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Terry's 1994 Mazda Miata rusted suspension.

Every once in a while you get an unusual repair project

Terry Marino of Sarasota had an unusual rust problem isolated to the  front suspension system of his 1994 Mazda Miata. The balance of his Mazda Miata was relatively rust free.

1994 Miata's subframe and lower a-arm.

Terry’s Mazda Miata is not a “northern” car, so the assumption was that the previous owner drove the car through salt water on very regular basis because the areas affected were extensively rusted.

1996 Miata sub-frame installed as on unit.

I determined that easiest and best solution to the heavily rusted lower a-arms and sub-frame was to replace the entire front suspension system minus the shocks, springs and anti-roll bar.

Installed 1996 Miata sub-frame.

Luckily, I happened to have a a 1996 Mazda Miata with good front suspension system. I removed the necessary pieces as one unit and from my 1996 Miata parts car and installed them in Terry’s 1994 Mazda Miata.

If you are going to specialize in one vehicle, it is very wise to have parts cars available. The customer always wins. Terry’s work came out very well and he spent 1/3rd the amount he would have at another shop.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair, and convertible top replacement garage dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata MX-5 and their owners.

Just Miata is Florida’s number one Mazda Miata service and repair facility for oil changes, service, repairs, timing belt replacements, water pump replacements, and convertible top replacements. Just Miata has the most knowledge and provides the best service and repairs and convertible tops for the Mazda Miata MX-5. Just Miata is the only Mazda Miata MX-5 specialist in florida.

Just Miata USA is an expert and master installer of the Mazda Miata MX-5 convertible top in America.

Just Miata USA is a perferred Robbins Auto Tops Mazda Miata MX-5 Convertible Top Installer and dealer here in the USA.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair and convertible top replacement shop for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, plus Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Venice, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, Lee, Charlotte, Orange, Lake and Polk.

Mazda Miata Cylinder Head

Leaking valve cover gaskets are a not uncommon to see on older Mazda Miatas. The rubber that a valve cover gasket is made of will turn hard and brittle if left unserviced for a long period of time. Leaking valve cover gaskets can cause problems.

Mazda Miata valve cover gasket now hard and brittle

The valve cover gasket on the NA and NB Miatas not only seals the outer edge of the valve cover, but also seals the spark plug galleys where the sparks plugs and ignition wires live.

Breaking surface tension on Miata cylinder head.

Motor oil and ignition wires don’t mix. The motor oil causes the ignition wire boots to swell and self destruct. This condition can ignition misfires and noticeable performance drops. When I see a leaking valve cover gasket I immediately inspect the spark plug galleys for any motor oil intrusion.

Miata valve cover, clean inside and out.

I have replaced many Mazda Miata valve cover gaskets and I have found that even with the upmost care that a new valve cover gaskets can leak soon after its installation. New valve cover gaskets don’t leak badly, but any leaking really drives me crazy. It must be some of my German heritage sneaking through.

Light coat of aircraft sealant.

When installing a new valve cover gasket, I like to get all parts and sufaces as clean as possible before reassembly. I also like to break the surface tension of the cylinder head by sanding the cylinder head surface with an abrasive emory cloth. I also use a light coat of air craft sealant on both mating surfaces.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair, and convertible top replacement garage dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata MX-5 and their owners.

Just Miata is Florida’s number one Mazda Miata service and repair facility for oil changes, service, repairs, timing belt replacements, water pump replacements, and convertible top replacements. Just Miata has the most knowledge and provides the best service and repairs and convertible tops for the Mazda Miata MX-5. Just Miata is the only Mazda Miata MX-5 specialist in florida.

Just Miata is a perferred Robbins Auto Tops Mazda Miata MX-5 Convertible Top Installer and dealer.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair and convertible top replacement shop for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, plus Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Venice, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, Lee, Charlotte, Orange, Lake and Polk.

Bad NA Miata hose pipe corrosion.

It is very important to make sure every aspect of the cooling system on the early Mazda Miata NAs is in good shape. This means hoses, radiator fans, condenser fans, fan switches, radiators, thermostats, radiator caps, heater hoses. The cooling system has to be right as your Miata gets older.

The early NA Mazda Miatas from 1990-1997 have two lower radiator hoses. One is called the Lower Radiator Hose which exits the radiator and joins, what I call the “Lower Radiator Hose Pipe which is made of steal. The second hose, the Lower Middle Radiator Hose attaches to the other end of the metal Radiator Hose Pipe and then joins to the water pump inlet. So, you have two rubber radiator hoses separated by a metal hose/pipe. Again, one long hose made up of basically three hoses, one is metal.

Miata hose pipe refurbished and protected.

