Bought a 1991 MX-5 (Eunos) needs work

[Lady Muck]

Ok so I managed to get myself a much wanted Mx5 and it was love at first sight. I particularly wanted a Eunos and a Mk1. So I found one that I felt was in pretty good nick for her age, so I bought it.

This is where it all goes wrong.

Day 1 - Fine
Day 2 - Fine
Day 3 - Stalls and wont resart for an hour (starts when greeflag turn up!)
Day 4 - I pull off the valve when topping up the rear nearside tyre. (Hobble to garage on space saver tyre)
Day 5 - Fine but juddery when pulling way in traffic.
Day 6 - On way to garage car judders to a halt won't restart for 30 minutes then judders all the way there with Green Flag behind me!

So now to the garage whom I am not sure I am completely 100% confident in.

Booked in for full service, shocks and HT leads and coil. (Hopefully that will solve the issue!)

They call me an hour later to say that the following is wrong:

3 new tyres (One has wires showing apparently, though I didn't spot that)
Front discs getting worn (I suspect they will last longer so not worried there)
Shocks have slight oil leak (That does worry me)
Nearside Ball joint boot split (Yuk)
Rear diff has slight oil leak (I knew about that)

So now I am feeling pretty crappy and stupid. That'll teach me to not give the underside a good through checking!

The one thing that worries me is the juddering (over accelerating) when pulling away, does this scream clutch to you?)

I need to say at this point, none of the problems were apparent on day one or two how could it go so wrong so quickly?


aaaggghhh

[pewe]

Sounds as if your heart ruled your head blinding you to its real condition.
Suffice to say most of us have been there.
Having said that, and providing there are no further problems looming, you can't go far wrong with a Mk1 - ask me how I know..... even if it's only to see the smile on peoples' faces as you flash the pop-up headlights (flash-to-pass an easy mod if it hasn't already been done).
You're also the possessor of the purest MX5.
Depending on where you are there are some pretty good specialists about who will give you lots of advice.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe.

[Rickyy]

They are not terrible faults for a 24 year old car!

Tyres and brakes will obviously wear out on any car.

The other faults shouldn't be too expensive to sort.

As for the juddering. My MX5, my van and my old 1-Series, which are all rear wheel drive, judder/juddered.

The MX5 and van only do it when cold, the 1 Series would only do it if you didn't have the perfect technique pulling away.

My old VW Caddy also did it, and I put up with it for 30k miles. So don't get too worried about it, it doesn't necessarily mean the clutch is on the way out.

I'd also suggest getting a second opinion from another garage, the faults mentioned seem typical of a garage trying to squeeze money out of a lady!

[VladD]

...and the other plus is that parts are quite cheap for the car, so you won't be spending a fortune fixing it.

[drgoatboy]

don't panic!
If its on original 14" wheels, tyres are pretty cheap. I replaced all 4 for less than £200.

Shocks don't last for ever, you can get OEM replacements quite cheap, Autolink sell the cheapest ones I've seen. If you are tight for cash at the moment they will be fine for a bit I'm sure. If you have no history of when they were changed its probably a good idea to get them swapped anyway (it will drive so much better)

Juddering and cutting out, I'm no expert but it sounds like it only does it when its hot which suggests its an electrical gremlin. Dying sensor somewhere probably. The early MX5s do have a simple diagnostic system that can be read with a LED and resistor. Might be worth getting the garage to read the fault codes if they know how. Otherwise do a google to find out what to do.

As already said parts are cheap, and as lots are being scrapped because of rust engine parts are really cheap if you are prepare to take a risk and go 2nd hand. You can pick up a whole engine for £100 if needs be (although fitting it will be expensive).

[Lady Muck]

Thanks for the pep talk and suggestions. I was gutted yesterday morning when I broke down a second time in less than a week.

TBH I was rash with the purchase as I just had my heart set on a Mk1. And fell in love with this one after walking away from a couple of others.

Anyway my mindset is in a better place and I am just getting the urgent repairs done then will sort out the tyres next week.

Car is a little ratty but I kind of love that, looks used and much loved/driven. To the point I am not sure I want to sort out the cracked leather drivers seat. Does that sound odd?

Anyway here is my rat bag whom needs (and is getting) a little TLC.

[VladD]

Looks good.

[HaylingJag]

Looking good for the money, Den,

get it running right and you will forgive it a lot of things.

For info, i had lumpy idling and cutting out on mine and treated it to a set of leads and every thing was fine. If you have air con, even if it doesnt work, turn it on and see if the revs rise. Might prevent you cutting out.

