mx5cartalk.com

Hi there, I figured that I would start a garage thread for my 2000 NB8A in Highlight Silver.

I've always found people's car history's really interesting - it gives you somewhat an insight into their story.

Here's my story...

1989 VN Commodore S - 4 speed auto
So my first car was handed down to me by my folks. Lot's of great memories in this one, tonnes of camping/fishing trips. She just seemed to eat up the KMs so effortlessly. The VN was grunty around town and ridiculously dangerous in the wet. She was on her last legs around '06, constantly leaking motor and power steering oil. Her final blow was a dead fuel pump - I couldn't justify paying for her repairs anymore and let her go on the back of a trailer for a grand.





2000 Honda Civic GLi - 4 speed auto
Tired of having an unreliable car, my next vehicle was on the other end of the spectrum - a tidy Honda Civic.
I actually still "co-own" this one with my brother. Apart from the handling, this car is a bit of a bore to drive and I was pining for some rear-wheel drive fun...


2000 Mazda NB - 5 speed manual
So at the end of last year, I bought this!


It's a daily driver, so there won't be any modifications to the power plant. However, one day I'm looking to own a car with forced-induction, I've never experienced boost before! Anyone kind enough to let me try?

Plans
So there's quite a few things on my list that I haven't gotten around to fixing yet, it's quite overwhelming!

- Rattling noise near clutch. After I did an engine swap , there's been a rattling sound when I'm stationary. It goes away when I depress the clutch pedal, so it seems that I might have to adjust the clutch cable or apply some lubricant to the clutch fork, not sure.

- Clunking sounds when I do tight turns. From Googling, people tend to suggest it's due to worn-out bushes on the sway bar end-links. What does a worn bush look like? I've had a look at the end-links and the bush seems hard and deformed...how does this make the clunking noise? Is the end-link hitting against other suspension components? How would one go about fixing it? From research, it looks like I could press on some new bushes or perhaps buy new end-links? It's an aftermarket racing-beat swaybar.

- Idle drop at stop lights. Yeah, there's quite a bit of mention about this on the web, hard to tell which reasoning pertains to my car. Perhaps a vacuum leak or bad sensor.

- The windscreen is quite pitted, I wonder if there's any product that could fill the thousands of small pits on the windscreen.

- I've had a few near misses due to other cars just not seeing me on the road. I've been using my headlights for more visibility but I'll forget to switch them off one day and end up draining the battery. I'm planning on coming up with a DRL system. Perhaps replacing my parking bulbs with LEDs on a separate circuit from my main battery. Still got a tonne of research to do on other peoples setups.

Thanks for reading this long winded post!

Nice NB. Wheels look great too. Iv just recently purchased my first NB mx5 and using it as a daily, they are brilliant little cars. Best car Iv owned and I have owned a few now (and Im only 22 haha)

Iv had a few close calls too with people not seeing me, well thats what I put it down too.

That rattling noise with the clutch that goes away when you depress the clutch pedal is probably the release bearing. I had this exact issue with my 99 liberty before I replaced the clutch. New clutch kit and no more squeek.

Oh and boost is fun... very fun haha. dríven many WRX's (yet to own one, my dream car actually) but decided I needed to own my own boosted car so I bought a Suzuki Swift gti and got a turbo kit fitted running 10 psi making 140 hp atw it was an animal but very fun and addicitve with the turbo spool haha. Seriously though you couldnt really use all the power it had, small lightweight car and decent power means very quick acceleration hehe. Anyway sold it after 3 months as I didnt like having 2 cars. I plan on having boost again one day soon weather its in the MX5 or I buy a subie.

Anyhoo Ill stop raving on now haha welcome to the forum.

Rhys.

Kenstaki wrote:- I've had a few near misses due to other cars just not seeing me on the road. I've been using my headlights for more visibility but I'll forget to switch them off one day and end up draining the battery. I'm planning on coming up with a DRL system. Perhaps replacing my parking bulbs with LEDs on a separate circuit from my main battery. Still got a tonne of research to do on other peoples setups.

Thanks for reading this long winded post!

Long winded? ... you ain't seen some of mine

Don't think it matters what you do, too many drivers are too concerned with their phones and other cr*p to be properly aware of what's around them. 5's are low and easily hidden or missed next to or behind vehicles. Really pays to be very cautious and aware of what everyone else is doing around you while driving them. I never sit at 3/4 rear in these and I hang back a reasonable distance so that I'm visible to vehicles coming from opposite direction early.

Nice car btw ....

Try riding a bike. The 5 is pretty easily missed, but a bike is basically invisible to most road users.