"Sounds" like the LAST time this subject will appear

I recently experienced a problem with my 1995 Miata (M edition) where the keyway and hub unexpectedly broke and had to be replaced. In the process the mechanic replaced the crankshaft seal. I noticed a leak the next day and he replaced the seal again. I now notice a squealing noise when the engine heats up similar to the sound a loose belt would make. It is only noticeable after the engine heats up. I should also mention the vehicle presently has 70,000 miles on it and had the timing belt, water pump and seals replaced at 60,000 miles. Any idea what could be causing the noise?

bob thomas, charlotte,nc

No, not without hearing it, the pitch/frequency and exactly where in the engine it's coming from (via a stethoscope while the car's on a hoist). Sorry, but the tyranny of distance ensures I'm clueless on this one.

Given the car's history, it sounds like a 'hands-on' approach is certainly warranted, as is a second opinion. What has the mechanic who did the work the first time said? If it was along the lines of "oh, they all do that", it's time to see a new wrench. Ditto if he said he didn't know what it was. Bob, you (and any other Miata owner who's got mystery noises) will be FAR better served by seeing a trustworthy mechanic who's able to get their hands on the car rather than an e-mail correspondent 9600 miles away. If having me say something about the noise is that important to you, there are two alternatives. First is to send me a Business Class ticket on Qantas to the nearest major city to you (in this particular case, Charlotte is 'major' enough in my book, but I could go to Washington DC and drive down the rest of the way) and I'll listen to the car at no additional charge to you. The second is to ship your Miata to Sydney (covering shipping both ways as well as bond and customs clearance for both legs of the trip) and I'll give it an ear here in Sydney. Trust me, even with a US$100 tip to the mechanic because you like his overalls above and beyond any charges for repair, leaving me out of the loop and getting a local second opinion will be much cheaper.

Considering the brain-numbing repetitiveness with which this sort of question appears, the answer above will serve now and forever more as the reply to any and all Miata "mystery sound" queries. Effective this edition of "Ask Bob", they will also be the only questions which I will not reply personally to. That's right, they'll just go straight into the bin. Sorry, but if a Miata owner out there would rather e-mail someone who cannot hear the sound of a mechanical problem than take it to a professional who can actually drive the car, I can only surmise they don't really give a damn about their Miata. Such people should probably set their browser's homepage to

http://www.DelSol.org/alwayscomplaining/whatsthatawfulgrindingsound.html 
or
http://www.1992mercury-capriXR2.com/unhappyowners/complaints/iwishIhadaMiata.asp 

Sorry to anyone with a legitimate complaint for any of the poor repair or maintenance work I might have personally done on their Miata. Then again Karen, doesn't send any questions to "Ask Bob".

bwob

Is that a 1.6 with 1.8 pistons in the third and fourth cylinders?

hello Bob,
I was just wondering, I that if you turbocharge a 1.7 stock miata you can get up to 280 or so hp, and if you go the good way and put in a v8 you are a bit higher. so i guess my question is what would you recomend, and why. I have a 91 miata and are at the point of doing one or the other

jesse, redlands california

Well, if you've got a 1.7 Miata, I'd be recommending letting a museum - or Mazda manufacturing - know about it. Both would have interest in such a beast. Far more than I have in Miata with V8s and forced induction four-cylinders. Combined.

bwob

A 'hard' top problem, but not a difficult one

I have read conflicting articles about the compatibility of the Miata hardtops. I have a hardtop from a 1990 Miata. Which Miatas will it fit on? Some have said all, some have said up to the '97's, and the autobody place told me only up to the '93's.

Theresa Fulton, Champaign, IL USA

Theresa, as long as the proper mounting hardware is fitted (two locating pins on the panel between the rear deck lid and top bay and a pair of latch receptors in the top bay just aft of the front doors) to the Miata in question, a 1990 Miata hardtop will fit anything up to and including a 2001 car and a 2001 hardtop will fit anything back to one built in 1989. With a mere handful of alterations - addition of body colors instead of the semi-gloss black all the first hardtops were supposed to have been, fitting of a foam 'headliner' to reduce body resonance and installation of a heated rear window - there have been no other changes to the hardtop since it appeared on the first Miatas. The only reason it 'doesn't fit' later cars is caused by the fact Mazda removed the fitting hardware it had been putting on all Miatas from later cars as a cost-saving measure.

bwob

Tall top troubles

I recently had my back vinyl window replaced with a glass window. Now the top does not lie down flush with the car... in other words, it rides above the deck and the boot will not fit. The window guy told me this was normal with a glass replacement. Is it?

