Servicing myself to save money

[trace1967]

I know what parts to get for servicing. But just want to change the spark plugs this month. done it before on my other cars but the spark plugs were easy to take out. the only things I cant do are remove and replace the oil filter, and change the fuel filter as I have no garage and no flat surface to jack the car on except on the works car park at end of my street. Once i get paid on 15th i will get my spark plugs, oil filter, fuel filter, do not need to get air filter because a friend of mine is fitting a k & n filter soon.

So to get to the spark plugs first, what do i do?

[Evangelion]

First thing you should do is change the thread title, some may get the wrong idea!

[Gizmo!]

Evangelion said:

First thing you should do is change the thread title, some may get the wrong idea!

We wouldn't get the wrong idea surely? MX5 drivers are nice.

I wasn't going to ask whether she would do the servicing topless or not... or whether she had need of a big tool?

[Matt UK]

If you are doing plugs, consider replacing your HT Leads as well.

Pretty straight forward jobs that sorted a few niggles on my car:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[towelie]

lol@the title

[bluetone]

The plugs are very easy to access on these cars, my only advice would be to put a little copper grease on the threads of the new plugs (to prevent them seizing) and be real careful when screwing the new ones in, in case one gets cross-threaded.

As for general servicing, search Amazon (etc) for Rod Graingers book and Miata.net is a great resource and includes some pictorial walk-throughs for changing oil etc.

Generally these cars are relatively easy to work on as there is a lot of space around the engine bay.

Good luck!

[OnlyMX5ives]

Mk1 / 2 just pull the leads off.

Get a plug socket and an extension bar

Remove plugs.

I like to put a smear of copperslip on the new plugs, install them as it describes on the box.

[ApexJimi]

I hate stating what everyone else has already stated, and I apologise in advance for the lack of advice in this post, however.....



@ the thread title, pure dead brilliant!

[Odie]

You dont need to jack the car up to change the oil, just drive the car forwards up a kerb (remember to leave it in gear and chock the back wheel) and it will give you enough clearance to take the sump plug off and and slide a chicken roasting tin (or similar) under to catch the oil.

[Office_Monkey]

Would this be any good?

[trace1967]

Well I already have the oil. just got to get air filter, oil filter, fuel filter,some chocks and this month a friend 'quicksilver' is giving and fitting a free k and n filter to my car. I have got two spark plug removers.

Im scared of going under my car, there is car park at end of my street but would have to do service at the weekend, as its a works car park. My street is cobbled and uneven.

[HereBeMonsters]

Definitely do leads as well, but get good ones. Mine were done just before I bought the car, but needed doing again as they were cheap ones and just split.

[OnlyMX5ives]

If it isn't mis-firing replacing the leads is pointless.

[inman999]

I wouldn't bother with the K&N filter if I was you. Their filtration is worse than paper filters and will not flow more air than a clean paper filter.

There's also circumstantial evidence that the oil on them can damage the airflow sensors.