Miata List Archive

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Mail From: steeleye84 (GARY HOPKINS)

Hi, I just bought a '90 Miata, and I absolutely love the car. It is very
nearly as fun to drive as the '68 440 Roadrunner I used to have, only it
handles curves a WHOLE lot better at high rpm. But I have a couple of
questions that some of you seasoned veterans might be able to answer for me.
First, I live in the Cincinnati area, and got the top down for the
first time last saturday, what a rush. But it wasn't really that hot a day
(about 67 degrees) and after driving for an hour or so, not particularly
hard, I noticed a lot of heat coming through the shift boot. The engine was
not running hot at all, the temp gauge was right in the middle, so I can
only assume that this heat was coming from the gear box/linkage. Is this
common?? When I first got the car, when driving on cold mornings, noticing
the hard shift into second. I thought it was just my car, then I read a
posting that this is common in 90 miatas, so I am hoping against hope that
that is the story with this as well. And help would be appreciated.
Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
me what build number my chasis is?? I plan on keeping this car until someone
pries the keys from my cold, dead hands, and I would love to know what the
build number is. Anybody got any ideas on this one??
Thanks, Gary.






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Mail From: Larry (Larry Alster)

You need to remove the console and replace the rubber boots on the shifter.
There are 2. The top one allows the heat to get into the car. The bottom
one keeps stuff out of the tranny. To replace the bottom one you need to
cut the old one off and then wet the shifter with water or silicone spray
and just force the new one down the shifter into place. YES, if does slide
down the shifter, it only looks like your doing it wrong. :)



Larry Alster

1991 "White Knight" CSP #99
1992 "Silver Bullet" EM #17 BEGI System 4.2+
1992 "Honey Bee"


----- Original Message -----
From: "GARY HOPKINS" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 1:02 PM
Subject: [Miata] A Couple of questions


> Hi, I just bought a '90 Miata, and I absolutely love the car. It is very
> nearly as fun to drive as the '68 440 Roadrunner I used to have, only it
> handles curves a WHOLE lot better at high rpm. But I have a couple of
> questions that some of you seasoned veterans might be able to answer for
me.
> First, I live in the Cincinnati area, and got the top down for the
> first time last saturday, what a rush. But it wasn't really that hot a day
> (about 67 degrees) and after driving for an hour or so, not particularly
> hard, I noticed a lot of heat coming through the shift boot. The engine
was
> not running hot at all, the temp gauge was right in the middle, so I can
> only assume that this heat was coming from the gear box/linkage. Is this
> common?? When I first got the car, when driving on cold mornings, noticing
> the hard shift into second. I thought it was just my car, then I read a
> posting that this is common in 90 miatas, so I am hoping against hope that
> that is the story with this as well. And help would be appreciated.
> Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
> production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
> me what build number my chasis is?? I plan on keeping this car until
someone
> pries the keys from my cold, dead hands, and I would love to know what the
> build number is. Anybody got any ideas on this one??
> Thanks, Gary.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
> join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
>
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> (email redacted)
> realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: bobhotaling (Bob Hotaling)

the heat you mention is not unique to a 90 (run from that person when
reading advice.) It's common to all miatas if the shifter boot are worn,
cracked, torn, ...gone, etc. There's also some noise and heat deadning
material that is generally found in the shifter area that may be missing.

Bob


----- Original Message -----
From: "GARY HOPKINS" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 1:02 PM
Subject: [Miata] A Couple of questions


> Hi, I just bought a '90 Miata, and I absolutely love the car. It is very
> nearly as fun to drive as the '68 440 Roadrunner I used to have, only it
> handles curves a WHOLE lot better at high rpm. But I have a couple of
> questions that some of you seasoned veterans might be able to answer for
me.
> First, I live in the Cincinnati area, and got the top down for the
> first time last saturday, what a rush. But it wasn't really that hot a day
> (about 67 degrees) and after driving for an hour or so, not particularly
> hard, I noticed a lot of heat coming through the shift boot. The engine
was
> not running hot at all, the temp gauge was right in the middle, so I can
> only assume that this heat was coming from the gear box/linkage. Is this
> common?? When I first got the car, when driving on cold mornings, noticing
> the hard shift into second. I thought it was just my car, then I read a
> posting that this is common in 90 miatas, so I am hoping against hope that
> that is the story with this as well. And help would be appreciated.
> Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
> production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
> me what build number my chasis is?? I plan on keeping this car until
someone
> pries the keys from my cold, dead hands, and I would love to know what the
> build number is. Anybody got any ideas on this one??
> Thanks, Gary.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE*
> join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
>
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> (email redacted)
> realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata

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Mail From: john.freas (John Freas)

Previously on questions, "GARY HOPKINS" <(email redacted)> said...

