Hello!

[Mr Bridger]

Hi, I've just bought a Mk1 MX5 for my wife. She had a one years ago when we first met (a Monza) which she loved but we had to sell it to buy a more practical car
Anyway, ten years on times have changed and we've got another one, this time a 1.8 Harvard. It's only had a couple of owners and has done 41,000 miles so is in good condition, but there are a few areas that need looking into.
I only brought the car home tonight so have no photos of it yet, but will post some when I do.

[Speedy]

to the home of Menders

Sounds like you have a nice Mk1 there

[Mazda Mender]

Welcome buddy....lets have a look at the old girl...what the "few areas that need looking at"?
M-m

[dave62]

Hello and welcome.....any pictures?

[Mr Bridger]

Here are some photos. The car was a birthday present, hence the ribbons etc...

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[Mazda Mender]

One happy chappy...
M-m

[Mr Bridger]

She was/is very happy!
Thanks for the welcomes, the issues I mentioned are already being worked through. The first thing was the fact that the revs would drop down to 400 or 500rpm when coming to a stop at a T junction. The engine would be on the verge of stalling then recover just in time. Last night I fitted a piece of wire between the Earth and 10 connectors and the engine would not idle at all. Once I’d turned the idle speed screw out it was fine, so I reckon someone may have set the idle without the bit of wire between the connectors. While I was there reset the timing to 14 degrees to see if it makes any difference; I’ve read so much conflicting information on the web that I thought I’d find out myself.
Another issue was that the heated rear window on the hard top is not working. One of the 10A fuses in the boot next to the battery has blown, so hopefully it’ll just be a case of replacing that, although it must have blown for a reason….
The car has hardly been used over the last few years (28 miles between MOTs 2015 – 2016!) and although it has had a belt change, I don’t think its had a proper service for two or three years so that is a priority.
The engine seems to warm up erratically. By that I mean that when I took it for an MoT last month I drove it 8 miles and it barely warmed up, yet yesterday when it was much colder it was up to temperature within 4 miles. Added to the mix is the fact that in the huge history file that came with the car was a large bill for a head gasket, head skim and new radiator which was carried out about 1000 miles ago (but 4 years ago as the car was used so little). I don’t think that there is anything particularly sinister going on here as I drove the car for 170 miles back home after I bought it with no issues, but I’ll keep an eye on it. The cost of a thermostat, even an OEM Mazda one, means I’ll probably just replace it to be sure.
Body wise the sills are all good, but at the top of one of the rear arches there is a bubble of rust about the size of my thumb nail and there is also a tiny bit of rust on the front lip of one of the front wings, both of which will be sorted soon.
Once that’s done I’ll give the car a good dose of Waxoyl. I’m lucky enough to have a compressor and the proper wax injection kit so hopefully that’ll keep the rust at bay for now.
One thing we have notices it there is an occasional clunking noise coming from the hard top when the car goes over rough roads. Is that normal?

[Mazda Mender]

Sounds like you have an issue with the ICV on the throttle body...as for the 14 degree thing....forget it...but keep an eye on the temp.
M-m

[Mr Bridger]

So you wouldn’t recommend 14 degrees advance then? Best to stick it back to 10?

[Mazda Mender]

Do you know what the 14 degrees advance was for in the beginning? and why importers started to do [t on import a JDM Eunos and then stopped bothering?...the kids have taken this and turned it around for something else ...the gains are not worth the hassle...so where and what have you been reading bud.
M-m

[Speedy]

The whole idea of adjusting the timing to 14 degrees was to compensate for the difference in fuel octane in the UK to Japan.
On import if the engine was found to be 'pinking' a small tap sound on acceleration you would advance the timing to compensate for the fuel octane.

Advancing to 14 degrees without any requirement for fuel adjustment doesnt give much if any performance advantage.

[dave62]

Every days a school day as they say, I'd too read about the 14 degree mod and wondered what advantage it might give. Will be leaving mine standard now though thanks. Nice looking car pal.

[blackyb]

Serviced my mates mk3 on Sunday and as part of the service checked for any codes, all was clear on the codes but on checking the running configuration noted that my scanner read 13 degree spark advance!!!

[mattpc]

Love the red leather on the Harvard. Hope it's still there in yours! Get some Gliptone Liquid leather rubbed in to it. You will be amazed at the good it can do to the look and feel of the leather. It's not even expensive..