Sarabeth, Fort Worth, TX USA

It is indeed. The design of the top bay for the original Miata - as well as the top stack itself - was not developed to accommodate anything but the plastic, zip-out rear window. The thick rubber bead that surrounds the backlight (rear window) is one of the things that's keeping the top from sitting as flat as one with the plastic rear window would.

bwob

Life's too short to not enjoy your Miata

Hello Bob,
I've always wanted a Miata since it seemed the only real sports car I could afford. My Father was pres. of the Jaguar Club in Dallas in the early 60's, he and my Mother had XKE's. I was to young to drive then (I was five or six) but I still remember those cars. My Father is 84 years old this month and has driving my car and likes it but said the XKE had more room in it - the Miata is not in the shop once a month either. I bought a 96 Miata with 28000 miles on it in Memphis six months ago and love it. I was glad to read in this months ask Bob that some guy has over 100000 miles on his car and drives like I do. Oh those people bitching about fuses and tappets tell them to go drive a Ford or an MG. Well I guess that's it thank you for all your efforts and remember always accelerate thru the turns.

Bob Callahan, Granbury, Texas

Thanks Bob. Great name you've got there, even without a 'w'.

bwob

How much money do you want to spend today?

I don't know if this qualifies as "not appropriate" or not but I was thinking about installing a motorized component for the soft top. I haven't heard of anyone doing this, so I was wondering if it is possible and if so where might I go for further advice on this matter.

Brian Willmert, Potsdam/NY/US

There was never any consideration of having a power-actuated top for the Miata. They're hardly in line with the 'simple is better' philosophy of the Miata, an utter and complete waste of weight when the standard top was designed to be raised with one hand while the driver is wearing his shoulder belt (in a left-hand-drive Miata, at any rate), and they are traditionally a source of headaches for manufacturer and customer alike when maintenance is taken into account. People don't even want to change the oil, so what would make them want to ensure the power top system was properly maintained?

As a project for the do-it-yourselfer, it's possible if your pockets are deep enough and you can live with a few compromises. After all, with enough money, you can do anything. The top stack of the Miata sits right over the fuel tank and rear structural crossmember, so there's not much real estate for a couple of actuators and the pump immediately below the top armature and at the sides of the top bay. The fuel tank (obviously) can't easily be relocated, though a new one of smaller capacity could be fabricated. The crossmember can't be cut without the body structure going to hell in a handbasket, and the car would probably fail the US and EC crash standards with the crossmember cut down, so that's not a viable alternative unless you really want a power top. I suppose you could package some of the gear in the trunk. Again, one of the compromises you'd have to live with.

Perhaps if you want a power top that much, you ought to consider a used BMW Z3, Porsche Boxster or 1960s American Ponycar. Power tops and Miatas go together like Covettes and diesel engines.

bwob

Recipe of the month - Roasted clutch a la Scott

Thanks for taking my questions Bob.

1) I have a 1999, the passenger side seat creeks when it has weight on it and we are turning. Have hear of this? Thoughts?

2) I drive in stop and go traffic all the time. I have used 2 gear to hold the car on up slopes. Past month, I have been hearing a slight wine when letting out the clutch when at lower rpms. Thoughts?

scott gray, Columbia, MD

1a) No more or less so than with any other car. Some do it, some don't. I've never been able to find a pattern other than age.
1b) Sorry, but not without hearing the noise.

2) Unlike the clutches found in automatic transmissions, the clutch of the Miata (or any other car with a manual transmission) is not designed to 'hold' a car on a slope. That's the job of the service and/or emergency brake. While you can keep the car in gear and slip the clutch to keep from rolling back on a hill, that doesn't mean you should. For example you can eat Drain-0, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it. Ditto slipping the clutch as a method of holding the car's position on a hill. If you feel you must do that, I'd suggest you buy something with an automatic transmission. After you replace the roasted clutch and throwout bearing your description indicates your current car is developing.

bwob

Big problem with a simple fix

Hello i have a big problem. my friend replaced my rear brakes on my 91 Mazda Miata and the E-brake didn't work after that. Then a couple of days after the E-brake works BUT not as good as before. Do u have any easy to follow tips??

chiman lee, san fransico ca usa

You know, there really is something to the old adage about getting what you pay for. So if you pay nothing, that's about what you should expect. But if it's that big a problem, the truly easy to follow (and sure-fire) tip is to take the car to a Mazda mechanic and let someone who knows what they're doing at the car. It won't be free, but there's likely to be value in work done properly.

bwob

Can I install a turbocharger in a automatic 99 Miata with 4,500 miles. 

Jose L. Cortes, San Juan, Puerto Rico

I don't know how handy you are with tools, so I can't be sure. Just bear in mind when the turbocharger goes under the hood the warranty goes into the trash.

bwob

Houston?

Hey Bob,
My 92 Miata's Air Bag light flashes 4 times about every 15 seconds. What's up?

Mike Loizides, St.Pete/FL/USA

It's a countdown to a trip to the service department.

bwob

At the risk of sounding repetitive, if you can't go fast with 90hp...

short& sweet.....is it possible to mate a Ford 5.0 V8 to my beloved lil mx5 if so where can i get the mounts at ....is this possible? does the trans. fit? how about the rear end...? will it turn....will it stop....thanks Bob... Patrick...ps..motorweek on speedvision Rules

Patrick Arnold, Orlando/Fl/......