> First, I live in the Cincinnati area, and got the top down for the
> first time last saturday, what a rush.

Welcome Gary! Spring's on the way, perfect timing.

> But it wasn't really that hot a day
> (about 67 degrees) and after driving for an hour or so, not particularly
> hard, I noticed a lot of heat coming through the shift boot. The engine
was
> not running hot at all, the temp gauge was right in the middle, so I can
> only assume that this heat was coming from the gear box/linkage. Is this
> common??

Yes, it indicates a torn Insulator Boot, a ~$16 part from Trussville Mazda.
While you're in there you should probably replace the inner shift boot at
the same time, it's the small metal and rubber flange on the shift lever
itself (after the big outer insulator boot is removed). There is a
pictorial of a complete fluid change here:
miata.net/garage/trans/01.htm You should probably do 'em all
since you don't know if any of it has ever been done.

> When I first got the car, when driving on cold mornings, noticing
> the hard shift into second. I thought it was just my car, then I read a
> posting that this is common in 90 miatas, so I am hoping against hope that
> that is the story with this as well. And help would be appreciated.

When you change the transmission fluid, change it to Redline MTL. It'll
smooth out the shifts.

> Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
> production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
> me what build number my chasis is?? I plan on keeping this car until
someone
> pries the keys from my cold, dead hands, and I would love to know what the
> build number is. Anybody got any ideas on this one??

miata.net/faq/faq2.html#C

The short answer is that the last four digits of your VIN are the production
number of your car for that model year. Mine is #7690.

-John
_______________________________________________
John Freas
Red '90 Base-ish #7690
Owensboro, KY
Team LS1,2, SP, the Gap...
I love my Miata girl.
"I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are for."

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Mail From: gaspray (Gary Spray)

At 06:02 PM 3/13/2003 +0000, GARY HOPKINS wrote:
> Hi, I just bought a '90 Miata, and I absolutely love the car. It
> is very
>nearly as fun to drive as the '68 440 Roadrunner I used to have, only it
>handles curves a WHOLE lot better at high rpm. But I have a couple of
>questions that some of you seasoned veterans might be able to answer for me.
> First, I live in the Cincinnati area, and got the top down for the
>first time last saturday, what a rush. But it wasn't really that hot a day
>(about 67 degrees) and after driving for an hour or so, not particularly
>hard, I noticed a lot of heat coming through the shift boot. The engine was
>not running hot at all, the temp gauge was right in the middle, so I can
>only assume that this heat was coming from the gear box/linkage. Is this
>common?? When I first got the car, when driving on cold mornings, noticing
>the hard shift into second. I thought it was just my car, then I read a
>posting that this is common in 90 miatas, so I am hoping against hope that
>that is the story with this as well. And help would be appreciated.

Underneath the center console there is a rubber boot that surrounds the
shift lever. My guess is that this is torn, letting in the heat you are
experiencing (it's a common problem). A picture of it is here:

miata.net/garage/trans/22.htm

> Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
>production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
>me what build number my chasis is?? I plan on keeping this car until someone
>pries the keys from my cold, dead hands, and I would love to know what the
>build number is. Anybody got any ideas on this one??

You can tell the month and year it was built from the tag on the driver's
side door sill below the latch. Beyond this, I haven't a clue.

Welcome to the club!


Gary Spray
Topeka, Kansas

Eudora Pro 5.20.9

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Mail From: Brad Franks" <bfranks (Brad Franks)

Look at the last five digits in the VIN.

Welcome to the fold!

Brad

----- Original Message -----
From: "GARY HOPKINS" <(email redacted)>
> Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
> production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
> me what build number my chasis is

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: plevasseur (Paul Levasseur)

You might also consider joining the local Miata club.
cincimiata.com/

Paul Levasseur

-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted) [mailto:(email redacted)]On Behalf
Of Brad Franks
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 2:06 PM
To: GARY HOPKINS; (email redacted)
Subject: Re: [Miata] A Couple of questions


charset="iso-8859-1"

Look at the last five digits in the VIN.

