Hood Latches

cfrowland · Postby **cfrowland** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:54 am

Hi

We've just bought our first MX5 [year 2000]. It's in excellent overall condition but the hood latches won't lock back properly. I've tried adjusting them but they won't snap down over-centre and engage the little locking buttons at the back of the latch. Our local dealer says that the latches are worn and wants to charge us $496.00 just for the pair [no labour]!! I've taken the latches off and can't see any signs of wear or damage but I'm at a loss to see why they won't lock down properly. The car has been garaged most of it's life and the hood has hardly been used, so I don't think that excessive wear should be an issue.

Any ideas, please?

CLIVE.

lowmiata · Postby **lowmiata** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:55 am

are they lining up and seat in the recivers properly?

when I first got my 5 one of them wasn't going in properly i adjusted it left to right and it soon mated properly and never been a problem since

easy check would be to losen of the screws then see if it will lock over centre
because it will be able to centre itself

Regards,
Ryno.

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:42 am

It's a common problem with the NB latches. Mazda must have changed the material spec on the newer cars because the NA latches seem to last a lot better. There are 3 possible fixes. One involes filing a small amount of metal off the lock part of the latch to allow the locking contact point to move closer and lock. The other option is to drill a small hole into the lock part of the latch and screw a small screw into it to move the lock closer. The third option is new latches. There were instructions for both the repair methods on this forum in an old thread somewhere written by Gilly if I recall correctly. The instructions are also on Miatanet somewhere.

I tried to repair one of my latches with mixed success. I tried the filing method first but didn't achieve very much, then tried the screw method and now the latch will lock OK as long as there isn't to much tension on the latch. Strangely my hardtop latches seem to be heading the same way and in comparison to the softtop latches they have hardly been used.

The best way to avoid it happening seems to be to hold the lock button down when doing up the latches to avoid the locking contact point wearing away.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:56 am

Garry's memory is sound. I had the problem and removed the latches and filed them in line with detailed instructions on the Miata site. There were pictures and a detailed explanation of what the problem is and rectification. I have a hard copy of those instructions - if Clive cannot find the instructions on the miata garage PM me and I will send it. PS I did not like the idea of drilling and using screws.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:00 am

here it is Clive - lots of good info on this site http://www.miata.net/garage/top_latch/index.html

cfrowland · Postby **cfrowland** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:34 am

Thanks to you all for the excellent advice and help.

The local [Perth] MX5 club have their monthly run this weekend and we'll be going along, so I hope to take a look at some hoods there. I've also printed off the instructions from the American site; really comprehensive stuff there!

Be lucky

CLIVE