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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.......

[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

[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....

[Lady Muck]

Ok so the update is:

CAS is working fine, Temp sensor is fine. So what next? Hmm well I am leaving it with the garage ( I can't trust it to get me to where I need to be) but need to have a good think on what the heck to problem is...

Clogged fuel injectors?
Idle control sensor?

The main problem is it behaves 3 times in 5 but when it plays up there is black smoke rough engine and stalling. The little sod is not doing it when at the garage!

I am at a loss and getting a little desperate now.

[Lady Muck]

MX-5 Lazza said:

If it's not doing it for them at the garage, how can they be sure the CAS & Temp Sensor are fine? It looks like it's an intermittent problem so they would only be able to detect it while it is being problematic...

Good point. I am off to see them on Saturday. I'll raise this.

[Lady Muck]

So car back and runs great after idle control valve was found to be in a bit of a gunky state! Car runs beautifully for a good long test run (Lots of stop starts, 30MPH zoness and faster zones to test out. So we stop for a spot of lunch!

1 hour later the car starts and tries to stall, in fact we manage to keep running but engine is surging again, and runs horrible for 3 miles and then all issues stop and runs fine again.

The main issue is the car won't play up when at the garage so they are scratching their heads. They say the CAS and temp sensor are fine but then they can't test them when the problem is actually happening. So I can't decide if I should just get them changed. I have heard a whisper of the fuel injector....more money! Just as a cheap "help I am at a complete loss as to what next" have put in some redex to see if that helps. I am almost 85% now that this is a fuel issue.

I can't wait to update this with good news.

[Lady Muck]

Excuse my ignorance, as you have guessed I am not a mechanic! but if there were damp in the footwell then what is this going to cause apart from the obvious rot?

I will have a look when I get back and feel around. My manual has turned up today but I can't locate this symptom in the trouble shooting.

[Lady Muck]

Thanks, I will do some delving.

Found it in the workshop manual, Thanks I'll have a look, makes sense how damp there could cause an issue.

I quite like my new book, it's the Rod Grainger book not the Haynes.

Edited by Lady Muck on Friday 21st August 14:46