So 10 years ago I had a 1993 NA and absolutely loved it. Then kids.
The young lady that works with me was after a first car so I did what all sensible people do and advised a mx5. Before kids ruin it for her too.
So she got a lovely 2002 metallic midnight blue 1.8 NB which looks like it’s worth a whole lot more than the £1650 she paid for it. Especially after a friend found her a set of fox alloys with new yokohamas to replace the corroded aftermarket alloys it came with (net cost £60!)
But after 9 months she has misfiring issues, loss of power and last week, total stop. It restarts when it cools down but… The local garage had already replaced the spark plugs so it’s not that and they are now advising new coil packs. Being tight myself, I suggested she buy a new set (looks like ~£60 on eBay) and fit them herself. After a bit of cajoling, she’s seen the light and is ready to get her hands oily. Before she ordered the coil packs, I suggested she open the bonnet and check they would be the right ones. See pictures below.
Where’s the bloody coil packs? I’ve spent a couple of weeks building her confidence to have a go and now it looks like a nightmare because we can’t even see where they are? The car is at her house so I can’t check myself.
So, can anyone add an arrow to the pics or, even better, post a “how to” link? All the googling I’ve done points to easy-to-access coil packs on the bulkhead behind the block. They aren’t there???
Right, job done, mostly. Bought two new coil packs and magnecor leads for £95 total. Just been out to the car park and fitted them - absolutely easy.
For future reference for anyone else finding this through google:
This is a 2002 MX5 (Miata) NB mk2.5 1.8
There would appear to be only one 1.8 model of engine (apart from 100-odd 1.8 turbos that you’d know if you had) so the eBay options of 1.8, 1.8i are all the same thing.
Changing the coil packs:
Pressing the release part of the plug on the right, pull off the nearest plug from the nearest coil pack.
Pull off the black rubber wire from the rear of the same coil pack.
Undo the two 10mm hex bolts holding the coil pack down.
Pull out coil pack and push in replacement. Waggle it a bit as it goes in but don’t worry if it sits up a bit from the engine - the 10mm bolts will pull it down.
Fit 10mm bolts.
Pull out HT lead that was disconnected in (2) from the engine block, similar to the coil pack but without the head. Fit first (short lead) magnecor HT lead. Waggle as it goes in and plug into new coil pack.
Plug in lead disconnected in (1)
Repeat whole sequence for second coil pack and second HT lead (the coil pack nearest the windscreen and the long HT lead).
All done. So long as you don’t drop a 10mm bolt into the engine or around the engine bay, there’s nothing to go wrong.
BUT… and here’s where I hoping for some more help - the engine warning light is still on. Does it need the ECU codes clearing, if so, how? Or, like with my NA mx5 all those years ago, does it need putting into diagnostic mode via the black plastic box in the engine bay?
Has the current owner set a radio code? Hope she remembers it!
2) disconnect the negative battery lead. 3) Hold down the brake pedal for at least ten seconds (this discharges the ECU back up battery and negates all stored codes.) 4) Reconnect the negative battery lead.
Note - driving characteristics - the way she drives will be recorded in one section of the ECU, but on a reset, this info is also negated, but once she’s driven a few miles those characteristics will be registered again, she probably won’t notice any difference, not that I’m saying she’s stupid, a normal driver won’t know either.
5) Switch the radio on, if it says CODE, And your friend didn’t set one, then PM me.
If she did set a code then you need to enter it, or the radio will never work again. If she set the code then enter it, using these buttons on the radio - (bear in mind if you hesitate, it will throw you back to CODE again, so button pressing has to be in a rapid sequence. Also like most codes, you only get three chances to do it right, so if you start wrong, you’ve shot one attempt already!)
5.1 Press AUTO-M and 6>> buttons together for about 2 seconds till bars are displayed (-- – -- --)
5.2 Input code like this - use channel preset buttons 1, 2 , 3 and 4. each button sets one digit. Press each button a number of times to get the right number.
5.3 Again press AUTO-M and 6>> together, and hold for 2 seconds and the CODE will flash for about 5 seconds then stop. The radio should now work. If it says ERR then try again. (three attempts only) If you reach the third attempt and it still says ERR, then also PM me.
If she was lucky, and she has the owners manual, then see page 5.56 You need a good memory, (unlike me) as I didn’t do it fast enough and shot my three attempts. Help was at hand though!