couple of niggles - can anyone help?
Discussion
I am LOVING my MX5 ownership since I bought my red lil 1990 mk1 beauty a few weeks ago. So much fun!!
A couple of little jobs need doing however, and so thought I'd turn to the experts....
1) Oil pressure guage jumps around like a frog on steroids - are there any connectors to try cleaning, and where would I find em??
2) The wipers don't park automatically - again, is there anything easy to look at?
Got the aircon guy coming to regas tonight, so hopefully she'll be shipshape for a 2k road tip around France and North Spain in August!
Hope you can help guys!!
Marc
ps is there ANY way of getting cheap breakdown cover for a single trip? Most places want annual membership at >£70!!
Oil pressure gauge is exactly the same on mine, i dont think its anything to worry about. But abit annoying!! Always check the pressure when you start the car though, it should always read the same and if its different from before something is up (or so i have been told)..
Can't help with the wipers though, sorry..
Glad you enjoy the car, i've had mine a month and its great fun!!
Can't help with the wipers though, sorry..
Glad you enjoy the car, i've had mine a month and its great fun!!
fr3n2y said:
Oil pressure gauge is exactly the same on mine, i dont think its anything to worry about. But abit annoying!! Always check the pressure when you start the car though, it should always read the same and if its different from before something is up (or so i have been told)..
Can't help with the wipers though, sorry..
Glad you enjoy the car, i've had mine a month and its great fun!!
Cheers buddy!Can't help with the wipers though, sorry..
Glad you enjoy the car, i've had mine a month and its great fun!!
Define "jumps"? On the early cars, they have a proper oil pressure sensor and gauge. Because too many people went back to the dealer worried there was a problem, they moved to a simple switch to say you either have oil pressure or you don't.
The correct behaviour of the earlier gauge is that when you start the engine cold, you will have relatively high oil pressure at idle. When the car is warmed up, you will have a lower oil pressure. If you increase the revs, the oil pressure will increase in relation to the increase in revs, dropping back down to the same level as before at idle. As a point of interest, take a look and see how much longer it takes for the oil to get up to temperature (pressure to drop to "normal" at idle) compared to how quickly the coolant gets up to temperature. You shouldn't thrash the car until the oil temp is right.
The correct behaviour of the earlier gauge is that when you start the engine cold, you will have relatively high oil pressure at idle. When the car is warmed up, you will have a lower oil pressure. If you increase the revs, the oil pressure will increase in relation to the increase in revs, dropping back down to the same level as before at idle. As a point of interest, take a look and see how much longer it takes for the oil to get up to temperature (pressure to drop to "normal" at idle) compared to how quickly the coolant gets up to temperature. You shouldn't thrash the car until the oil temp is right.
Fancy swapping pressure gauges?
I've got the later 'idiot' gauge whereby, as Lex says - you either have pressure or you don't.
I'd personally prefer the one you have so I have some vague idea of what's happening. The fear with the idiot's one is that when the gauge shows no pressure when it should usually means it's too late.
Although - that said - I do [mostly] check my oil weekly, to make sure it's ok.
And for the wipers - I'd second what Denny says.
K
I've got the later 'idiot' gauge whereby, as Lex says - you either have pressure or you don't.
I'd personally prefer the one you have so I have some vague idea of what's happening. The fear with the idiot's one is that when the gauge shows no pressure when it should usually means it's too late.
Although - that said - I do [mostly] check my oil weekly, to make sure it's ok.
And for the wipers - I'd second what Denny says.
K
oil filter is under the inlet manifold, you should be able to reach down from the offside of the car and get at it fairly easily. it will make a mess when you remove it tho due to it being mounted sideways you can't really get anything underneath to catch whatever pours out! you should be able to undo the filter by hand as it's not always so easy to use a tool on it, but i've never needed to try...
anyway, you don't need to jack anything up i wouldn't have thought...
anyway, you don't need to jack anything up i wouldn't have thought...
Edited by skinny on Thursday 3rd July 11:05
AllTorque said:
...will have to find the oil filter now!! Is it a jacking up job?...
It's on the side of the engine - under the intake manifold, tucked in next to an engine mount.You should be able to reach it from the top but it's a bit awkward and as it's mounted on it's side, usually results in oil dripping down so best to put an old rag under it first.
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