Well, typically what I see when replacing the two lower radiator hoses is that the  metal hose/pipe has rusted on both ends. Not good. When I replace the lower radiator hoses, I also remove the hose/pipe and refurbish the metal hose/pipe so that metal pipe does not rust again once the new lower radiator hoses are fitted.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair, and convertible top replacement shop dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata MX-5 and their owners.

Just Miata can service or make repairs on any Mazda car or truck.

From oil changes to timing belt and water pump replacements, convertible top replacements. Just Miata can provide the best service and repairs all aspects of the Mazda Miata MX-5. Just Miata started in Jacksonville FL in 1993. Just Miata perferred Robbins Auto Tops Mazda Miata MX-5 Convertible Top Installer.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair and convertible top replacement shop for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Venice, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, Lee, Charlotte, Orange, Lake and Polk.

Notice a very small black plastic actuator missing?

The combination window switch that operates the left and right windows in the Mazda Miata changed designs from the Mazda Miata NA of 1990-1997 to the Mazda Miata NB of 1998-2005.

The early NA window switch design is mechanic friendly, in that, one can disassemble the switch entirely, clean, service and rebuild it in order to make it function again.

The switch from the NB Miata is a mechanically weaker switch. The NB switch will fail, but the ability to rebuild it is not possible because a very small but very important portion of the up and down plastic touch pads breaks. The portion of the pad that breaks is so small it can’t be fixed. The entire switch has to replaced.

The early Mazda Miata NA switch is hardy and can be serviced and repaired using parts from other switches.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair, and convertible top replacement shop dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata MX-5 and their owners.

Just Miata can service or make repairs on any Mazda car or truck.

From oil changes to timing belt and water pump replacements, convertible top replacements. Just Miata can provide the best service and repairs all aspects of the Mazda Miata MX-5. Just Miata started in Jacksonville FL in 1993. Just Miata perferred Robbins Auto Tops Mazda Miata MX-5 Convertible Top Installer.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata MX-5 service, repair and convertible top replacement shop for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Venice, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, Lee, Charlotte, Orange, Lake and Polk.

I recommend replacing your Water Pump during your Timing Belt Service and here is good reason to back that up.

Out flow from leaking water pump.

Water pumps can leak slightly before they fail. Miata water pumps can fail at about the 100,000 mile mark, but can start to leak behind their bearing long before, and that can lead to damage to the Timing Belt Pulley, Crankshaft Dowel, and Woodruff Key. Crankshaft and Timing Belt Pulley problems can be very expensive.

When Miata Water Pumps start to leak, there is an evacuation tube that the anti-freeze/coolant/water mix runs down and away from the water pump. I like this feature, but the water that is drained exits just at the top to the oil pump housing. This coolant then flows out around the Timing Belt Pulley and Crankshaft Dowel and Key Way. Water on metal creates rust and the Timing Belt Pulley, Crankshaft Dowel, and Wooddruff Key become one. The seized engine parts are very difficult to separate and in some cases will not.

Why do you have to take the Timing Belt Pulley off to replace the Timing Belt. You don’t. But, if you want to replace the front Crankshaft Seal you must.

I have seen many Miata leaking oil badly from the front crankshaft seal and it is a good indication that the seal has never been replaced. All due to a Timing Belt Pulley that would not come off. Many shops forgo the hassle and do not properly service the front Crankshaft Seal during a Water Pump/Timing Belt Service.

I literally crack the Timing Belt Pulley to remove.

To take the Timing Belt Pulley off of the Crankshaft Dowel, I often destroy the Timing Belt Pulley to do so. All the result of a water pump that wasn’t replaced when it should have or when it could have.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata service, repair, and convertible top replacement shop dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata and their owners.

Just Miata can service or make repairs on any Mazda car or truck.

From oil changes to timing belt and water pump replacements, convertible top replacements. Just Miata can provide the best service and repairs all aspects of the Mazda Miata. Just Miata started in Jacksonville FL in 1993. Just Miata perferred Robbins Auto Tops Miata Convertible Top Installer.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata service, repair and convertible top replacement shop for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Venice, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, Lee, Charlotte, Orange, Lake and Polk.

Miata crankshaft keeper.

I have done about a thousand Miata timing belt and water pump services. Very early on in my Miata career, I created a breaker bar that fastens to the timing belt pulley keeping the crankshaft in place so that I can break the crankshaft  bolt free.

For use below or above your Miata.

I can also torque the crankshaft bolt tight during reassembly without the crank moving. It is a great time saver and I can feel good about the doing the job well and not using monkey techniques to tighten or loosen the crankshaft bolt.

Breaking the crankshaft bolt free.

