Reply With QuoteWhy don't you have the "expert" fix the damn thing?
T/B fiasco-motor now fubar
So an "expert" on miatas changed out the belt on my 94. Sounded good since he'd come over to do it in my driveway and had done quite a few already.
I don't know what he did wrong, but at this point it only runs on cylinders 4, 1 & 2. There's spark to 3, but no combustion. Also, there's a ticking noise that wasn't there before, maybe lifter tick?
The only other thing I can throw out is when trying to start it up it seemed to kind of bind up for a moment.
Any ideas before I have to pull this thing up on a trailer and take it to Rogue?
Why don't you have the "expert" fix the damn thing?
Are you sure the "expert" wasn't an undercover operative from MT?
Couple of thoughts...
1) POS might be on to something... did the "expert" leave his phone number for warranty questions?
2) Maybe the #3 plug is wet/fouled - so you'd get spark from the wire to the plug, but nothing inside the head. You might pull the plugs and make sure they're clean and gapped properly. Are you sure it's the #3 plug? Does the motor lope like it's got a monster cam or fart and sputter like it's on 3 cylinders?
3) I wonder if the TB is off a tooth? That might explain the "binding up" when starting. Could also explain the rough-running motor.
'94 Black & Black & Tan
'99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...
Dyno Days
8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno
Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds
^^That number 3 sounds like the first thing to check.
On the track, I am fearless.
If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.
1994 M Edition
CSP 67
Dude that sux, I hope you can get it worked out soon.
99 Miata Black
Who was the 'expert' so no one else makes the same mistake?
I vote for #3. The fact that it starts and runs is a good sign. Find another expert and have him check everything out.
What's left of a '96 Miata with stock clutch.
My car exceeds my driving ability. That's the only possible explanation.
Yea I'm sure you already paid the "expert" why not have him fix it correctly? Have you even talked to him about the car's issues??Originally Posted by trickyrix
1) POS might be on to something... did the "expert" leave his phone number for warranty questions?
I'd also be interested in knowing who this "expert" is!
How many miles did you put on it since it was worked on? It could be something totally unrelated, but maybe not. ?
Smile
93' LE #1136 - FM II
250k miles
The binding sensation only happened the first time trying to start it after the belt change. I was turning the key and the motor just seemed to stop. It bugged me, but a miata is a non interference motor, right?
Tried new plug. The spark plug is firing, there seems to be plenty of compression, and the plug is wet with gas. But, it is definitely only running on 4, 1 and 2. Is it possible for one of the cams to be off to where it runs on those 3 only?
It hasn't moved out of the driveway since the "expert" disappeared. The "expert" is Richard Thompson of Fort Worth, and I wouldn't trust him to put air in my tires at this point.
Rory Lives!!!! This guy, right?
Last edited by tailchaser; 10-29-2008 at 01:25 PM.
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
It only goes to show when people can no longer discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they can improvise and still find someone to hate. - Dave Moulton
You mean Rory - "You guys are mean, I hate your car club and I'm forming my own" - Rory?
bwahahahahahaha!!111!!1!!
Fraid so.
FWIW, the last mis-aligned timing belt I had to fix (house call on a DIYer) was exactly as mentioned above. One cam was mis-aligned by one tooth. That time, the car (also) would idle (horribly), but I wouldn't have bet on it getting enough power to let out the clutch in gear and stay running.
Who "fixes" a car with out test driving it? I'd get him back over to re-align the belt, and make sure you can drive the car before he leaves again. Miata engines are not interference motors, so you don't have to worry about damage. The extra clicking will likely go away after the problem is fixed.
1994 R-package - gone, but not forgotten.
1966 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40. Restification in progress. or should I say De-RUSTification in progress?
1984 Honda VF1100S. V4 Fury!
Not that I want to be an ass, but wouldn't a post on a local Miata forum (like this one) to verify the qualification of a "Miata Expert" be something one would want to do prior to having your car serviced?Fraid so.
It is a non interference engine, but if it were mine it would be on a trailer headed to Miata Solutions....
Last edited by POS Racing; 10-29-2008 at 02:33 PM. Reason: added a link! Woot!
It only takes about 6-8 bolts to pull off the valve cover. You will need to turn the motor over to Top Dead Center on #1 Then look at the marks on the cam and see it they line up correctly. I'm sure that someone has a picture that they can post on what it's supposed to look like.
Hmm what is decent? Are we talking about your decent or my decent? I'm just curious because I don't want to offend anyone else's decent...
Ummm, yes you are right. The part about getting references anyway.
Hindsight tells me this should have been obvious. Oh well, another lesson learned.
It hasn't left the driveway. He spent two days on it and then disappeared. Really a reliable upstanding guy.
Man that sucks..... Ya gotta wonder what else he may have screwed up was the water pump part of the service??It hasn't left the driveway. He spent two days on it and then disappeared. Really a reliable upstanding guy.
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