After the wife kept pointing out the slight rise in the top corner of the bonnet on the passenger side, I decided to try adjusting it to bring it down a few mm’s to sit flush with the wing, and managed to snap the bolt… What is it with these cars, are the bolts made with cheese?
From what I can see, the two fixing bolts are joined together inside the bonnet, which I cannot access. Just how in the hell am I going to fix this? My head is about to explode.
Suggestions very much appreciated.
Which model? NA/NB/NC/ND?
Sorry, its a 96 NA 1.8
I don’t know if this helps or not - I’ve just come across your OP looking while I was reading round my problem. I’ve managed to shear both top bolts holding on the bonnet latch today trying to adjust that for a bonnet that seems to bounce around at the front. The bolts are tiny for the application - 5mm with a 11mm head which bolt into the panel in front of the radiator. I can feel behind and can feel the bolt just protruding but there is barely enough to get and grips or stud extractors on it - even if I took the rad out. I’ll punch the sheared bolt and just start drilling at very low revs with oil - I am picking up a batch of cobalt drill bits from screwfix Probably a pack of 2mm, and a pack of 5mm - they come in packs of 5. I’ll have a go with the 4mm bolt extractor too. Rather than put another Mazda cheese bolt in I’ve got some titanium bolts with matching nylock nuts that will fit the hole if not the thread - I’m going to abandon the thread in the panel and just use the bolts I have.
I uttered some very bad words very loudly when they sheared.
OP is referring to one of the studs fixing the bonnet to the hinge (the original issue is due to a seized bonnet hinge). There doesn’t seem to be an easy fix.
I’ve just looked at mine and think I understand now - makes note not to touch those bolts.
Someone did similar and reported it on another well known UK MX5 Website on 4 Feb 16. Apparently according to that post the bolts are held captive so you can tighten the nut up but they are not actually attached to the bonnet. Someone has got a picture up of a car with a new bolt in the bonnet and nyloc nut to replace a similar one sheared.
I won’t be taking mine off to find out.