mx5cartalk.com

Hey Guys

This is my first time posting on this forum.

Few weeks ago i saw a car on this forum a Mx5 NB8B 2001. I went and had a look at it. Every thing looked perfect except few things. So before i put down a deposit for this car i got NRMA Mobile Inspection guys to have a look at it and make sure if everything was alright. He gave the car a score of 6/10 which was fairly reasonable for its age.

He pointed out few things such as the clutch and few minor and some cosmetic issues. So i estimated the cost to repair negotiated the price and now i am a proud owner of an MX5.

This is the first car i ever bought (and i have no clue on how cars work, so please pardon me for any dumb questions/comments i may ask or mention further).

Now after i got the car i myself noticed that the car was shuddering when cold. I researched on this and came to know that this was the issue with the clutch and flywheel. Which i was going to get changed anyways.

After i had my car for a week i booked in an appointment with the very best in the business MX5 Mania in Dural.
(I am not complaining or defaming MX5 Mania in my post below. They are lovely guys and i was impressed by the service and diagnosis they did on my car)

So now i got the car to service and fix the issues it had. I got a huge estimated quote here more than i expected. But every thing that needed to be changed/replaced/repaired was legit.

Got my car back on Friday and it drove smooth like i was driving a brand new car. Took it to the carwash today (bad decision as the weather turned from beautiful to awful) Driving back home from the carwash i noticed that the car was getting a bit heavy so i looked at the engine lights to see if any engine check light was on, but instead the car was getting hot. The temperature indicator was 3/4th way towards getting hot. So i switched of the air con and parked the car to cool it down. Just before i switched off the car i noticed that the engine was misfiring and it sounded like those old engines and my car vibrating.

Anyways i switched it off waited for 15 mins opened the bonnet to see if there was any steam coming out, but all looked perfect. At this stage i was 10 mins from my home so i started the car and the same issue continued. I took the car home parked it. On the way the engine was misfiring badly when changing gears. Felt like it wasn't getting enough power.

After this i called up NRMA, paid for a premium membership for them to have a look at whats wrong with my car. At this stage i was really pissed off cause i just got it serviced. The guy came over looked at what i have got done during servicing and he said this was well maintained. He checked the misfiring issue. He said that not all four cylinders are getting started up or providing full power so he went ahead and checked the leads which conned the spark plug.
One of the leads when he unscrewed it just popped up by it self. He said that thats not how its suppose to be. He said that it was an after market part and not a good one.

He went ahead and checked the spark plugs, 3 looked in ok condition and one looked like it was almost grey in colour.
So he said that this might be the issue and it would need to be changed.

After i have spent crazy amount of money one this car i still don't have a car that is working.

Now i need to know from you guys who know the car inside out and might be able to give me a solution/advice. I need to get this car working ASAP

I can't get in touch with the Mx5 Mania, being weekend they are not available. Not sure if anyone has their after hours details. So i can just get the car towed to them this weekend and then pick up on either monday or tuesday.

On the positive side i have a two year NRMA Premium Membership. haha! Can be towed upto 50Kms if needed. I am exactly 49 Kms from Mx5 Mania. Hehe

Thanks in advance for your help ;)

Detail what was replaced or serviced.

Like you've said, you bought an old car, and perhaps one without a well logged history?

It's a 13 year old car...you've got to expect quite a bit of maintenance to bring it up to scratch - a lot of sellers chose to sell their car because they know they are up for a big bill, so that's probably what you are facing now.

Bring the car back to Mania, tell them the problem and get them to fix it.

gslender wrote:Detail what was replaced or serviced.

Thanks for the quick response
Below are the details on what was replaced or serviced

1) Usual 10,000K service
2) Gasket Exhaust Rear (Replace)
3) Exedy Sports Tuff Clutch (Replace)
4) Machine Flywheel (Replace)
5) NOK Japan Oil Seal (Rear Main Crank) (Replace)
6) Rocker Cover Gasket (Replace)
7) Clutch Slave Cylinder (Replace)
Hub Bearing (F) (Replace)
9) Soft Top Refitting (Repair)

Apu wrote:Like you've said, you bought an old car, and perhaps one without a well logged history?

It's a 13 year old car...you've got to expect quite a bit of maintenance to bring it up to scratch - a lot of sellers chose to sell their car because they know they are up for a big bill, so that's probably what you are facing now.

Bring the car back to Mania, tell them the problem and get them to fix it.

Yes you are right it doesn't have a log book only receipts for service and parts from the previous owner.

I knew what i was getting into thats the reason i was ok to spend a bit after i bought it.
I did think i ticked all the boxes before getting a car i got it checked from a professional and thought it would be ok.

Well yes i will get it back to Mania and get it fixed ;) Lets hope that this is the last and only thing i need to fix before next year.

Plugs, plug leads and it sounds like you might have a cooling system issue. Shouldn't be too expensive.

Don't despair, MX5s are much cheaper than most to repair and maintain, and of course are so much more fun than more expensive cars too. The dollars to smiles ratio is the best of any car on the market. You're doing the right thing by taking it back to the experts, let them fix it up and look forward to a great summer!

Hope it was just a loose ignition lead problem.

Did you do any cleaning under the bonnet at the car wash, any way water could have got into any connectors?

Okibi wrote:Did you do any cleaning under the bonnet at the car wash, any way water could have got into any connectors?

This was my first thought, a common 'new to car ownership' mistake is to wash the engine bay...... DON'T!

Okibi wrote:Hope it was just a loose ignition lead problem.

Did you do any cleaning under the bonnet at the car wash, any way water could have got into any connectors?

Nevyn72 wrote:

Okibi wrote:Did you do any cleaning under the bonnet at the car wash, any way water could have got into any connectors?

This was my first thought, a common 'new to car ownership' mistake is to wash the engine bay...... DON'T!

Got in touch with Mania last night, that was the 1st question they asked me. If i was in the storm or if there was any water damage. I was parked in when there was a storm. Being a new owner and the car being extremely dirty i took it to hand carwash. Now there is no way to know if they sprayed water under the bonnet.

When i got in touch with Mania they were quite happy to receive the car today which is a Sunday. Lets hope its nothing big and fixed soon. So i go on those amazing curvy roads!

That's a shame.

on the plus side my nb8b needed all those things when I purchased it and it has since been faultless with all the fun you can have on 4 wheels.

It'll only get better from here mate

Well done to MX5 Mania accepting the car on a Sunday - that's what I call service as things DO go wrong!

I thought the same Okibi, was having coffee with the guys this morning talking about it and we all wondered was the car washed under the bonnet? That's since been answered

Hope all goes fine from now on!

That's pretty exceptional service


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Keep us informed Nicka.

gslender wrote:That's pretty exceptional service

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taminga16 wrote:Keep us informed Nicka.

Def really exceptional that they accepted the car on Sunday. They do understand that sometimes sh*t happens.

I am still waiting to hear back from them. I'll keep you guys posted.

Till then here is the image of my baby being towed.