Clemson Sports Car Club

Is anyone who is very familiar with working on Miatas in the Clemson area (or who wouldn't mind driving out here to have a look at the car)? I don't want to drive it unless I have to. I'm pretty sure the coils are bad and I don't want to cause any more damage to the cat on the off chance it is still good. It's a 2000 (known for bad coils) if that makes any difference.

And it's my mom's car so it's not something I want to play around with. If no one can help, she will take it to the shop.

Thanks!!

try talking to andrew (crazyboarder8. not saying he has time, but he does spec miata. it's worth a shot.

What is wrong with it? I am guessing it will crank but not actually start? I don't think I would have time to look at it, unfortunately. I believe you should be able to ground the spark plugs on something then crank it to see if they are firing. Just make sure they aren't near where fuel would some out of the spark plug hole.

(03-04-2010 08:49 PM)zps2004 Wrote: [ -> ]What is wrong with it? I am guessing it will crank but not actually start? I don't think I would have time to look at it, unfortunately. I believe you should be able to ground the spark plugs on something then crank it to see if they are firing. Just make sure they aren't near where fuel would some out of the spark plug hole.

It cranks, it starts and most of the time, it feels like it's running on 2-3 cylinders. I changed plugs and wires already. Here are the other symptoms:

Symptoms - CEL light with any combination of the following codes:
P0300 - Random Misfire detected
Engine runs very rough (sputter, cough, rough)
Engine vibration
Feels like running on only 1 or 2 cylinders
High rev, no power
Flashing Check Engine Light
Smoke coming out of muffler. Bad smell

Things that you did or dealer did to try to fix the problem
Change Spark Plugs
Change Plug Wires
Clean/de-carbon Engine

Real Fix to the Problem
Change Ignition Coil Pack

Those are from a Miata forum from a bunch of folks with '99-'00 Miatas on which the coils are known to go bad. Problem is that Mom is insisting someone besides me looks at the car before she buys a coil. I'm trying to find her a used one that is still good. However, before I do that, I wouldn't mind someone else looking at it to verify the problem.

Keri,
Call Steve Hampton, tell him you are in SWCCCR and ask him to talk it through over the phone with you or bring it over to his garage to check your coil pack. He might know where one is or have one ... he has three miata engines and a couple of packs I saw today. Call him at (864) 915-1776 He's in Piedmont.

The other would be DDM Works Dr. Dave...
DDMWorks
119A Hwy 183
Piedmont, SC 29673
864-907-6004
He should be able to check your coil and he has some parts cars as well.

The other option would be call Steve Bertok in Columbia... he has the largest Miata graveyard around! He definitely has some used and will guarantee it and back it up. Tell him Ted sent ya. 803.261.7629 http://www.panicmotorsports.com/

(03-04-2010 09:50 PM)Theodore Wrote: [ -> ]Keri,
Call Steve Hampton, tell him you are in SWCCCR and ask him to talk it through over the phone with you or bring it over to his garage to check your coil pack. He might know where one is or have one ... he has three miata engines and a couple of packs I saw today. Call him at (864) 915-1776 He's in Piedmont.

The other would be DDM Works Dr. Dave...
DDMWorks
119A Hwy 183
Piedmont, SC 29673
864-907-6004
He should be able to check your coil and he has some parts cars as well.

The other option would be call Steve Bertok in Columbia... he has the largest Miata graveyard around! He definitely has some used and will guarantee it and back it up. Tell him Ted sent ya. 803.261.7629 http://www.panicmotorsports.com/

Ted, thanks! I will make some calls tomorrow, starting with Steve H. So Dad said no used parts... looks like we'll buy a new coil pack if that's what it turns out to be. We've decided not to drive it til it's fixed so it's going to hang out in my garage in Central for a while. My E30 should be ready Monday or Tuesday, and it stays in the parking lot so the garage is a good place to keep the Miata.

I did the Seafoam thing btw. Haven't noticed a difference yet but the car put out a lot of gray smoke for a while!

Yea seafoaming will put off a lot of smoke. I would think her car would be young for it. I am going to be doing it to Jaimie's car soon and that is with 240K miles.

i have a mazdamotorsports membership if you need to order any parts. it'll be a heck of a lot cheaper than going through a dealer if you want new.



$203.00 from mazdamotorsports.

(03-05-2010 02:16 AM)crazyboardr8806 Wrote: [ -> ]i have a mazdamotorsports membership if you need to order any parts. it'll be a heck of a lot cheaper than going through a dealer if you want new.
$203.00 from mazdamotorsports.

That would be awesome and greatly appreciated. Would you know if it was the coil pack by looking at the car? My mom has agreed to leave the car with me in Central until we figure out what's wrong. Would you have time to come by and have a quick look?

i can swing by on wed before i go to my garage in liberty.