MIATA POST

"Local Miata Bro" (hyundaiaccentsarefastbro)
06/28/2015 at 18:27 • Filed to: Miata

well

since Jake captain of the Murdersofa is calling out Miata owners, I figured it’s time for an update on Mia. Incase some of you didn’t know I bought a 1 owner 1994 Miata M edition on the cheap since it was parked for a year and a half back in November. She had 79,747 miles and a fresh oil change on the date of purchase. My dad then drove her from Nashville all the way back to Missouri without an issue. Since November we have put on ~4300 almost care free miles. She has a bit of a coolant issue, that we can’t seem to find, it just looses a bit of coolant every fill up.

Like most enthusiasts I AutoCross her on the regular, I just finished my 4th one this year, finishing 3rd of 9 in E Street. Below are some photos from my potato that somewhat show what ownership is like.

^Full tire set in the car

DISCUSSION (11)

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Local Miata Bro
06/28/2015 at 19:13

I recently had a coolant loss issue... It turned out to be the water pump, which isn’t really visible until you take off the engine protector. Might be your issue too? I had no idea what it was for a couple weeks. Also I feel it’s best to ignore jealous sofa drivers.

Axial > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
06/28/2015 at 19:47

The 1996 Corvette also has a water pump issue. I used to think it was a heater core issue because I’d smell coolant inside the car intermittently, but there were none of the other issues normally associated with heater core. Then I started getting periodic “Low Coolant” warnings. One day, I parked it and then saw orange DexCool just streaming out from under the car.

It is now garaged and won’t start unless you open the hood and let it spend time drying out since the water pump is right over the distributor.

Bottom line, HyundaiBro, you should check that shit and fix it before it becomes super srs.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Axial
06/28/2015 at 20:16

Replacing the pump wouldn't do any good for the vette?!

Axial > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
06/28/2015 at 20:59

It would; I haven’t exactly been driving the ‘96! I haven’t been driving much at all for the last six weeks, since the ZR-1 was also down. I had to drive the ‘96 once in an emergency situation so that my youngest brother wouldn’t be stranded somewhere and I had to drive it to swap places with the now-fixed ZR-1 earlier today. Had to fill the completely dry coolant reservoir and let it sit with the hood up pretty much all day to get it to start. Last time, it only had to sit with the hood up for about 30 minutes.

So, now that it’s in the garage, the ‘96 can get the TLC it deserves. Eventually.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Axial
06/28/2015 at 21:09

Ah, well the miatas all I got, so if something goes wrong I have the necessary incentive to fix it!

Local Miata Bro > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
06/28/2015 at 22:26

That might just be our problem. Today after running 12 AutoCross runs I’d pissed about a cup of coolant on the ground. We initially thought it was the top radiator hose that we just replaced, but it was bone dry.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Local Miata Bro
06/28/2015 at 22:42

One of the only things I’ve had a shop do on my Miata, because it was already there and they had the parts. Also it looks pretty involved to do the water pump... Good luck!

Local Miata Bro > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
06/28/2015 at 22:50

I wouldn’t do it, I work as a porter at a shop so I get cheap labor....

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Local Miata Bro
06/28/2015 at 23:21

hmmm... well there you go. i think its fm that makes the best quality water pump, wish i would have gotten it... hoping the one i got lasts :)

Local Miata Bro > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
06/29/2015 at 18:22

Since FM is out of stock in water pumps I went with an OEM Mazda one since I can get a discount.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Local Miata Bro
06/29/2015 at 19:27

Fair enough, prob better than my grant (I think) pump... Everything else on my car I've done oem or better.