Bought an MX5

OpenToSuggestions · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:05

The alternator belt looks rather old and squeaks when the engine starts up.
I plan to place it. It is a single V shaped belt with no ribs, which probably explains why it slips so easily.

Where is the belt place to purchase a new belt? I have looked online and a lot of places call it a ribbed belt, but I do not need one of those.

Conscript · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:17

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/alternator-belt-only-p-211.html

Edit: Sorry, sorry just enlarged the picture - description states a V-type belt but the picture shows it with ribs.

OpenToSuggestions · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:28

Conscript said:
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/alternator-belt-only-p-211.html

Edit: Sorry, sorry just enlarged the picture - description states a V-type belt but the picture shows it with ribs.

That is the issue I have

.
Perhaps I should call them.

Tinders · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:32

Ignore

Disco Boy · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:57

OpenToSuggestions said:
Hey all.
Went to see an MX5 yesterday that was perfect. It was not for sale but belonged to someone I knew, so was nice to see what a minter looked like. She paid £4200 for it. Ouch.

Did your friend pay £4200 for a mk1?!

OpenToSuggestions · 1 Oct 2012 at 11:43

Disco Boy said:
Did your friend pay £4200 for a mk1?!

Yes. It is immaculate aside from a few carpark door dings.
I think she should be paying around half that for a mint one.

For £4200 I'd expect it to have suspension upgrades, good looking wheels, hardtop, rollcage, uprated brakes, full respray, snazzy seats and a decent supercharger conversion!

Disco Boy · 1 Oct 2012 at 13:11

She paid £4200 for a mk1 that is dinged and doesn't have forced induction?

WOW.

Howard · 1 Oct 2012 at 13:15

Blimey, she could have had my old one for 4k :eek:

OpenToSuggestions · 1 Oct 2012 at 19:02

Haha yeah I said I'd give her £2000 for it but then she told me paid over double that!!

The driver's seat is torn and I'd like a better one. Are the passenger and driver seats the same? I see that the metal handle to move them is the other way around, but are the seats easy to take off the frames?

I ordered a new alternator belt as mine is looking battered and also squeals. Has cost me £9 delivered from Amazon.

The Running Man · 1 Oct 2012 at 19:12

Check the sills, my mate put his through when he was washing the car, just prodding at it! (drivers side rear of sill)

OpenToSuggestions · 1 Oct 2012 at 19:32

The Running Man said:
Check the sills, my mate put his through when he was washing the car, just prodding at it! (drivers side rear of sill)

The sills look fine

. I had not got a magnet to check if there was any filler in there but the paintwork looks untouched in the area.

I have looked at a few guides and may take some foam out of the driver's seat as I am 6'3" and an extra inch of headroom would make a lot of difference.

-westy- · 1 Oct 2012 at 21:36

OpenToSuggestions said:
Haha yeah I said I'd give her £2000 for it but then she told me paid over double that!!

The driver's seat is torn and I'd like a better one. Are the passenger and driver seats the same? I see that the metal handle to move them is the other way around, but are the seats easy to take off the frames?

I ordered a new alternator belt as mine is looking battered and also squeals. Has cost me £9 delivered from Amazon.

No, the seats are different - you need a specific driver's side seat.

OpenToSuggestions · 1 Oct 2012 at 23:08

-westy- said:
No, the seats are different - you need a specific driver's side seat.

OK thanks

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Is the timing gun worth £20?
I know you can move the torque curve down a few rpm but is it really worth it? Do I actually need to keep the gun or is it a case of 'do it once and never again?'.

-westy- · 2 Oct 2012 at 00:12

OpenToSuggestions said:
OK thanks .

Is the timing gun worth £20?
I know you can move the torque curve down a few rpm but is it really worth it? Do I actually need to keep the gun or is it a case of 'do it once and never again?'.

The 14 degree timing mod does make a bit of a difference, do you not know anyone with a timing light?

OpenToSuggestions · 2 Oct 2012 at 10:20

-westy- said:
The 14 degree timing mod does make a bit of a difference, do you not know anyone with a timing light?

Nope, I'd have to buy one, but I bet if I went to an MX5 meet somebody let me rent it for an hour

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Where is a good place to find spray paint that is a good colour match?

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The Mother is very good with a seweing machine so might ask her to see what she can do with the driver's seat bolster

. Either way the seats require a good clean!!

The Focus and MX5 are coming in at £1520 on a multicar policy when this speeding ticket comes through.
For now I want to smarten the car up a bit. I think performance mods will have to come next year (if I do them) when I am over 25. Adrian Flux quotes were laughable with me being 24.

OpenToSuggestions · 7 Oct 2012 at 18:39

I bought an alternator fan belt. The invoice says 'Alternator fan belt Mazda Mx-5 import 89>93 1.6 petrol'.

The one on the car is a toothless, non ribbed belt.
The new belt is a toothed, ribbed belt.

I have no idea whether my current belt is so worn that the teeth have worn away, or if I have the wrong belt.

OpenToSuggestions · 7 Oct 2012 at 18:41

Double post.

Howard · 7 Oct 2012 at 18:50

Send me an email (in trust) with your address and I'll send you my timing light to use if you want

OpenToSuggestions · 7 Oct 2012 at 19:00

Howard said:
Send me an email (in trust) with your address and I'll send you my timing light to use if you want

Thanks I will do in the very near future

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The car is currently off the road at the moment as it will be insured when my 3 years NCB comes through towards the end of Oct as I am starting a multicar policy. I'd like to get used to the car with the factory power band before any tweaking.

The driver's seat is currently in bits as the Mother has kindly offered to fix the bolster for me

. May do a foamectomy whilst the seat is out! I sat in the car to put it back in the garage with no driver's seat and the lowered height felt good. I am 6'3" and currently look at the sun visor when the seat is in place

.

kieranv · 7 Oct 2012 at 19:05

OpenToSuggestions said:
I have looked at a few guides and may take some foam out of the driver's seat as I am 6'3" and an extra inch of headroom would make a lot of difference.

This is the best thing I've done to mine so far. Take some out the base to make a bowl shape for you to sit in, and there's a whole section of the backrest which will pull out as one piece. Makes the seat feel like a proper bucket and hugs you tight round the corners.