Sep 23, 2006 (6:55 pm)

Replying to: casaug (Sep 23, 2006 4:58 am)
I drive a '96 Miata year-round in Maryland. Summer tires will not perform well in cold weather and should NOT be driven in the snow. One option is to change seasonally between summer tires and snow tires. A second option, and the one I prefer, is to use a set of all-season tires year-round but to switch over to dedicated snow tires for periodic snowy conditions.
 
I use and recommend Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50 snow tires, available from the Tire Rack on steel rims for about $500 shipped. I like to drive in the snow and haven't had trouble getting around my area in the Miata with Blizzaks. Note that the snow handling of the Miata is very different from a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive car. The tendency of the car to oversteer in snow is pretty pronounced, so you have to drive cautiously.
 
I put a 60-pound bag of sand in the trunk when I mount the snow tires, but I don't think it makes a really big difference. I like having a hard-top for the winter.
 
Now a question for you. How do you compare the '06 to the '96? I've driven the '06 and the new '07 with PRHT, but I'm not sold. Am I missing something?

#368 of 372 Re: vibration @ 60 to 70 mph [ksuleman] by kinggm

Sep 24, 2006 (1:49 am)

Replying to: ksuleman (Feb 27, 2006 8:56 pm)
The same thing was happening to me , I had the tires Re-balance all 4 of them , that took care of the problem. No more Vibration

#369 of 372 Re: Miata's Traction in Ice and Snow [driveright] by casaug

Sep 27, 2006 (10:45 am)

Replying to: driveright (Sep 23, 2006 6:55 pm)
Mine is the '06 MX-5 Sport with the optional suspension package, and it handles really well. That option might have been what you missed. I'd certainly recommend the '07 with PRHT in your climate, though. It would even be good here in FL. (I had to replace the '96s vinyl roof at one point, when the heat separated it from the main cross strut.) Compared to the '96, I like the extra power of that 170-hp, the extra room inside and in the trunk, the glass rear window, the ride of the 17in. wheels, and the ease of putting down the top. My only complaint so far is that there is a nasty rattle in all that plastic behind the seats, and Mazda is ordering me a free replacement there. I'm getting ready to take it for a week on WV's back roads, and I can't wait, after so many straight and flat roads down here.

#370 of 372 Re: Miata's Traction in Ice and Snow [casaug] by allcarsrcool

Oct 06, 2006 (8:17 pm)

Replying to: casaug (Sep 27, 2006 10:45 am)
i started a form back in august, it is for driving stories and is under the miata, i realized after testdriving one that actual owners might have some fun-driving stories. So if you do have fun on those back roads, post your stories
~Allcarsarecool

#371 of 372 Re: 1999 Miata Will Not Start - Again [nativetx58] by ataylor2

Oct 16, 2006 (9:04 pm)

Replying to: nativetx58 (Dec 27, 2005 12:55 pm)
You might look under the hood for the voltage regulator. If it hangs up, it will either drain your battery or boil the water out.
 
It could be the EGI relay. If not working, the car will not crank and run.
 
The key may have lost its memory.
 
The latter of the three above mentioned possibilities have been experienced by me!!!!

#372 of 372 Hi folks by pat

Oct 18, 2006 (9:46 am)

You may have noticed that we're moving toward smaller, more focused discussions. Please go to the top level of the Miata board and look for an existing topic or create a new one if you don't see something suitable. Here's the link: Mazda Miata.
 
Thanks!

Messages Page 38 of 38

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