Brake disks and pads are real cheap and a doddle to change, MX5 parts are doing a full set, fitted for £100 at the moment,

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/discs-pads-package-after...

Tyres can be had for £40 a corner, Ive had Toyo's on my 1.6 for the last few years and never paid more than £50 each fitted.

Enjoy it, oh, and dont forget it loves to rev!!!

[Lady Muck]

fk fk fk. Got car back. One lovely drive home. Then when I go out again 10 min later 5 min into trip and it starts again. I guess it's replacing the mass air flow meter next. Might give it a clean first but with my luck it will need replacing. Still smiling though and I still love the car.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Did the garage replace the coil pack? To me it sounds like the problem is either that or the CAS. The MAF on 1.8s is pretty bullet-proof.

[Lady Muck]

Yep. Coil pack had made no difference. Some online nosying has suggested I need to try the air flow sensor. It runs and now will restart when it stalls. It's running super rich. Only happens when it has run for a while. Car is 1.6 not sure about the CAS I'll look into that.

Ta

[drgoatboy]

Have a look on facebook there is a couple of buy and sell pages, you'll pick up a MAF cheap enough.

[Lady Muck]

Just found out I have misunderstood my MAF. It won't be the more modern "hot wire" but the type with the flap. (Forgive me but new to all this) so now watching videos on how to change the track the sensor runs on. I think I'll have a go before I plough ahead with replacing. Looks simple enough.......

[MX-5 Lazza]

I saw Mk1 P reg (I was looking at the wrong picture) and assumed 1.8. If it's 1.6 then it will be AFM (Air Flow Meter) rather than MAF and they can suffer a few problems.
If it's heat-soak related problems its more often the CAS though.

[JamesHayward]

Lady Muck said:

fk fk fk. Got car back. One lovely drive home. Then when I go out again 10 min later 5 min into trip and it starts again. I guess it's replacing the mass air flow meter next. Might give it a clean first but with my luck it will need replacing. Still smiling though and I still love the car.

I would bet really good money that it's the temperature sensor at the back of the head, underneath the coil pack. If that's gone then it needs to cool down before it will start again. It's quite common and has happened twice to me. So much so that I carry a spare sensor in the car.

Absolutely assure you that's what it is.

This is what you need - http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/sensor-water-temperature... It's quite easy to fit yourself too, provided you have a half decent set of spanners.

Edited by JamesHayward on Thursday 30th July 10:09

[nitrodave]

my missus had a juddering clutch on her mx5, i cured it by sticking it in 5th gear, hand brake on and riding the biting point for 15 seconds. It's been fine ever since

[MX-5 Lazza]

JamesHayward said:

Lady Muck said:

fk fk fk. Got car back. One lovely drive home. Then when I go out again 10 min later 5 min into trip and it starts again. I guess it's replacing the mass air flow meter next. Might give it a clean first but with my luck it will need replacing. Still smiling though and I still love the car.

I would bet really good money that it's the temperature sensor at the back of the head, underneath the coil pack. If that's gone then it needs to cool down before it will start again. It's quite common and has happened twice to me. So much so that I carry a spare sensor in the car.

Absolutely assure you that's what it is.

This is what you need - http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/sensor-water-temperature... It's quite easy to fit yourself too, provided you have a half decent set of spanners.

Edited by JamesHayward on Thursday 30th July 10:09

I've assured people of the same thing with the same symptoms before and it's turned out to be a dodgy CAS.

[Lady Muck]

So replaced the airflow sensor. Ran like a dream last night and so decided to give the car a run into work, 4 miles in and it started again. This time my OH drove back so I could view from the back as it played up. I could see black smoke from the exhaust when it tried to stall again (He managed to keep it running! So will done him as I have never managed it)So based on you guys (Thanks BTW, you have been really helpful) and a bit of research I am going to replace the CAS. Will get a 2nd hand part but not confident I can replace this myself.

Help me brace myself, is a garage going to charge me something teary eyed to put on this part? Or cheer me up and say its a 20 minute job.....

then I guess its the water temperature gauge after that! Well if it's not the CAS anyway.

Ta

Edited by Lady Muck on Friday 31st July 11:55

[VladD]

Have a read here. Shouldn't take long at all or cost too much.

It might be worth getting the heater hoses looked at at the same time. A leaking CAS o-ring can drip oil on to them causing the hoses to corrode and then leak.

[Lady Muck]

Thanks will do. I am taking car to a garage I trust so Ill ask them to look at them as well. Keeping fingers crossed now....