A few annoyances...ideas?

[Combover]

There are few things with my MX-5 which are now beginning to annoy me, so I could do with some help / advice if you'd be so kind (car is a Mk2.5 1.8 Nevada);

• The idle is all over the place and it often won't start cleanly without a bit of a bootful. I know the leads need doing, but which are the best ones?

A link to them with a big BUY THESE button would help.

• Since changing the rear pads before Le Mans there is a constant rubbing sound as if the pad is forming to the shape of the disc. After all these miles it can't still be doing this can it? Or is this the first sign of a sticky caliper?

• The cloth hood seems to be absorbing a lot of water when it rains (but never leaking). What is the best waterproof treatment so that the water just beads off?

• The seat belt warning beep. Is there any way of truning the fking thing off?

• THE MOST ANNOYING of all though, is a stupid, bloody annoying zinging rattle at about 3,000 rpm. It's worse when the engine is revving down. I really need help on this one as it's pushing by pea-sized brain to the limit.

Oh and if someone wants to find the nob-end who forced me into a kerb on sunday in his given-up-on-life Passat, they've got my blessing to give him a good drubbing.

First one to answer gets a fizzy sweet.

Cheers.

[Combover]

Enjoy.



I was looking at the Leads from MX5 parts / Moss but as there are so many I haven't got a clue. I'll give P5 a ring.

The zinging rattle does sound like a heat sheld so i'll have that checked out asap as it's driving me mad.

Thanks for the replies chaps.

[Combover]

lord summerisle said:

Combover said:

• THE MOST ANNOYING of all though, is a stupid, bloody annoying zinging rattle at about 3,000 rpm. It's worse when the engine is revving down. I really need help on this one as it's pushing by pea-sized brain to the limit.

First one to answer gets a fizzy sweet.

Cheers.

I have the exact same rattle on my mk1. also get a rattle if i knock the exhaust with my foot (was trying to trace it) it sounded like it was coming from around the Cat area, but the heat sheild there (and the one by the silencer) seem to be solid.
Someone commented on a similar rattle coming from a BMW Z3 at a hillclimb the other day that it sounded like his Cat was on the way out.

I'll jack it up at the weekend and give the cat a gentle tap with a rubber mallet.

I bloody hope it's not the cat

[Combover]

lord summerisle said:

£50 for a cat bypass pipe till MOt time, replace cat... pass MOT, replace bypass....

Cheers Mark, didn't think of that!

[Combover]

Right, i've jacked the car up and tapped everything tappable with a rubber mallet. The noise isn't the cat (thankfully), but appears to be eminating froma heat sheild:



Nothing I can do with it. The rattle is coming from the area of the shield where it isn't firmly bolted to the body. Must be a bit of resonance at 3K which is vibrating it.

[Combover]

I don't really want to remove it though, so I may take up the rubber buffer idea.