by "for Michigan" (formichigan)
Published 01/11/2017 at 14:45
by "for Michigan" (formichigan)
Published 01/11/2017 at 14:45
Tags: Help
; Mazda mx-5 Miata
STARS: 1
I knew the gas gauge on the Miata didn’t work. I knew the last time it got fuel was when my brother was here for Christmas. I knew it wasn’t smart to go over 200 miles on a tank of gas. But like the pretentious dumbass that I am, I assumed my brother forgot to reset the trip meter when he filled it up last time because that’s the kind of brother I am.
The Miata is fine, it just ran out of gas. The only damaged thing here is my own ego and I think I had that coming.
Thanks to SidewaysOnDirt, JimZ, and iSureWill for the help, though.
Took the Miata up to the auto parts store to get MAF sensor cleaner for the 3. Now I’m stranded because the Miata won’t run. Details after the jump.
Miata has been fine for a while. We’ve been using it a bit more lately because the weather has been quite mild for January and because my 3 has been temperamental (story for another time).
Took it to get coffee on the way to the auto parts store. Initially, it seemed to bog a little under 2500 rpm, but it just sat in sub freezing temperatures for a week, so I figured it just needed to run for a bit and it’d be fine. Seemed fine by the time I stopped to get coffee, started up fine, made it to the auto parts store fine.
Got my stuff, got in the car, started it up, put it in reverse and let the clutch out and it started to stall. Back into neutral. Idle stumbled and it stalled. Start. Stall. Shit.
Check engine light’s been on since maybe September (not my car), but thought I’d see what the code was. P0455, major EVAP leak. Forums say the symptoms point to a vacuum leak somewhere.
Let it sit 10-15 minutes. Start. Stall.
Can anyone help?
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/11/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0
Seems like a vacuum leak to me, and it seems like the OBD code narrowed down where it is. Replace the probably cracked hose and you’ll be fine.
"jimz" (jimz)
01/11/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 0
can you keep it running by stepping on the gas pedal?
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 0
Nope.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 0
So based on the OBD code, where would it be? I’m still a bit of a novice with diagnostics.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/11/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 1
Between the throttle body and the EVAP canister probably. There should be a vacuum diagram in the engine bay, probably on the inside of the hood.
"jimz" (jimz)
01/11/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 1
well, EVAP leaks usually don’t cause driveability problems, unless the carbon canister itself is cracked/leaking. or the hose(s) the engine uses to draw out the fuel vapor from it. so if you’ve got no other codes, I’d start there.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 0
Got it. Thanks for the help.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/11/2017 at 13:40, STARS: 0
Seems like the latter to me. I’m guessing standard old-car cracked hose vacuum leak,
"iSureWilll" (isurewilll)
01/11/2017 at 13:40, STARS: 1
Pop the hood and look for cracked/broken hoses. Check the ones coming off of the intake/intake manifold. My guess is you’ll find one that’s ripped wide open since you can’t keep it running with your foot on the loud pedal.
"jimz" (jimz)
01/11/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 0
that’s the norm. though I don’t know where the Miata has it, but I’ve seen a number of cars where the canister is in a vulnerable location under the car.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/11/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 0
In the engine bay on NAs and NBs by the right wheelwell above some sheet metal. Not sure on later models.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 13:50, STARS: 0
I think it’s actually in the right-rear wheel well. The shield is rusted through, but the canister itself looks fine. I can’t find cracked or torn hoses anywhere.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 0
I’ve been looking and I can’t see any cracked, torn, or disconnected hoses anywhere.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
01/11/2017 at 13:58, STARS: 0
Pretty sure that’s it sitting next to the throttle body.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 0
I’m finding conflicting information, but based on the diagram under the hood, it looks like you’re right.
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 14:01, STARS: 0
I still don’t see anything that’s cracked, torn, or disconnected though.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
01/11/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 1
Best solution ever!
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 14:55, STARS: 0
I was so relieved when I emptied the gas can into the tank, turned the key, and the car started right up.
"Rico" (ricorich)
01/11/2017 at 14:56, STARS: 1
Is fixing the gas gauge that expensive?
"Tazio, Count Fouroff" (tazio0625)
01/11/2017 at 14:59, STARS: 1
+1 for coming clean!
"Tazio, Count Fouroff" (tazio0625)
01/11/2017 at 14:59, STARS: 1
+1 for coming clean!
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
01/11/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 2
I don’t know, it isn’t my car. Fixing the gas gauge is probably so far down my brother’s list of priorities that it doesn’t even register.
This is the second car to come back from our mechanic with a new fuel pump and a non-functional gas gauge. I’m kind of thinking it’s time to find a new mechanic.
"Rico" (ricorich)
01/11/2017 at 15:10, STARS: 0
I actually don’t know what’s involved with fixing the gas gauge on a Miata which is why I asked if it was expensive. Honestly the mechanic should fix it for free or discount since it was after their work it stopped working.
Luckily this happened in broad day light in a place where you could get gas, what if you were stranded on some highway somewhere in the middle of the night, could’ve ended badly.
"Orange Exige" (OrangeExige)
01/11/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 1
This was a good story - especially reading the story after the story XD
We’ve all been there - well maybe not specifically running out of gas but inconveniently braking down and/or doing stupid things - so just chalk this one up to lessons learned... And a good story to look back on!
In the words of my eighth grade teacher: You know what assuming does... ;)
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
01/11/2017 at 21:45, STARS: 0
The last time I ran out of gas, it was -20°F and falling, and I was driving along a recently reopened stretch of highway through nowhere in the middle of the night and had only passed one car the entire length of the 120 mile run. Fortunately I ran out 200 feet from my house. The difference is I knew for a fact I was going to be cutting it real close and was only going out for fast food. Some people aren’t as stupid as others.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
01/12/2017 at 11:52, STARS: 1
Fuel pump and sending unit is right behind the drivers seat under a hatch on the parcel shelf. It’s roughly 15 minutes to take the whole thing out of the gas tank, then use a multimeter to make sure the sending unit (what controls the gas gauge) is working properly.