Hate my miata
11-15-2007, 06:49 AM
#1
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Hate my miata
I have a '90 mariner that was wrecked about 2 years ago and I have been working on it since then. I've replaced the front shocks, Robbins soft top, front left control arms, steering linkage, rotors/pads (old ones were warped), all of the belts, and have just recently gone back under to tighten the control arms again due to making a banging noise every time i hit a bump. Last week it started getting cool and the belts started squeaking so i tightened my alternator/wp belt and the problem went away. But while down there i noticed there was wiggle in my a/c compressor again, i thought i fixed the wiggle when i was working on the top because i had replaced a lost bolt, and now it seems that the bolt has worked its way out again, but anywho i don't use a/c in the winter. Well after driving around i noticed that the belts had stopped squeaking and thought i had solved the problem this winter, but then the next day the belts were squeaking just as bad as they were before i did anything. And now I'm noticing more noise coming from the suspension when on rough roads or going over bumps, and I'm also hearing some modulation as I hit the brakes (front right end, the wreck was in the front left) but it can't be a warped rotor already can it, i also don't feel any vibration in the pedal like i did with the warped rotor? Is there some bigger more sinister problem with my car thats causing all this **** to go bad all of a sudden?
John
John
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11-15-2007, 07:00 AM
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If your belts aren't slipping, a quick squirt of some armor-all on them takes out the squeek. They have belt dressing out there, but it's sticky and causes more mess than good. Simple, yet effective....nothing to hate your MIata over. You should also try and use locktite (blue) on every bolt- NOT grounding bolts (loctite can act as a insulator). For your brakes, you may be missing the little springs that push out the pads when not in use.....if you don't have these installed, you may get some slight pad rubbing from time to time without pressing the pedal (usually happens when turning).
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11-15-2007, 11:59 AM
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John,
sorry to hear about your continued probs. understand tho: your car is 17 years old coming up on 18. when you work on your own car, and you don't do a thorough job, things are gonna eff up.
re: a/c compressor. if you torqued down the bolt properly, there is almost no way that beast of a bolt is gonna back itself out.
re: belts. not sure what you did to alleviate the prob. if you replaced the belts, re-check the tension; if you didn't, and the various dressings/tricks didn't fix 'em, just change out to new belts. they're cheap as can be.
re: suspension noise. might be new time for new bushings. again, the car's 17 years old...
g'luck.
sorry to hear about your continued probs. understand tho: your car is 17 years old coming up on 18. when you work on your own car, and you don't do a thorough job, things are gonna eff up.
re: a/c compressor. if you torqued down the bolt properly, there is almost no way that beast of a bolt is gonna back itself out.
re: belts. not sure what you did to alleviate the prob. if you replaced the belts, re-check the tension; if you didn't, and the various dressings/tricks didn't fix 'em, just change out to new belts. they're cheap as can be.
re: suspension noise. might be new time for new bushings. again, the car's 17 years old...
g'luck.
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11-15-2007, 12:27 PM
#8
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i've been suspecting the bushings for some time now, just haven't had the drive to change them. As for the tension on the belts, its the tensioner itself that keeps backing out, so i think I'll end up using two nuts to lock it in place. As for the compressor, I'm just goint to start using loctite on EVERYTHING. I know it may be the age of the car, but my older '89 240 is in better condition and never needs any additional lovin'. I'm picking up a $300 miata tomorrow and I hope it fairs better than the current one.
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11-15-2007, 01:06 PM
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Rub valve grinding compound on the belt in about 4 spots after re-tightening. If this doesnt fix it, get a new belt, use loc tite on the bolts for the tensioner.
I dont have any of the springs in the caliper and I dont have issues fwiw.
I dont have any of the springs in the caliper and I dont have issues fwiw.
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This is a solid decision.
11-16-2007, 08:25 AM
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Hustler-the kid with car is trying to sell it fast because his parents won't give him his new car until his miata is gone. The downsides to it are the bad top and the euro taillights
oh yeah and he's put some aftermarket turn signals in because his were stolen from the car
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11-16-2007, 08:36 AM
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yeah i figured that much, but it was worth clarification.
Hustler-the kid with car is trying to sell it fast because his parents won't give him his new car until his miata is gone. The downsides to it are the bad top and the euro taillights
oh yeah and he's put some aftermarket turn signals in because his were stolen from the car
Hustler-the kid with car is trying to sell it fast because his parents won't give him his new car until his miata is gone. The downsides to it are the bad top and the euro taillights
oh yeah and he's put some aftermarket turn signals in because his were stolen from the car
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