Miata down

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/29/2018 at 14:16 • Filed to: None

Dropped off at the Firestone down the street to address the wheel bearing. Unfortunately I’ve confirmed that my fan isn’t turning on, which... Is a problem. For now I’m just avoiding traffic, and watching the coolant temp gauge like a hawk.

After the Oppo meet I’m thinking about going to the local race shop and getting them to do my coolant reroute, install new SPAL fans, re-mount seats lower and further back, do engine seals, belts and water pump.

Or just save the money and continue to spend the bare minumum to keep the Miata alive, which has been working great so far!

Still looking at Volvos. Unfortunately all of my top choices have sold :(

DISCUSSION (33)

jasmits > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 14:21

Did you check relays and fuses? Always check relays and fuses.

AestheticsInMotion > jasmits
08/29/2018 at 14:25

Of course! Who do you think I am!?

*writes down reminder to check relays and fuses*

StudyStudyStudy > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 14:29

Bummer!

Make sure you check for play or an obstruction if it is a fuse.

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 14:31

W hen all else fails, just wire in a new fan circuit! There is so much ghetto wiring on my pile, including a switch on the dash that operates the fan.

Aremmes > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 14:32

Dropped off at the Firestone

Oh god why would you do that? Googling "firestone sucks" yields a treasure trove of sad hilarity.

gawdzillla > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 14:45

counter point, st ock fans are better than spals

AestheticsInMotion > StudyStudyStudy
08/29/2018 at 14:47

I'm wondering if this could be a thermostat issue? Thermostat opens up at a certain temperature with gets the fan to go on, right?

AestheticsInMotion > Decay buys too many beaters
08/29/2018 at 14:51

Your Miata is near the top of my "Oppo cars I want to see in the flesh" list.

AestheticsInMotion > gawdzillla
08/29/2018 at 14:51

Oh?

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 14:55

I was planning to make the trip up for the meet this weekend, but a friend decided to go and get married at the sam e time.

Aremmes > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 14:57

It might be the coolant temperature sensor on the back of the cylinder head (assuming you haven’t done a coolant reroute) giving up the ghost. It should have a resistance of 20 ohms.

Kinja'd!!!

gawdzillla > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 15:33

the more you know . jpg

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 15:36

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/d/2004-volvo-rare-v70-turbo/6683224284.html

https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/d/volvo-s60/6681685660.html

jasmits > StudyStudyStudy
08/29/2018 at 15:46

Hahaha x2 on obstruction. A few summers ago I brought a rather neglected Alfa Romeo 164 back from the dead. The previous owner had stopped driving it a few years prior due to intermittent overheating issues he’d bought it with and was unable to solve. That combined with some crud in the coolant overflow lead him to think it needed head gaskets. Well, I gave it a good once over(replaced all the fluids and stuff) and fired it up. Seemed to run great actually, no evidence of head gasket issues. No heat issues driving it around the neighborhood a bit. Then I let it idle for a bit and the temps slowly climbed till I got nervous and shut it off. It occurred to me I didn’t think I’d heard the fan kick on, so I checked the fuse for the fan and there wasn’t one! So, stick a fuse in, let it idle up to temp, the fan kicks on and BANG BANG BANG BANG. So, I shut it off and took a look! Turned out the end of a bolt related to the aftermarket radiator it had was impacting the fan. A few minutes with a dremel, and no more overheating

Longtime Lurker > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 15:55

Usually thermostat and fans are separate functions.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 16:14

Coolant temp sensor tells the ecu when to switch fans on.

Fans will come on regardless of thermostat operation.

Temp sensor, relay, fuse, or wiring should be where you start.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 16:56

Wheel bearings aren’t that hard to do. I just did mine a few months ago since they were roaring. Although given your home parking situation it probably is annoying to do most work yourself. That also sounds like some awesome work to have done one way or the other. Definitely will be worthwhile for the reliability aspects of it. Moving the seats is definitely something to do at home though lol. Just need a flex head ratcheting 14mm wrench!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 17:00

Nah if your thermostat was stuck shut you'd be fucked no matter what you did, traffic or not lol. Make sure to jump the fan power, connect the power directly to live power. Can help sort out if it's a fuse, relay, or something else.

