Working on a Miata

Today I had the fun opportunity to drive and work on an "NA" Miata. It belongs to a friend of ours and has been causing some troubles. The problem was described to me as "the car dies sometimes when I am stopped". Really helpful there. The owner of the car had access to another vehicle so chose to ignore the problem rather than fix it. Now the other vehicle is returning to its rightful owner (her mother) and the Miata has to work.

So the wife and I loaded some basic tools into the spider and hit the road. First thing I did was drive the car. The owner chose not to join me so I took the chance to really feel out the car. Besides I have ridden with her. She shifts this thing like an automatic. I doubt it had ever seen more than 3000 rpm before I got in. The car drove well. The problem became apparent after a couple miles. For whatever reason, when the car returns to idle, it takes a moment to regain engine speed. That is to say it drops below idle and comes back up. Hmm. Well this car being too old to have obd2, and not having a check engine light flashing for me for the obd1, I had to just sit and think about the problem.

The internet is a great automotive tool these days. I found a nice Miata forum and started digging around. In reality this is the same process I use on my Alfas. Quickly I found other people with the same problems and they confirmed my suspicions. The ISC valve was out of whack. If this was an Alfa, I would know what to do. Instead I read a lengthy and informative paper about how these things work on the miata and how to diagnose and repair them. In the end the procedure is the same as an Alfa. Step one.... remove hose. Step two... spray carb cleaner into valve. Step three.... reconnect hose. That was it. Sure, it was a little more complicated than that. In fact, trying to hold a hose up, manually work the throttle on a running engine, and spray carb cleaner into the system all at the same time required more hands than I was born with, so I had my lovely assistant spray the cleaner.

After a couple long squirts the car is idling perfectly. Mazda even saw fit to put a neat little dashpot on the throttle to act as a damper right before the butterfly slams shut. Not sure why this is required, but it sure does smooth things out when the revs are coming down. I am really glad this project was so easy to finish. These days I wonder why I even entertain peoples thoughts about me fixing their modern cars. If it is not an Alfa, I really have no clue. But when you can walk into a situation blind, and save the day for a friend, it sure does feel good.

Ok, and now for the part you have all been waiting for.... how did it compare to my spider....

Well, first lets give some context. My spider is a ragged out '85 on its second engine, burning lots of oil, squeaking, and clunking down the road. That said, it is my daily driver and has been very faithful. Not to mention the a/c can get down to 35 degrees at the vents!!!! Pick your jaw up off the floor and keep reading!

The Miata is a '91 (I think) with the 1.6L engine. This car needs a loving home. The current owner is your typical driver. (note I did not say lady driver... I know you were thinking it Bonnie!!) She does what she has to to keep the car running, but never really gives it that extra treatment to keep it perfect and nice. The top is torn. There is a huge dent where a tree fell on the car. There is the smell of a fuel leak in the engine compartment. The air needs to be recharged. The center console is messed up from vandals, who still managed to leave the radio. The car smells funny and tends to be sticky on the interior. The trunk has things in it that clunk and move when cornering hard. I could keep going, but you get the point.

So how do they compare? Well in side by side testing, my seatofthepants-o-meter gives the award to the spider. Everything is better about the spider. The engine sounds, the interior, the handling, the shifter. I know the Alfa tranny is special and not everyone likes it. But I have to say, I have yet to find a modern car that shifts with such a nice feel. And to top it off, I have no use for a short throw shifter. I am not in a drag race. I want to have some motion associated with my shifts. I want to feel the bits moving inside. But I do not want to have to really work to get things where I want them. The miata shifter was not vague like most modern cars, but it was too extreme in the opposite way. Too tight. I really had to muscle each throw. Ugh. And then there is the handling. Wow. I prefer the spider not because it is faster. It isn't. I think the miata maybe needs a rebuild somewhere between the tires and the chassis. It has tons of grip. It just held and held and held. Amazing. But what I did not like was this weird way it would change direction unexpectedly in the middle of the corner. I would turn the wheel and start the turn. Then once the car took its set my direction would change. It would turn more into the corner than what I had requested. It is almost like something is loose and causing rear wheel steer once the weight is all transfered. It was very disconcerting. The really cool part was how the car still held. Tons of grip. It is amazing how I can throw it into a corner, and then it decides to take a tighter line and still holds. Wow. But scary. My ragged out spider has all original suspension. I think the ball joints are going. I had to replace the rear sway bar end link bushings because the originals actually fell apart. That is how rough my suspension is. But still, I have tons of grip, and she stays pointed where I tell her to go. I guess I should try driving a miata in better shape and make another evaluation.

My final thought about this is simple. My spider is 6 years older than the miata and has probably led a harder life. But in the end, she has stood the test of time and will continue to be a special classic on par with todays great cars. Remember... kiss french, but drive Italian!!

P.S.- should the owner of the Miata ever read this... I mean no harm. Your car is very nice. To quote ferris bueller... I don't even have a piece of shit... I have to envy yours! This has less to do with the quality of your car and more to do with making me feel good about mine. And if I am lucky, you will still call me next time it breaks.

Roof Drains

This Alfa world of ours has lots of special moments. Like when you have to kick the fuse box while driving down the road to get the a/c to stay running.

Well today I had one of those moments. I found out my top drains are working properly. How? It was raining. Not just a little rain. Monsoon rain. Trees leaning sideways rain. Wish I was in the Milano rain. Wish I did not have to drive at all rain. But Abrianna just loves the rain, so no big deal. Anyways, my little green monster was urinating a nice clean stream on both sides. There was enough rain draining from the top to clearly identify where the drain water emerges from the bottom of the car. I already knew the top drains were clear from when I replaced the top. I blew them out with compressed air, and dumped water down the holes. Today, I was standing a good 15 feet away from the car and could see the water streaming from underneath.

I am serious here. I am not saying there was a drip coming from a certain location. The whole car was dripping, it was raining!! This was a stream of water. A continuous stream. Like pouring water from a pitcher.

The point is.... it was really cool!! Just another one of those special smiling ear to ear moments we Alfisti are so famous for.