Another new addition!

Ok, looks like I've got bigger problems now. When I went to pull it into the garage this afternoon, it would fire, but then die. If I gave it gas it would run, and seemed to run a bit longer as it got warmed up, but died each time.

Anyone want to come by some time and help me figure this thing out?


Hmmm. That's odd. Check for water on the passenger side floor board. If the heater core has ruptured near the firewall, it could have damaged the ECU (and could be the cause for the leak outside). However, the ECU sits up pretty high, so it's just a thought. Check the connection to the air meter as well.
 
I'm wondering if this isn't a pre-existing problem. The car had been driven a while before I saw it yesterday, so it's possible that it will run fine after it gets warm.

After inspecting a bit more under the hood a bad connection is entirely possible. There seem to be a few things with loose electrical tape on them, and I pulled out a random piece of wire with duct tape on it as well.

Somebody hold me. I'm scared.
 
I'm wondering if this isn't a pre-existing problem. The car had been driven a while before I saw it yesterday, so it's possible that it will run fine after it gets warm.

After inspecting a bit more under the hood a bad connection is entirely possible. There seem to be a few things with loose electrical tape on them, and I pulled out a random piece of wire with duct tape on it as well.

Somebody hold me. I'm scared.

Don't be skurred. These problems will be easy enough to work through.

Take a few pics of the taped areas under the hood. I'm curious to see what the potential problem spots might be.
 
Don't be skurred. These problems will be easy enough to work through.

Take a few pics of the taped areas under the hood. I'm curious to see what the potential problem spots might be.

Note the loose connector dangling in the middle of the shot. My temp gauge problem?
Miata018.jpg


This was just sitting in the engine bay. This is why I'm frightened.
Miata016.jpg


This looks like quite the professional job...
Miata015.jpg
 
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The hanging connector is indeed supposed to be connected to the temperature sender for the guage. That is it's only purpose. The ECU references the water temp from another sensor.

The rogue wire, I haven't a clue. Where was it found, generally?

The last picture is of the thermoswitch. It controls the cooling fan. The wire for that is known to sort of peel pack. Pull the tape off and inspect it. If it's still in tact, don't worry too much about it. EDIT: Looking further at that switch, it's definatley been replaced with an aftermarket one. Check the connection quality....easy fix regardless.

You're also missing the upper timing cover (just below the valve cover). I have an extra one if you're in need.
 
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The hanging connector is indeed supposed to be connected to the temperature sender for the guage. That is it's only purpose. The ECU references the water temp from another sensor.

The rogue wire, I haven't a clue. Where was it found, generally?

The last picture is of the thermoswitch. It controls the cooling fan. The wire for that is known to sort of peel pack. Pull the tape off and inspect it. If it's still in tact, don't worry too much about it. EDIT: Looking further at that switch, it's definatley been replaced with an aftermarket one. Check the connection quality....easy fix regardless.

You're also missing the upper timing cover (just below the valve cover). I have an extra one if you're in need.


Cool, thanks. That would probably fix that problem. Now I just have to find the sender somewhere back there...

Don't remember where the wire came from. I'm hoping it isn't needed somewhere.

I'll check the connection. I'm also thinking I should replace the plugs and wires, and I should probably check the timing.

Awesome. I don't know if I need it to be legal, but it's probably a good idea to have one anyway. I'd appreciate it. Is there anything you don't have spares of?

BTW, any chance you've got a functional cat sitting around I could borrow/buy cheap to pass emissions and get it registered?
 
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Cool, thanks. That would probably fix that problem. Now I just have to find the sender somewhere back there...

Don't remember where the wire came from. I'm hoping it isn't needed somewhere.

I'll check the connection. I'm also thinking I should replace the plugs and wires, and I should probably check the timing.

Awesome. I don't know if I need it to be legal, but it's probably a good idea to have one anyway. I'd appreciate it. Is there anything you don't have spares of?

