This write-up describes the process of replacement of a soft top for a Mazda Miata. My vehicle is a 92, but I think that this might be very similar for many model years of Miata. I refer to this as “removal and installation” because removing the old top can be (at least was for me) a task requiring as much effort as installation of the new top. This is particularly true when you are not an expert at removing convertible tops, or have no previous experience replacing Miata tops. Without adequate instructions this can (and did for me) turn into a job taking 15 to 20 hours and requiring a few trips to the hardware store. Instructions from Mazda or from the people who sell you the top might claim that the job will “take you an afternoon with a few common tools”. Good luck with that! I’m writing this in hopes that someone else will not have as much difficulty as I did.
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One Of the oldest traditions in racing and road-tripping is Targa competition. Invented in Italy in 1906 as the Targa Florio, a Targa is an extended road trip with speed competition sections mixed with transit and endurance sections. The “Targa” name comes from the Italian word for a crest, or plate — the emblem traditionally bestowed on the winner. After the Targa Florio became famous, other nations took up the practice of high-speed races over public roads. Thus, the event was imitated in Britain, Mexico, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and on the Canadian island of Newfoundland. You might wonder what a 102-year-old Italian goat-trail race has to do with us? Just ask any racer or rallyist for a short list of the races he or she hopes to enter in this lifetime, and you’ll get your answer. Targa Newfoundland is one of the most exhilarating challenges in the world, and it’s tailor-made for a Miata.
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Miata introduced in fall of 1989 with a base price of $13,800. Originally designed as a $7,500 sports car, dollar-to-yen fluctuations drove the price up a couple of years before its introduction. The Miata Club of America is started months before the auto’s release in anticipation of the reaction the auto will provoke. Demand far surpasses supply. Some dealers are asking and receiving twice the sticker price for the first six months. Because of the Miata’s introduction, Automobile Magazine starts an annual tradition of naming one car the Automobile of the Year. The first award goes to the Miata. “Most Fun” Autoweek, Chicago Auto Show Road & Track names the Miata one of the five best cars on Earth, along side of a Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.
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This month’s column is the short version of an article I wrote for Miata Magazine about a Mazda Miata cylinder head and intake manifold project we were contracted for by Bill Cardell of “Flyin Miata”. Flyin Miata is a Miata high performance specialty house located in Grand Junction, Colorado. The full text version, pictures and dyno charts of this article are in the magazine version out this month. The cylinder head and intake manifold was from a Miata 1.6-liter engine that had undergone a bit of Bill’s turbo add-on magic. The subject in question is a streetcar and would be a daily driver. We would remain conservative here; this is not an all out race engine or car. Still, we could and would help make it stronger.
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The Secret To Suspensions
At most, you’ve got 4 strips of rubber keeping you connected to the ground. Keep this in mind at all times when considering how a chance will affect that tire/ground interface. An optimized suspension will take into account how each suspension components affects the vehicle in acceleration, braking, cornering, over rough terrain (even race tracks have berms) and especially at the limit of adhesion when encountering any combination these at the same time.
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The KraftWerks Mazda Miata Supercharger kit is designed and engineered to install with ease. If you are a competent mechanic with a good set of tools the installation will be relatively simple. This is a general installation guide for the KraftWerks Mazda Miata kit however each installation may vary slightly. Please keep these key factors in mind before installing: Please review the entire installation guide before attempting install. If you have any questions about your ability to perform this installation, we recommend you take your vehicle to a performance shop for installation.
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Some vehicles may exhibit clutch chatter or judder when releasing the clutch during cold conditions. This concern may be caused by the clutch surface materials creating a chatter or judder during clutch engagement. Customers experiencing this concern should have their vehicle repaired using this repair procedure.
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This write up is intended to severe as documentation of my project and act as a guide for others looking to do similar work. I think those following along at home will find the technical details surrounding the MegaSquirt (MS) setup and tuning the most daunting, so that’s where I’ll provide the greatest detail. To that end, I plan to cover MS board and version selection, circuit mods, wiring, and tuning in as much detail as possible so that this can serve as a reference guide for others.
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Starting in 2000 an accessory Auto Dimming Mirror was available. The mirror could come equipped with an electronic compass or an ambient temperature sensor or Homelink (Homelink allows you to program your garage remote to one of three buttons on the mirror assembly). This bulletin describes the mirror operation and diagnosis. NOTE: Mazda6 may come with factory or accessory installed auto-dimming mirror. If the unit is factory installed, look in the wiring diagram for wiring information, if the unit is port or dealer installed, then the wiring information in this bulletin applies.
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A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C evaporator/ cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling unit. This condition is usually worse during high humidity conditions. “Mazda Air Cooling Coil Coating” is available to encapsulate the mold to reduce odors. If the product is properly applied, it can effectively reduce the musty/mildew odor for up to three years. NOTE: See parts information for Mazda Air Cooling Coil Coating and Kit part numbers.
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