Welcome to the fold!

Brad

-

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Mail From: matthew.king (Matthew King)

At 01:23 PM 13/03/2003 -0500, Bob Hotaling wrote:
>the heat you mention is not unique to a 90 (run from that person when
>reading advice.)

Where was it mentioned that this problem was unique to the 90's? It IS
common on '90's, and it's also common to other years...

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Mail From: bobhotaling (Bob Hotaling)

... I guess the advice I gave him on what it was passed your test as it's
not further quoted. Point is, it's no more common on a 90 than any other
year or don't you agree with that either? :)


----- Original Message -----
From: "Matthew King" <(email redacted)>
To: "Bob Hotaling" <(email redacted)>; "GARY HOPKINS"
<(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 4:21 PM
Subject: Re: [Miata] A Couple of questions


> At 01:23 PM 13/03/2003 -0500, Bob Hotaling wrote:
> >the heat you mention is not unique to a 90 (run from that person when
> >reading advice.)
>
> Where was it mentioned that this problem was unique to the 90's? It IS
> common on '90's, and it's also common to other years...
>
> _______________________________________________
> Miata mailing list
> (email redacted)
> realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: matthew.king (Matthew King)

Agree totally with your advice. But the original quote was

"I thought it was just my car, then I read a
posting that this is common in 90 miatas..."

Nothing in there about being _unique_ to the 1990 model year. Just common.
So I wanted to correct the perception that the original advice (actually a
forum post, not an individual from which to run) was incorrect. Misleading,
maybe, if you don't have a 1990, and they will probably all crack
eventually, but I'd guess the problem was most common on the oldest cars...


At 05:05 PM 13/03/2003 -0500, Bob Hotaling wrote:
>... I guess the advice I gave him on what it was passed your test as it's
>not further quoted. Point is, it's no more common on a 90 than any other
>year or don't you agree with that either? :)
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Matthew King" <(email redacted)>
>To: "Bob Hotaling" <(email redacted)>; "GARY HOPKINS"
><(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
>Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 4:21 PM
>Subject: Re: [Miata] A Couple of questions
>
>
> > At 01:23 PM 13/03/2003 -0500, Bob Hotaling wrote:
> > >the heat you mention is not unique to a 90 (run from that person when
> > >reading advice.)
> >
> > Where was it mentioned that this problem was unique to the 90's? It IS
> > common on '90's, and it's also common to other years...
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Miata mailing list
> > (email redacted)
> > realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: peter.sun (Peter Sun)

[this was a MIME-encoded message - it has been]
[filtered of non-plaintext attachments by ALF ]


5 or 6...cos the breakpoint is 209446 or less for Miata and 127442 for
European spec MX-5?

-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Franks [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 3:06 AM
To: GARY HOPKINS; (email redacted)
Subject: Re: [Miata] A Couple of questions


charset="iso-8859-1"

Look at the last five digits in the VIN.

Welcome to the fold!

Brad

----- Original Message -----
From: "GARY HOPKINS" <(email redacted)>
> Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
> production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
> me what build number my chasis is


_______________________________________________
Miata mailing list
(email redacted)
realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/miata


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Mail From: romad (Dennis B. Swaney)

At 12:32 -0600 13/3/03, John Freas wrote:
>Previously on questions, "GARY HOPKINS" <(email redacted)> said...
>
>
>
>> Second, as I said mine is a 1990 model, which was the first
>> production year for these. Does anybody know of a database that might tell
>> me what build number my chasis is?? I plan on keeping this car until
>someone
>> pries the keys from my cold, dead hands, and I would love to know what the
>> build number is. Anybody got any ideas on this one??
>
>miata.net/faq/faq2.html#C
>
>The short answer is that the last four digits of your VIN are the production
>number of your car for that model year. Mine is #7690.

Mine is 7028 and the car was built on 1 Jun 89
--

Miataly,
Dennis
---
Dennis B. Swaney "I think, therefore I Mac"
Oroville, California TEAM USAF
Founding Member, S.A.M.O.A. Team Flyin' Miata
Team California License Plate Blue Team Valentine 1
('89 VIN: 7028)