StudyStudyStudy > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 19:43

Coolant sensors are usually on the motor unless you have an aftermarket fan controller and have a probe in the radiator like I do (ECU sees engine temps though) . If the thermostat failed it would be stuck with it bound up usually keeping the coolant in the engine which should in theory cause temps to be really high and cause the fan to kick on and stay on even if the radiator is cold. You could check with either a multimeter to see if the fan is getting any voltage when you get to operating temp or you can see if the radiator feels warm when the engine is hot. If the radiator is cold but the engine is at or above operating temp then it could be a stuck thermostat at which point you could try hitting the housing to free it, but that shouldn’t cause your fan to not come on.

StudyStudyStudy > jasmits
08/29/2018 at 19:45

It is funny, sometimes fuses to go, but usually there is a reason. I’ve seen people just carry tons of spare fuses and never take a minute to trace the wire or check the fused item. Especially on rotating assemblies with motors short of shot bearings in the motor or a brush going out you can usually find witness marks.

jasmits > StudyStudyStudy
08/29/2018 at 20:02

I just can’t believe that some previous owner of this Alfa went through all the trouble and expense of fitting an increased capacity radiator on custom brackets etc(it was a nice ass radiator and even a reasonably well done install besides this one bolt lol , must have cost at least a few hundred bucks) but instead of going the last literal inch(a dremel or an angle grinder is not an expensive item) and shaving the end of the bolt or, gee I dunno, finding a shorter one they decided to say screw it, pull the fan fuse and hope they don’t hit any traffic literally ever. When I noticed it was missing it didn’t even occur to me that it could be something like this, being an Alfa I just assumed that a more crucial-to-getting-home fuse had gone at some point(I dunno, fuel pump or something) and some PO had borrowed the fan fuse and forgotten.

daender > AestheticsInMotion
08/29/2018 at 22:32

The stock fans are pretty fine, try to source a used set from another Miata . Might want to check the thermostat to see if it’s opening correctly. Put it a pot of boiling water and see if it opens at the correct temperature!

I forgot what model year your Miata is. If it’s ‘94 then the temp gauge should be fully functional. If not, then I can search up a thread on how to make it more linear instead of being a dummy gauge.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Decay buys too many beaters
08/29/2018 at 22:50

Your friend is so selfish!!!

StudyStudyStudy > jasmits
08/30/2018 at 02:15

It is odd, you never know when the screw it attitude hits, I’ve done the same, sacrifice interior lights for wiper blades in the rain lol.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > AestheticsInMotion
08/30/2018 at 03:58

my fan in my NB hasnt worked for like 3 years. Never had an issue with overheating

ihm96 > AestheticsInMotion
08/30/2018 at 07:54

Does it need the fan? My z3 blew its fan apart and ripped the cooling system to shred a year and a half ago and I never replaced the fan and it’s been fine. I should remove the remnant fan at somebody point which just spins with no blades lol. The key is the car has a second electric fan and I discovered the one that broke that’s on the front of the engine is more of a backup. The other reason I didn’t replace it aside from that is the exhaust note is heard much better now

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AestheticsInMotion
08/31/2018 at 14:29

you know a blown head gasket is a good excuse for an engine swap. just sayin’

AestheticsInMotion > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/31/2018 at 14:34

I hate to say it but I've thought that same thought many times

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AestheticsInMotion
08/31/2018 at 14:35

f20c

AestheticsInMotion > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/31/2018 at 14:37

*spends 20k on engine swap*

*still slow af*

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AestheticsInMotion
08/31/2018 at 15:42

f20c turbo!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AestheticsInMotion
08/31/2018 at 15:46

1UZ with ITBs

AestheticsInMotion > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/31/2018 at 16:15

Yes. Tiny Borg-warner please? Low boost at super low rpm and keep the high redline?

Now I just need monies...