MX5 Owners in here....bring your curling tongs

Picked up a MK2 1.8 earlier after for £900. Its on a T plate, original arches with no rust (:o) had a plate on the drivers side sill, passenger sill solid and the front and rear chassis members look good. Got an oil leak on the front of the engine so will have a look at that. Drives nice and tidy but ive got an issue with intermittent abs light so will plug it in over the next week or so to check that out!

Will get pics tomorrow hopefully
 
Just some info on the ABS as I have gone through the pain myself. There is no info held in the ECU for it so it's very hard to diag. Chances are it's a sensor which you can test individually by testing the resistance. I replaced a front sensor and a year later the light was on again. PITA!!!!!

*Also you pretty much can't buy used for the front as they are impossible to remove without destroying them. So you would have to replace the whole hub to fit a used one.
 
My car is still driving me insane.

When I unlock the drivers door, 1 times out of 3 the Anti Intruder Device (the horn beeping like mad) will go off. I need to unlock the boot to stop it.
Then, when I'm driving; the car will randomly lock and unlock itself over and over again. It sounds like a machine gun going off!
I've also fitted a single DIN stereo, but it's just kinda hanging in the gap with a cubby hole installed in the bottom. I have no idea how to actually secure it in.

But, then it's still great fun with the roof down!
 
For all weird key oddoties I've found this works well on my mk2.5 in the past.

1). Keep drivers door open.

2). Insert key into ignition

3). Turn the ignition on. To the point the dashboard lights up but not as far turning the ignition to the point of starting the engne.

4) Turn ignition off when red light extinguishes.

5). Turn the ignition on a second time to the point the dashboard lights up but not as far as starting the engne.

6). Turn ignition off again.

7). Turn the ignition on a third ime to the point the dashboard lights up but not as far as starting the engne.

8-). Turn the ignition off for a third time.

9). Rember keeping the drivers door open? Well, look on the car body next to the drivers seat, at hip level, for a small black button. It's near the sill. (One of the buttons functions is to turn the interior light on and off when you open the drivers door) Well, press this button.

10). Press this button again for a second time.

11). And again for a third time.

12). I think I could hear the door locks motoring at this point.

13) Press any button on your key fob.

14) Press the same key fob button again.

15). I think I heard more door lock noises.

16) Key fob reprogramming? ..... Done.

http://www.mx5scotland.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7995
 
Capt Doufos said:
Just some info on the ABS as I have gone through the pain myself. There is no info held in the ECU for it so it's very hard to diag. Chances are it's a sensor which you can test individually by testing the resistance. I replaced a front sensor and a year later the light was on again. PITA!!!!!

*Also you pretty much can't buy used for the front as they are impossible to remove without destroying them. So you would have to replace the whole hub to fit a used one.
Click to expand...

If it is the sensor, AK Automotive put a none OEM one on mine as it was massively cheaper, they told me they'd never used them before but, for the price, i could buy about 8 before it'd be more expensive than 1 OEM....
 
BinnsY said:
For all weird key oddoties I've found this works well on my mk2.5 in the past.

1). Keep drivers door open.

2). Insert key into ignition

3). Turn the ignition on. To the point the dashboard lights up but not as far turning the ignition to the point of starting the engne.

4) Turn ignition off when red light extinguishes.

5). Turn the ignition on a second time to the point the dashboard lights up but not as far as starting the engne.

6). Turn ignition off again.

7). Turn the ignition on a third ime to the point the dashboard lights up but not as far as starting the engne.

8-). Turn the ignition off for a third time.

9). Rember keeping the drivers door open? Well, look on the car body next to the drivers seat, at hip level, for a small black button. It's near the sill. (One of the buttons functions is to turn the interior light on and off when you open the drivers door) Well, press this button.

10). Press this button again for a second time.

11). And again for a third time.

12). I think I could hear the door locks motoring at this point.

13) Press any button on your key fob.

14) Press the same key fob button again.

15). I think I heard more door lock noises.

16) Key fob reprogramming? ..... Done.

http://www.mx5scotland.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7995
Click to expand...

Tried that, didn't help. I think it's an issue with the drivers lock. I have bought a replacement wiring thingy from mx5parts but not got round to fitting it. Worried that if I take the doorcard off I'll never get it back on as it should go.
 
Ahleckz said:
Tried that, didn't help. I think it's an issue with the drivers lock. I have bought a replacement wiring thingy from mx5parts but not got round to fitting it. Worried that if I take the doorcard off I'll never get it back on as it should go.
Click to expand...

Mx5s are one of the easiest door cards ever to take off.

There's a little clip by the tweeter and two at the back end of the door. Gently prise the inner section up with something like a flatblade screw driver up then wiggle the clip out.

You've then got three Phillips screws one in the door handle, one in the door release then if you look at the handle from above theres a rectangle of carpet with a a screw underneath.

One those are removed give the door card a tug from the bottom working around the outside to release the poppers.
 
Sort of forgot I had an MX5 for a year and a half... It was quite a distance away from Aberdeen in a mates shed.
Got it up here this month, and will be full steam ahead to get it on the road.
Replacement rear calipers, brake lines, and new discs/pads all round in the post. :)

Unfortunately, when it was up on the ramps, the rust looked a bit worse than I remembered. :( But guess "they all do that".

I've started up an evening course for car bodywork repair, so should hopefully gain some minor welding skills that will help.

Has anyone fit the Sportdrive or Jass Performance frame rails to their cars? Thinking of doing this, as looks like my mk1 has taken a bit of a beating over speed bumps in it's life.
 
Couple of pics from last weekends will repair. Just patched it for the MOT for now

Cleaned back
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Finished result
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Just needs some paint now, forgot to take any progress photos

Edit: Oh and Im trying and failing to get hold of Reverant to discuss buying one of his ECUs at the end of next month
 
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dale1uk said:
You not tempted to see what the new Motorsports Electronics ECU is like? Looks like a good alternative to a MS.
Click to expand...

They don't list anything for the MK2 yet unfortunately, MS is a bit more of a known and the Mtorosporr Electronics doesn't have any knock or boost control yet either
 
I have one of reverends MS2 basics. He is quite busy and sometimes take a while to respond, I imagine as this is due to his great customer service as he answers everyones questions (including my own).

He is good to deal with though and kept me informed throughout the purchase and advised me reguarding sensors etc.

In hindsight I wish I got the enhanced but funds did not allow for at the time. Its still sitting in the box, I will fit it at the end of the month.
 
I managed to get Reverant to build and post mine to arrive on the Tuesday after I first contacted him on the Thursday night before. Full MS3 built with base settings for a supercharger. I think he felt sorry for me as the car was built but the fuel card that came with the sc kit didn't work so it wouldn't fire up.
 
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