[jadiemazing]

ok so since ive moved to atlanta my miata hasnt been getting much care and love like it used to. well my car is almost at 60K and i was wondering if anyone else had a check engine light come up near its 60K life?

well it started like this the other day......... i was in a hurry to get to the apt. office to see if they ha dmy package or not well i didnt let my car warm up or anything and just went and the car was fine and i even hit up the post office next door and when i turned the car on it was fine and drove back home but a few minutes later while i was inside talking to my bf he told me the package was in this box thing at the apt. mail center so we go but my car idles real rough and shakes the whole car and the check engine light starts blinking then the rough idling stops and the light stays on. so i started it yesterday and the car started up fine just the check enginelight is still there. so any possibilities and is it just that my car needs a good tuneup and that 60K checkup or what?? im really scared to drive my car now without thinking its going to stall on me or the engine just taking a **** while im on the street.

so yeah somebody help me out please... #-o

 

[kung fu jesus]

you need to remove the upper intake manifold and clean it with throttle body cleaner. it will take 2 cans, a couple of rags, some pipe cleaners and maybe a few q-tips.

my wife's 99 had the same problem.

you need to reset the ECU too.

ask the ATL 'mos about it, like marty or greg.

 

[jadiemazing]

awsome thanks... i have heard some people say they didnt take the mani off and cleaned it that way but i guess taking it off is the best way? im leaving for california tomorrow til sunday and my bf is supposed to take care of my car... thanks kungfu guy.

 

[freedomgli]

Take it to a mechanic (dealer or independent or friend in your local Miata club) and have them interface with OBDII and find out what fault codes have been tripped. Then have them take that information, flip open the factory workshop manual, and go through the detailed diagnostic procedure to find out what's really wrong. My 2001 manual has a few hundred pages dedicated to the engine management system and troubleshooting. You might as well start with the cheap and easy DIY repairs but it could be anything from bad gas to ignition coil failure to O2 sensor failure to who knows? It can't be properly diagnosed over the internet but if it started up and ran fine today I'd probably take the risk of driving it (as opposed to having it towed) to said mechanic for inspection, diagnosis, and repair. There's nothing magic about 60k miles since so many factors determine wear and tear / component service life. Now's a good time to have all that routine maintenance done like timing belt, check valve clearance, accessory drive belts, engine and tranny and diff fluid change, air filter, spark plugs, plug wires, PCV valve, fuel filter, clean throttle body/intake manifold, etc. Good luck!