Ticking sound on start up.

Gordo · Postby **Gordo** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 2:56 pm

GP wrote:Yes but he said it's spitting water when WARM.

This is right GP, I wait until the engine has fully warmed up and still it spitting away. Tonight I might give it some rev's and see if the problem is just overflow in the muffer?

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:01 pm

Hmm, the plot thickens. Check the water under the radiator cap: it should be green and have no oily film on the surface. Also check the oil on the dipstick: it should be clean "oil colour" and have no sign of black goop or seperating liquids (oil and water don't mix). An oily film in the radiator and/or water on the dipstick, combined with water spitting from a warm exhaust, are signs of a failed head gasket. If that's the case, you should take it back to the Mazda dealer for a warranty claim. Pronto!

Gordo · Postby **Gordo** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:10 pm

Guran wrote:Hmm, the plot thickens. Check the water under the radiator cap: it should be green and have no oily film on the surface. Also check the oil on the dipstick: it should be clean "oil colour" and have no sign of black goop or seperating liquids (oil and water don't mix). An oily film in the radiator and/or water on the dipstick, combined with water spitting from a warm exhaust, are signs of a failed head gasket. If that's the case, you should take it back to the Mazda dealer for a warranty claim. Pronto!

I did notice there was some grime around the head gasket, and it wasnt there before. but as for the oil and the water in the radiator is clean and the oil is also very clean. Mazda has overfilled it though.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:24 pm

Another sign to check - is your car using any coolant (does the level drop)?

Gordo · Postby **Gordo** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 3:27 pm

bruce wrote:Another sign to check - is your car using any coolant (does the level drop)?

yea, It drops alot from full to just above min, then back up to full again. Thanks for your help guys, I phoned mazda and they were like bring it in, but had no idea what I was on about.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 6:17 pm

If's Guran's right there may also be a sickly sweetish sort of smell around the car and probably slight cloudiness or foaming of the water in the radiator as the engine is running. The smell is burning anti-freeze flavouring the exhaust gas (reminiscent of an Austrian Moselle).

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 8:41 pm

Just read this advice in the "Buying a Used Miata" guide at miata.net:

Have someone start the car while you watch the exhaust pipe. Look for smoke. In general, a white cloud indicates water in the cylinders from a leaking head gasket or cracked block. If it pumps out great clouds of smoke, thank the owner politely and leave.

Insurgence · Postby **Insurgence** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:59 pm

wastepipe water - what bruce said. a LOT of water can collect in the muffler....

tick sound - check oil level.

olboy · Postby **olboy** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:41 pm

Can you find where the noise is comming from
left or right side of the motor
Is it a tic tic, tich tich or sput sput noise
if its a tic then its internal
if its a tich then maybe a leaking head gasket out the side of the motor
if its a sput then maybe a leaking exaust gasket
Or it could be none of the above

Gordo · Postby **Gordo** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 3:26 pm

olboy wrote:Can you find where the noise is comming from
left or right side of the motor
Is it a tic tic, tich tich or sput sput noise
if its a tic then its internal
if its a tich then maybe a leaking head gasket out the side of the motor
if its a sput then maybe a leaking exaust gasket
Or it could be none of the above

Its a tic it sounds like its coming from the rear left of the engine, but when the car warms up it goes away. Wierd

Postby **orx626** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:02 pm

Gordo wrote:
olboy wrote:Can you find where the noise is comming from
left or right side of the motor
Is it a tic tic, tich tich or sput sput noise
if its a tic then its internal
if its a tich then maybe a leaking head gasket out the side of the motor
if its a sput then maybe a leaking exaust gasket
Or it could be none of the above

Its a tic it sounds like its coming from the rear left of the engine, but when the car warms up it goes away. Wierd

Exhaust leak?

mx51982 · Postby **mx51982** » Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:53 pm

Sounds like tappers to me... As far as i'm aware, this noise is generally temperature dependent based on the thickness of the oil, but in theory it should go away when the cars warm up. Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me as one would assume such a noise would occur when oil is thin (car has warmed up), not when its thick, (car is cold). Correct me if i am wrong..

As for the exhaust, general rule of thumb is, a car will blow white smoke when cold as it is just condensation, however after having warmed up, condensation should not be present, in which case the car may be burning water. Take it back under warranty, and don't let them try to tell you 'its nothing', they have a habit of doing that... Although once i was worried about a car i test drove because it popped out of second gear. I alerted the mechanic about the problem and had him check the gearbox, i realised later on that it was just me not putting the gear in properly. He wasn't too happy, oh well.

Postby **orx626** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:08 am

mx51982 wrote:Sounds like tappers to me... As far as i'm aware, this noise is generally temperature dependent based on the thickness of the oil, but in theory it should go away when the cars warm up. Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me as one would assume such a noise would occur when oil is thin (car has warmed up), not when its thick, (car is cold). Correct me if i am wrong..

The car is an NB8B...ie. does not have hydraulic lifters/lash adjusters (HLA's), it has solid lifters. Unless the engine has been apart and shimmed incorrectly there should be no tapping noise as what we experience with the HLA engines in the NA's.

Cheers,
Danny

mx51982 · Postby **mx51982** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:37 am

orx626 wrote:
mx51982 wrote:Sounds like tappers to me... As far as i'm aware, this noise is generally temperature dependent based on the thickness of the oil, but in theory it should go away when the cars warm up. Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me as one would assume such a noise would occur when oil is thin (car has warmed up), not when its thick, (car is cold). Correct me if i am wrong..

The car is an NB8B...ie. does not have hydraulic lifters/lash adjusters (HLA's), it has solid lifters. Unless the engine has been apart and shimmed incorrectly there should be no tapping noise as what we experience with the HLA engines in the NA's.

Cheers,
Danny

I have read that the HLA's are only present up to NA8... So the NB8A also has HLA's?

aviper4u · Postby **aviper4u** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:35 pm

my 1c

from what i know the ticking on initial start up is very common with the MX5 (i have nb8b) should only occur on cold start and last no longer than 15 or so secs.

From what i know that noise is from the cam train as all the components are stone cold, IE; why valve lash is done cold, need to be loose when cold so sweet when hot? metal expands

also as for the water in exhaust take the car for a looooooong drive IE; hours + so the exhaust can get up to temperature and evaporate all the water. if still got water coming out of exhaust then begin to worry.

cheers