Anything is possible if you have enough money. Monster Motorsports in Southern California convert Miatas into V8 powered-Miatas-no-more, but I don't know of a single kit available for the do-it-yourselfer. That doesn't mean there aren't any, but is more a reflection of my interest in V8 swaps. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Mind you I wouldn't do it to my car, even if I had fifty Miatas. The V8 utterly destroys the balance the Miata is all about, so once you've grown tired of smoking the rear tires at every signal, you're likely to get very bored with the car. If you want straight-line performance, buy a used 1960s Muscle car and keep the Miata for those times you want to remember what driving a car - as opposed to pointing one - is all about.

bwob

It really didn't get that wet

I recently bought a '97 Miata that was in a flood of about two feet of water--enough to just barely get into the computer behind the passenger seat. All of the electronics work on the car, but it won't start. Do I need a new computer to make it run?

Christian Sangree, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

You may not need a new computer, but inasmuch as you say water entered the the engine management computer, I suspect it's now about as useful as an empty Domino's pizza box. If you disbelieve me and need some evidence for yourself, you can simulate the effects of some water water 'barely' getting into the computer. Just pour a teaspoon of tap water into the vents of your computer at home while it's unplugged from the wall. But don't blame me for the results.

Given your description of the situation, the computer's certainly the first thing I'd be replacing if it were my car. After I took it to a professional for advice from somebody who can get test gear (not to mention his or her hands) on it, that is.

bwob

Owner beware

My 2000 Miata has 5,000 miles (in its first 6 months). I received a recommended service of "cleaning the fuel injectors." I checked internet sites to see if this is advisable. I get maybe at 15,000 miles. What is advisable? The sales personnel at Doug's Lynnwood Mazda broke any trust I could have. Your input would help. I cannot find anything thru an internet search. Thanks!

ccoville, Renton/WA/USA

I'd be doubting the veracity of the people who serviced your Miata, and would certainly be demanding an explanation from them if it were my car. After I talked to the local Mazda zone office and wrote a letter of complaint to Mazda's Customer Service in Irvine, that is.

ALL of the genuine recommended service for a Miata is in the warranty and service handbook that comes with every Miata. In an effort to fatten the bottom line, it's sadly all-to-common among dealers in the US to have their own 'recommended' service packages which are more beneficial to the dealer's cash flow than to the car or its owner. There's not much to these 'recommended' packages, usually adding a one or two unneeded things to the manufacturer's service requirements. But at a price. None of this is likely to have any sort of detrimental effect upon the car, just to your pocketbook. Take a look at the service booklet, and use it - not the service writer - as your guide.

If there's another Mazda dealer in your neighborhood, I'd be taking the car there for its next scheduled maintenance, with the service booklet in hand.

bwob

Racing minivans in my Miata is no fun

I own a '97 1.8L Miata. A few days after I purchased the car I noticed it's lack of power and rough ride (you never seem to notice the cons on a test drive). Well I consulted the web and found an endless supply of after market products. I purchased the usual: cold air intake, Borla exhaust, Koni springs. The car seems to run a little faster but I'm still getting beat by mini vans and even my brothers '90 CRX with 125,000 miles on it. Oh yeah the car has been maintained very well i.e.: oil change ever 3500 miles, tune ups once a year etc. I even had the fuel injectors cleaned professionally and that's not cheap. But still not much power. I'm ready to trade it in....

jack, Miami/Fl/USA

I don't spot a question in there, so all I can do is offer my condolences that the Miata isn't fast enough for you. However the car was never conceived as something to be fast, but rather fun. If you want straight-line performance, you probably should have looked at a Mustang Cobra. You might want to consider one of those when you're ready to trade. If you don't want to live with the 'Stang's fuel bills, perhaps you could swap your Miata for your brother-in-law's CRX.

bwob

Is it a 1.8 or a 1.84?

What is the displacement of the 1.8L engine? Is it 1800cc or 1840cc? I have a 1995 Classic Red, and I was think about using my engine size as my license tag number. That way I'd give those guys in Camaros and Mustangs something to read as I pull away from them.

By the way, I think someone should designate the Miata as the official car of the next millennium (especially before some wise guy from another auto manufacturer decides to do the same thing for the Z3 or MR2).

Bill Goebel, Clinton, OH, USA

It's 1840 Bill. That's one of the reasons that the Miata has had more competition bits in the system for the 1.6 rather than the 1.8. Many competition classes in Japan, Europe and even Australia break classifications at 1.3 to 1.6 litres and 1.6 to 2.0 litres. This puts the 1598cc 1.6L Miata at the top of a class, while the poor 1840 has to face off against cars up to 2000cc. Not much of an inducement to make competition bits for the larger engine.

You know Bill, if you're able to show a clean pair of heels to Camaros and the like, you ought to talk to Jack (above). Of course they may have awfully strong Minivans in Miami. Mind you with all the high powered machinery I used to see in Miami Vice, I wouldn't be too surprised...

bwob