1991 MX5 over heating

My guesses would be the same as for any car: low coolant, blanket of dead bugs covering the radiator, collapsed hose, bad thermostat, air block in the system, clogged radiator passages, clogged passages in the engine block, defective water pump. If the overheating occurred only at low speed or when stopped I'd add defective fan or fan control. Obviously some of these are easy to check and some aren't.

If you're not missing coolant and haven't worked on the cooling system I'd say the thermostat or valve in radiatorcap is stuck. Try to inspect or clean them. Cleaning the radiator is an easy thing to do too. If problems stay think about a blockage somewhere in the system. How old is the waterpump?

Jeroen Technical Commissioner Mazda MX-5 Club of the Netherlands

"John McGaw" schreef in bericht news:h%fTk.65290$ snipped-for-privacy@bignews7.bellsouth.net... | snipped-for-privacy@att.net wrote: | > My car over heated this morning on my way to work, traffic was at | > normal speed and the A/C was off, weather is good so outside temp is | > not an issue, what should I be checking before taking to the shop. | >

| > Abid | | My guesses would be the same as for any car: low coolant, blanket of dead | bugs covering the radiator, collapsed hose, bad thermostat, air block in | the system, clogged radiator passages, clogged passages in the engine | block, defective water pump. If the overheating occurred only at low speed | or when stopped I'd add defective fan or fan control. Obviously some of | these are easy to check and some aren't. | | -- | John McGaw | [Knoxville, TN, USA] |

Not sure on cost, it is going to vary widely in any case.

A leaking head gasket will eventually make the engine inoperable, it is just a matter of how long it will take.

I would check the coolant for oil mixed in. Also, check the oil to see if it has any coolant mixed with it. Does the car let out smoke when then engine is running? If so, does it only do it at start-up or anytime the car is operating?

Does the car leave any oil on the ground when parked?

How much is it leaking?

This information can all help to tell what the problem is, and how far along that problem might be.

I would take it in for a second opinion unless this is a shop that you trust, and I would also call around for price quotes.

It will not be a super-cheap fix, there are quite a few parts to remove to get to the head. If the head is warped at all, that will add some additional money as well.

Good luck!

Pat

OH'HO ! Please be careful that type of thinking. If you will look at a Miata head gasket, you can have a gasket leak without loosing compression. I had TWO head gasket leaks on my '91 (replaced by Mazda ) and the compression was very good. These showed up on the left front the first time and the left rear the second thime. I replced it myself and had no problems after that. Note: clean the surfaces and the proper torque by the book will fix it. Too many other things can leak on the upper end of the engine will show up as an oil leak If you aer seeing oil on the floor or ground, it can't be a sparkplug well "cam cover" leak. It can be the cam cover gasket at any of the places the cover changes shape,ie. the base over the cam position hump, the front came bearing humps I would besure to check all of those places first.

Bruce Bing '03 LS

Another classic leaker is the O-ring that seals the cam angle sensor, at the rear of the intake cam. Look for drool down the back of the block (from underneath, on a lift).

Just FYI, it is the head "gasket", and there is just one gasket for the head unless I am forgetting something.

You might want to ask Chris D'Agnolo for a shop recommendation, he lives in your area.

His newsgroup access has been out since October for some reason, (he gets his other newsgroups, but he does not get r.a.m.m.m.).

He uses this email address on here and I am sure that he would not mind receiving an email about what auto repair shop he uses. I would trust his recommendation as well.

snipped-for-privacy@alltel.net

Good luck!

Pat

Yeah, Chris is a good guy.

Abid, did you ever find a top? I am still selling the one that I had for the person who bought it, as well as some of the other parts.

Question to the group:

What is a reasonable price for a used 1990-1997 Robbins no-zip glass-window top, professionally installed, and with a rain rail that was replaced with the top?

The outside does not look brand-new, but it is in very nice condition.

It was installed sometime between 4 and 5 years ago, but has sat for about 3 1/2 years, both in the street and in the garage, most of the time under a cover with the top up.

The underside of the top is very clean and still completely black, it was only dropped without using a a boot for a very short period of time.

Normally, I would think roughly 50% of retail.

With this top, however, the most expensive part of the installation is already done, all that is left is the 3 bolts per side and 12 bolts in the back, no stretching the fabric over the frame, no running cables, etc. The latches are also in very nice shape. This one is now "pre-stretched", so it latches easily.

Any ideas? Maybe 40% to 50% of the total cost to have a new one shipped and installed?

Thanks!

Pat

Hmmmm, interesting. It would be my third 1991 model miata.......

How much would you ask for it, and what kind of mileage does it have?

I might take a look at it if you still have it after Dec. 7th, assuming that I come back to Texas from Hawaii. The thought of staying there for a year or two is kind of appealing, and there is very little holding me here in Texas right now.

Pat

Pat, The only thing holding you in Texas, is the price of living in Hawaii.

Bruce Bing '03 LS