markwid's NB8B

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 3:18 pm

Well, there was one other DIY over the weekend - my odometer light was busted.

I followed largely the instructions for gauge cluster removal on revlimiter.net.

1. To get access to the gauge cluster, you need to remove two plastic panels - the steering column cover and the gauge hood. Check out the diagram above and whip out your #2 Phillips screwdriver. Tackle the column cover first.

2. After removing the 3 screws, pry open, with a small screwdriver, the top of the steering column cover off. The bottom half stays in place.

3. No screws need to be removed to get the gauge hood to come off an NB. It's held in place by 5 little metal pressure fittings - 1 each on the lower front corner and 3 around the far back curve.

Be careful with this step. I pry up using screwdriver to loosen the lower front corners first, followed by forceful yank towards yourself, horizontally.

4. 4 screws are holding the cluster in place.

5. There are 3 electrical connections to remove on the back.

6. The odometer socket is circled here. Turn counter clockwise to free it.

7. Swap the orange condom to new bulb.

8. Reverse the steps to put everything back together.

mazdaz · Postby **mazdaz** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:26 pm

Car looks awesome, keep the stock wheels it looks so clean with them. Out of curiosity do your rear indicators flash orange or red, hard to see in the pic, I am assuming they are after market tail lights?

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:20 pm

NitroDann wrote:I think that was the implication but i think it looks great as is.

Dann

Thanks Dann. Bryan speaks highly of your work.

Yah, my first instinct is to leave wheels as is and sort out handling/mechanical stuff first.

Later I may look into lighter wheels, what do you think of going down to 15 inch wheels?

Cheers, Mark.

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:22 pm

mazdaz wrote:Car looks awesome, keep the stock wheels it looks so clean with them. Out of curiosity do your rear indicators flash orange or red, hard to see in the pic, I am assuming they are after market tail lights?

Thanks mazdaz. Yep, will keep stock 16 for time being. They do suit the NB.

Tail lights are stock so indicators are definitely amber/orange.

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 2:40 pm

Got sick of fiddling with the visor everytime I put the top down or up. So out came the visors and in went the plugs I ordered.

Thought I will go with blue roadster text to go with other bits of blue in my car.

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:43 am

Small update:

Since Day 1, I was not happy about the worn out clutch because it was heavy, had a high bite point and occasional shudder. I was driving around the problem for a few months but it bothered me always. The stock clutch have done close to 150,000K so I guess it is time.

Finally gotten around to put in a new Exedy Sports Tuff clutch at Mania. Of course I got tempted to put in a lighten flywheel as well and went with the 4.75kg one.

Excellent results, so much better. Much lighter and smoother clutch. Also had the upper/lower shift boot replaced so the shift action is also smooth now. I was a little worried about lighten flywheel for a daily drive but as it turns out, it is an excellent mod - definitely more revvy and no problems in launching.

So if anyone with worn clutch is thinking about putting in a new clutch - do it.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:45 am

I told you! :twisted:

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:00 pm

Apu wrote:I told you!

Agreed!

But, but, but, Mr Morlock and his "stock is best" chants creates a voice of doubt, lol.

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:41 pm

Tiny update:

Cracked muffler got repair-welded. Exhaust sounds normal again.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 2:22 pm

Man! That is a big crack!

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:55 pm

Got rid of the front set of tires as it was worn unevenly and also it was from 2005, yikes!

Rear set that still have a good amount of tread, moved to the front. The new set of KU31 went to the rear.

Then, gave her a good wash...

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:38 pm

With the hotter months coming and aircon that is not cold at all, I finally got it re-gassed.

Of course, I was worried that the aircon had other issues that could be hundreds of dollars to fix. Luckily, all is fine with just re-gassing.

Apparently, if you could believe the old yellow sticker beneath the new sticker, AC was last serviced in 2006, LOL!

And yes, I also noticed that Carbon Car Systems guys are already living 2 days in the future, hahaha!

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:14 pm

Drats, my speedometer just started going nuts. Stopped working, started working again i.e. read correct speed, dropped to zero, come back good again after a while.

What could be the problem guys?

My search shows up this thread - http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=47885&start=0

Speedo drive gear?

Looks like I need to get to mx5mania sometime next week.

markwid · Postby **markwid** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:23 am

It was definitely the speedo sender; all fixed up now with a used sender, courtesy of APU (thanks buddy!).

Also got my white voodoo shift knob in the mail, woohoo! Love it.