What’s really cool is that Mazda kept the crankshaft bolt, pulley boss and timing belt pulley design the same for 14 years.

Just Miata is a specialty sports car service, repair, and convertible top replacement shop dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata and their owners.

“You love your Miata, we love your Miata”

From oil changes to timing belt and water pump replacements, Just Miata can service and repair all aspects of the Mazda Miata. Just Miata started in Jacksonville FL in 1993. Just Miata perferred Robbins Miata Convertible Top Installer.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata service, repair and convertible top replacement shop for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Venice, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, Lee, Charlotte, Orange, Lake and Polk.

Just Miata is a specialty sports car service and repair dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata and their owners.

“You love your Miata, we love your Miata”

Stuart Thompson

From oil changes to Timing Belts replacements, I can service and repair all aspects of the Mazda Miata. Just Miata started in Jacksonville FL in 1993. I’ve been installing and repairing the Miata covertible top for that long, too. I am a perferred Robbins Miata Convertible Top Installer.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata service and repair for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, and Polk.

Call Just Miata for a quote on any service or repair or convertible top.

Just Miata, St. Petersburg FL 727-631-5430

Mazda Miata OE Parts & Service

Is your chrome Miata fuel door hard to open? Just Miata has a fix for you. Send us your fuel door and we can install a new custom fuel door cap bushing made from a special material and we guarantee your Miata chrome fuel door will open and close better than new, plus no need to ever lubricate it again.

Seems as though the old cap bushing succumbs to the elements and seizes in the cylinder and does not allow the spring and cap to move freely. Just Miata has got your fix.

The fuel door may look complex to remove, but it’s rather easy. All that is needed is #2 phillips head screw driver. Open the fuel door, if you can, and you will see the four screws where filler neck meets body work.

$69.95

Just Miata is a specialty sports car service, repair, and convertible top replacement shop dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata and their owners.

“You love your Miata, we love your Miata”

From oil changes to timing belt and water pump replacements, Just Miata can service and repair all aspects of the Mazda Miata. Just Miata started in Jacksonville FL in 1993. Just Miata perferred Robbins Miata Convertible Top Installer.

Just Miata is a Mazda Miata service, repair and convertible top replacement shop for the greater Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton, Sarasota, Orlando, Lakeland, Fort Meyers, Port Charlotte, Venice, and the surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, Lee, Charlotte, Orange, Lake and Polk.

Just Miata is a specialty sports car service and repair in Tampa Bay, dedicated to the health and happiness of the Mazda Miata and their owners. “You love your Miata, we love your Miata”.

Just Miata Tampa Bay

From Miata oil changes to Miata timing belt services and replacing your Miatas convertible top, Just Miata covers every aspect of Mazda Miata service and repair.

Mazda Miata Specialists

Just Miata began service in Jacksonville Florida 1993  and moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2000. Just Miata now is located at the south end on Pinellas County in south St. Petersburg, just off of I-275 easily and easily reachable from Tampa to the north or Sarasota to the south.

Comprehensive Miata Service

Just Miata is the Mazda Miata service and repair facility for the greater Tampa Bay area, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, and surrounding counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Sarasota, and Polk.

Just Miata in St. Petersburg

Just Miata has customers that come from all reaches of Florida. Just Miata services customers from Pensecola to Key West, Orlando, Jacksonville, Naples, Melbourne, Miami, Fort Lauderale, Ocala, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Lake City just to name a few.

Just Miata Since 1993

Check the maps on our website to find Just Miata. Call or email Just Miata with any questions about an estimate, anything technical, or our schedule.

Just Miata

1000 30th St. S.,

St. Petersburg, Florida 33713

stuart@justmiata.com

www.justmiata.com

Danielle's 1993 Black & Tan Miata

Danielle from St. Petersburg FL has been a long time customer and has brought her 1993 Mazda Miata from oil changes, brakes, new convertible top. Danielle called with a complaint about a soft brake pedal. I recommended that she bring her Miata in for an inspection.

I found a soft brake pedal as she described, but there was no obvious clue for her brake fluid loss, but as a detailed my search I found a very small spot of brake fluid coming from her Miata’s ABS brake pump for her ABS brake system. It was a very small leak, but it was exchanging brake fluid for air, and that makes for a soft brake pedal.

Repairing the ABS unit was close to impossible based on the location of the leak. A new unit was an astronomical $2800, so a searched for a good used unit and I found one at Panic Motorsports in Columbia, South Carolina for a very affordable price.

1993 Mazda Miata ABS Pump

We had the ABS brake pump in two days and Danielle’s Miata was with her again. Danielle’s husband also brings there Lincoln in for service and advice.