BTW, any chance you've got a functional cat sitting around I could borrow/buy cheap to pass emissions and get it registered?

A good racer always has spares, I say. That said, I have a crap load of, well, crap in the basement. ;)

I have half of a 1.6 cat that came off the white car when I did the 1.8 swap. However, it still passed emissions. You're welcome to borrow it.
 
Man...Seems like everyone is going 1st gen Miata crazy around here...I love it! :D Shouldn't be long before we've got multiple Miata project threads going...maybe we can have some sort of Mazdas247 Miata challenge!...(rockon)

Schweet find...Keep us updated! :D
 
A good racer always has spares, I say. That said, I have a crap load of, well, crap in the basement. ;)

I have half of a 1.6 cat that came off the white car when I did the 1.8 swap. However, it still passed emissions. You're welcome to borrow it.

Half a cat? Well, if it passed emissions, maybe I'll give it a shot.

Man...Seems like everyone is going 1st gen Miata crazy around here...I love it! :D Shouldn't be long before we've got multiple Miata project threads going...maybe we can have some sort of Mazdas247 Miata challenge!...(rockon)

Schweet find...Keep us updated! :D

Well, right now it's kind of just "Project make sure it goes from A to B". I don't like walking.
 
Half a cat? Well, if it passed emissions, maybe I'll give it a shot.

Yeah, it had gone thermal at some point and I didn't know part of it was missing until I removed it. It's a 3-way cat, so only 1 of the 2 "bricks" is missing. I passed emissions with flying colors the last time I used it.
 
Ok, so I've got new plugs, wires, a new CAS O-ring, and a jug of fresh premium. If none of this solves my stalling problem, I think this may get more expensive than I was expecting.

Hopefully, I can get all of this tackled and try to get to fixing my windows tonight.
 
So, with a little help from Kevin talking me through a couple things, I may have found the source of my coolant leak. Where the temp gauge sensor is supposed to go, there is nothing.

Problem is, Kevin gave me a sensor that should go there, and fits the connector that should connect to it, but the hole that is there is way too small for the sensor to fit in.

Miata025.jpg


Miata024.jpg


Miata023.jpg


Miata022.jpg


You'll have to excuse the pics. The damned thing's on the back of the block, and that's actually a reflection of the hole in a mirror. I can't even really see the thing, let alone get the camera in to take a decent picture.
 
It looks like someone has installed a plug in there. From what I can see, it looks as though it can be removed with an allen wrench. That certainly doesn't look like the source of the coolant leak, however.

EDIT: upon further review, I'm not sure that's the right port. It's further back and more in the center of the head. If you'd like I can snap a pic of one of the heads in the basement.
 
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It looks like someone has installed a plug in there. From what I can see, it looks as though it can be removed with an allen wrench. That certainly doesn't look like the source of the coolant leak, however.

EDIT: upon further review, I'm not sure that's the right port. It's further back and more in the center of the head. If you'd like I can snap a pic of one of the heads in the basement.

I'm working off of this picture. The port is right above the water cap, and the sensor you gave me looks like the one in the picture in the same spot.

image010.jpg


BTW, the caption on that pic is awesome, and it's soooooo true.
 
I'm working off of this picture. The port is right above the water cap, and the sensor you gave me looks like the one in the picture in the same spot.



BTW, the caption on that pic is awesome, and it's soooooo true.

That's the right one. You're pics were throwing me off a bit. Try fitting an allen wrench in that plug. There are long ones available at home depot.

That still doesn't answer the question of the coolant leak. Maybe it's blowing past that plug?
 
That's the right one. You're pics were throwing me off a bit. Try fitting an allen wrench in that plug. There are long ones available at home depot.

That still doesn't answer the question of the coolant leak. Maybe it's blowing past that plug?

I'm actually afraid that your worst fears may be correct. There doesn't really seem to be any coolant around there. The only place I see it is...

Miata019.jpg
 
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