Help needed for a new owner

[DJL]

Hi all, just joined your forum and am a little confused where to get some help with my new toy, so I will ask the question here. I have just purchased my first mx5 (1998) and am having terrible trouble getting fuel into it. It behaves like the tank is full, and cuts off the pump if the flow gets beyond a frustrating trickle. The tank only had about 5 litres in it the first time I tried, and it was about 1/2 full the next time, with the same result. Could somebody out there shed some light on this for me? At the rate it takes fuel into the tank it will take me the whole weekend to fill it up, and I wont have any time to drive it.

[zombie]

Hi DJL, welcome to the forum, and welcome to the obsession!

I have not had this problem with my MX5, but had it constantly when I first purchased my previous daily driver (2004 Charade) - it drove me nuts so I know how you feel

The solution with the Charade was to change the angle of the fuel nozzle, so rather than the handle / lever pointing straight down towards the ground, it pointed at 90 degrees, towards the back of the car - when filling I would end up standing behind the car, not next to it. Once I started doing that it worked every time.

I suggest you try rotating the nozzle at various angles and try one that works for you and your car. Try different petrol stations also, if possible.

[Woo]

Good points Zombie.
Might sound like an err der statement, but be sure to insert the nozzle all the way in past the flapper door inside the filler. Mrs Woo didn't realise and it took her 15 minutes to fill the 3 for the first time.

Bazz

[Fuzzlet]

Lift the filler out a little?

[DJL]

Thanks for the ideas but I've done 360's with the pump, pushed, pulled, lifted,twisted, and cursed,but with all that, no effect. I'm wondering if it might have a blockage in the vent hose? Or if it is a problem with some cars? It is not a great way to start a relationship with my new toy. If I wanted problems I should have bought a MG.

[JBT]

There's a problem with the filling tube/vent then. Check for obstructions.

Never had a problem with our NA in the past or the NC now.

[Hammer]

Welcome to the forum and the 5 family.

This might sound like a stupid question...but is this happening on all pumps? Or have you been using the same pump from the same Servo?

I don't have this problem in my cars, but my local servo has one pump that is very sensitive and does what you describe - no matter which car I fill up. So I just avoid that pump when I can.

[DJL]

Hi Hammer, I've only used 2 servos so far and it happened at both.

[Okibi]

DJL, welcome to the obsession, please update your profile so we know what city you're in. It assists us to point you in the right direction should you need any help.

[xatz]

This happened to me for the first time in my 5 the other day, I just angled it a bit more like people have said and it stopped.
It used to happen fairly consistently with my Mira, a couple of times I just had to go by feel on how much the tank would take (and would always underfill) cause I'd hold it and it'd click, then click, then click, etc... If I know a pump is good I just try to use that one all the time at the servo to avoid this. The pumps at these places didn't happen to be old or in a high use petrol station did they? The pumps that have done it to me have either been a little on the tatty side or in a position where they are used pretty much constantly all day.

[Okibi]

http://www.miata.net/garage/tsb/sb007_99.pdf

Aussie mazda dealers don't tend to fix these issues unless you badger them about it, perhaps yours hasn't been fixed.

In the US they fix them all the time because they have better "lemon laws".

Apparently the NC have an updated fuel filler "service bulletin" as well.

[DJL]

Thanks for the info, do you know if there has been a recall or similar here in Aus

[Okibi]

They don't do a recall unless it's an item that's going to kill lots of people.

I'd take that US recall with you and ask your Mazda dealer to look up your VIN number and see if it was already changed under warranty, I suspect not.

They will argue that's it's on there for years without the owner complaining so it's hardly faulty.

You might be able to get a discount on labour as it was a part listed as "faulty" by Mazda.

[Woo]

DJL,
If you want me to have a look at it for you, shoot me a PM, I'm just up the road from you.

Bazz

[Okibi]

Don't let Baz bring his MX-5 around you might get jealous and spend a small fortune trying to keep up