Problem areas for NB's?

They are getting suprisingly affordable, and I'm finally getting tired of constantly dropping money on E30s and still not being able to drive them.

You mean the NB Miata, I assume?

They're pretty good. There were some 1999s with a "machining problem" on the thrust bearing (Mazda changed bearing size, and I think some went out with the wrong part) but I think all that will fail have done so by this point - they seemed to go before 40k miles.

1999-00 cars seem to have an appetite for coil packs. I'm not sure why. 2004-05 Mazdaspeeds have a bad fuel pump, but that's easy to fix with a Walbro.

You are correct. I just assumed everyone would know I meant Miata.

So avoid early '99s, a Mazdaspeed wouldn't likely be in the budget, and not sure I'd want one after drivng one.

Nothing else to look out for besides the obvious?

That's the reason I moved from E30's on to Miata's. The only issue I've ever had with my '99 is a slowly deteriorating 5th gear syncro. That's a little unusual, but my car is turbocharged. Anyway, I've got a used 5-speed ($200) in my garage for the day I need a new cluch and/or the syncro finally dies.

Ive seen them rusting in the quarters like early NAs as well. Same drain issue?

Joey

I've had to repair my '99 at the rear of both rockers. Rusted through just like the NA's do.To be fair ,it's on it's 10th winter of driving in salt-laden Michigan. So ,I'm not complaining. Other than wearing through the driver's side seat bolster, mine's been a paragon of reliabilty. 92,000 miles on it to date. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, especially if it were a babied one.

Good to know, I'd really like an NC, just not in the budget.

I thought I wanted an NC also. They are supposed to have more room inside. When I got around to test driving one, I loved it until I put the top up. Even though I am comfortable in the NA (I have owned 3) and the NB (I own 1 now) but there is now way that I can sit in a NC with the top up! I tried the soft top and the hard top... no difference...no dice!

I wouldn't say to avoid early 1999s, just avoid super-low-mileage ones The 2001 redesign brought a lot of little tweaks such as the big Sport brakes, some excellent underbody bracing and a nice body and interior redesign. I think the VVT offers a lot of untapped potential, but it does scare some people.

I bought one (super cheap mind you) that had the #4 bearing issue at 90K miles, so it's not necessarily an early occurance. Once everything was repaired it still wasn't nearly as trouble-free as my NA. Also, as mentioned above, look for rust near the drain tubes. Mine was completely corroded.

I seem recall some of teh NBs had clutch and/or flywheel issues that replacing the clutch did not seem to correct. Am I correct?

To check for a thrust bearing problem, measure the crank end play. Thanks for the feedback on that 90k mile problem car.

The 2001 (and possibly some other) cars had a flywheel with a visibly different surface. It's like someone turned up the feed when machining them. I think that's where the reports of bad engagement come from. Changing the clutch and flywheel to an aftermarket unit definitely cures any problem, and I suspect that simply resurfacing the stock part would also help.

In reply to z31maniac:

Not really a problem but an issue; there is a passage in the throttle body that gets gunked up with carbon over the years and makes the check engine light com on. Seems to be a pretty common issue.

I just pulled the TB off, cleaned out the passage and re-installed. Reset the ECU and all was good.

They don't have as much interior space as the NA's. I never really fit in mine, and I'm only 6 ft 170lbs.

I looked at a loaded 99 on Cape Cod that had a blown head gasket at around 110k, I think. The rockers were pretty well shot, too, but that was probably a function of year round exposure to salt and salt air. I passed on it at $2k.

DeadSkunk wrote: I've had to repair my '99 at the rear of both rockers. Rusted through just like the NA's do.To be fair ,it's on it's 10th winter of driving in salt-laden Michigan. So ,I'm not complaining. Other than wearing through the driver's side seat bolster, mine's been a paragon of reliabilty. 92,000 miles on it to date. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, especially if it were a babied one.

Oddly enough, my '99 has almost 80k more miles, and the rockers are pretty clean. And I never really have a chance to wash it often enough. It's nice and pink right now...

There is a nice rust spot on a inner door panel, and some on the trunk lid. And forget about the suspension- it's permanently orange.

I had to replace the wires, but not the coils. The wires lead to a cat failure replaced under warantee. Other than that- I had an alternator failure about 20k miles ago.

Love the car- it's the car I have personally put more miles than all other cars, now combined.

E-

NB Miata's are also relevant to my interests... I want a beater NA to autocross, she wants a Boxster, we both like the idea of a newer (OBDII), nicer Miata that's a happy medium. Not as much power out-of-the-box, but better than a 1.6...

One nice thing about the NB is that the interior is a little more grown-up. Makes it an easier sell than the spartan NA to someone who wants a Boxster

Sofa King wrote: I thought I wanted an NC also. They are supposed to have more room inside. When I got around to test driving one, I loved it until I put the top up. Even though I am comfortable in the NA (I have owned 3) and the NB (I own 1 now) but there is now way that I can sit in a NC with the top up! I tried the soft top and the hard top... no difference...no dice!

Haha, I have the same problem! My mother bought a brand new NC fairly recently, my head hits the roof with the top up too! I previously wanted an older miata as a track beater but I don't think there is any way in the world I could fit in ANY miata with a helmet on, at least with the top up.

In reply to CLNSC3:

There are some mods that you can do to help you out. search miata.net for foamectomy. You can aloso mount the seat directly to the floor to gain some more headroom.

I love my 99, it has been driven in winter but still has no rust (unlike my 04 Audi and 04 F150 that both have rust bubbles and 1/2 the miles of the Miata)

You have an 04 Audi with a rust bubble? I thought all Audis were galavanized for a while now?

In reply to z31maniac:

I had no idea what you were talking about. This is not a Miata ,albeit most poular, site. It overs all grassroots vehucles. How hard is it to type , "Miata MB" ? There, now I've got that gripe out of the way.

Rusnak_322 wrote: In reply to CLNSC3: There are some mods that you can do to help you out. search miata.net for foamectomy. You can aloso mount the seat directly to the floor to gain some more headroom. I love my 99, it has been driven in winter but still has no rust (unlike my 04 Audi and 04 F150 that both have rust bubbles and 1/2 the miles of the Miata)

Thanks! I will have to check that out! I have seriously been considering getting one since the prices for early models have been dipping below $2000, haha