Our "new" 97 Miata

[CtrlAltDefeat]

My mom finally decided to get rid of her little red Miata so she gave it to me. :thumbup: Some points of interest: it has Konig wheels, a pretty well used interior, a replaced but now mostly ripped out rear window, nicks, dings and scratches expected on a 12 yro car, about 125k miles, rust in front of the rear wheels :cry:, and was kept in a garage without maintenance for a year... Seems to run pretty good still. I changed the oil (but not the filter since I already had the oil drained when I found out the filter is pretty much not user replaceable) I had no way to drain the gas tank like I really wanted, so I added some sea foam to it, and ran it to about 1/4 before filling it up with premium and some gas conditioner. The engine runs a bit smoother now, but since I have no real point of reference, I'll assume the amount of noise and vibration that reaches me in the cabin is typical. (the gear shift vibrates a lot but I think it's normal) I hope to fix/paint/modify it in the future, but in the mean time I'm more concerned with preventative maintenance and probably fixing the back window (somehow). My wife loves the car and has already named her Mia. If any one has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them... Driving the Yaris feels like a bubble on wheels after driving the Miata for a while...

[waterdown]

http://miata.net/ Lot's of info to help out.

[detroiter]

LUCKY!!

[CtrlAltDefeat]

http://miata.net/ Lot's of info to help out.
Thanks! I've already signed up :thumbsup:
LUCKY!!
Thank you...I think so too. I asked my mom to never get rid of it, and that I would buy/take it if she ever wanted to. So when the time came, she gave me it :biggrin:

[detroiter]

well if you ever get rid of it, let me know too lol

[CtrlAltDefeat]

well if you ever get rid of it, let me know too lol

lol don't hold your breath... I waited a long time for Mom to let me have it:biggrin:

[33OH]

Welcome to the NA Miata family. Why couldn't you change the oil filter?

[detroiter]

lol don't hold your breath... I waited a long time for Mom to let me have it:biggrin:

And I'll wait a long to for you to let me have it :D lol

[33OH]

I bought my Miata near Detroit.. :)

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Welcome to the NA Miata family. Why couldn't you change the oil filter?

Thanx :smile: as far as the filter goes, it's like under the header on the side of the engine. The manual says it has to be done by a special tool so to take it to the dealership. I suppose i could have tried it, but I wasn't sure if Id be able to get it off then back on... guess I should have done research first, but I had no idea it would be any different than the other filters I've changed...

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Here is the garage with some pics... http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/funkygarage.php?do=view&id=1734

[silver_echo]

it is possible, but kind of a pain to reach. i work at a lube shop, and we change oil on a couple first gen miatas.

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Well I guess I'll go get the filter and new washer and try again sometime in the next week or so. maybe it wont be as huge a pain as it seems...

[Yaristeve]

Thanx :smile: as far as the filter goes, it's like under the header on the side of the engine. The manual says it has to be done by a special tool so to take it to the dealership. I suppose i could have tried it, but I wasn't sure if Id be able to get it off then back on... guess I should have done research first, but I had no idea it would be any different than the other filters I've changed...

I have a 1999 NB Miata. And yeah, the difference between a Miata and a Yaris are night and day; I need to get my timing belt changed on mine so I can drive it...

As noted above, Miata.net is a great resource for this and many other issues.

The oil filter is actually buried under the intake manifold. The "special tool" is just a cup-style oil filter "socket" you can buy for $10 at any autoparts store. There are a few ways Miata.netters use to remove the filter. My technique is to use a 2 foot extension and universal joint on the filter "socket" and go in from the top. Oil will pour out when you unscrew it and get all over the crossmember so you should put something (I use a small size bed absorbent pad) under the filter before you remove it.