My ND2 Miata, err, MX-5 not-a-project

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Thanks Keith, appreciate it.

How often do you recommend changing the oil in the shifter turret? I didn't even realize it had that feature again...

Oops. If I had done my research I might have noticed that both the transmission and the diff have washers on the drain and fill plugs that I forgot to purchase. Let's hope that my assortment of generic washers has some of the correct size in them...

BoxheadTim said:

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Thanks Keith, appreciate it.

How often do you recommend changing the oil in the shifter turret? I didn't even realize it had that feature again...

As long as it's not actually escaped, I doubt you need to do much. It's not like it sees a load. I can confirm in the manual when I'm at a work computer. 

Well, there are traces of oil on the back of the transmission, so something has escaped.

I did manage to get the engine oil change and air filter change done. This would have taken a lot less time if it wasn't my first time putting an ND on the QuikJack (it fits) and having watched too much Sarah-n-Tuned, cleaned up a bunch of parts that didn't really need cleaning. I wasn't best pleased to find this thing attached to the car:

Maybe I spent too much time on Miata.net overthinking and researching things, but my understanding is that you're not supposed to use an oil filter with a drainback valve on an ND, so any oil filter that says it's suitable for NA/NB isn't what you're supposed to use on an ND. Even though this is supposed to be the correct filter for this car. It did go well with the metal shield underneath the engine attached bolts that had seen either all of the ugga duggas or none of them. Oh well.

Assuming the oil change reminder was reset when the oil was changed previously, there's a good chance that the oil and filter have been on/in the car for about 6k miles. I guess I should've checked sooner, but either way I captured an oil sample that I'll send off to bobzilla either tomorrow or Monday. Hopefully that can tell me a few things.

Car seemed happier with fresh Pennzoil and the OEM oil filter, anyway.

The other good news was that I have the correct size washers in one of my 'zon-source assortments, so if I can get the transmission and diff warmed up enough I should be able to change the oils in both.

I did look under the car when I had it in for the WV inspection, but decided do have a closer look again. It looks extremely clean underneath, but someone managed to kerb one of the wheels on the inside(?), albeit it mildly. Plus the fronts - which still have the OEM tires on - appear to have all the balance weights on them, including my favourite of stick on and hammered on ones on the same wheels. Someone near Philly is selling a set of pristine wheels, might have to make a trip out there.

While I was under the car, I noticed black RTV type gunk on the diff. That strikes me as a bit odd as I would think that Mazda would have taken a little more care assembling the diff:

I did notice that I could see red sealant on the transmission as well, but it was at least applied much neater:

For those who have spent more time under NDs than I have, is that normal or a potential indicator that the diff or transmission have been apart?

Also, it looks like the back end of the plate under the engine and the strengthening member have rivnuts installed. Is there a panel missing or is this a case of Mazda putting parts in that the aftermarket could make use of?

Answering one of my own questions - based on the installation instructions for the Verus underbody panels, there isn't anything missing, and having the threaded inserts is normal.

I'm almost tempted to install these panels, but then I remember what Keith said about transmission temperatures, and suddenly boxing in the transmission further doesn't seem to be that smart a decision. 

TIL that you're supposed to check the engine oil level in these with the engine and oil hot. Now how might have been relative, but it looks like my fairly conservative attempt at topping up the oil got me just a hair over full. Which likely was an improvement over what was in there, because that was slightly overfilled with the engine cold...

Mystery slow battery drain causing blinkenlights box removed. Next time, should've checked earlier when the sales person mumbled something about trackers and there's a sticker with an IMEI in the door jamb.

It shouldn't have been activated anyway, but in good old IT fashioned, it's turned off and now we're waiting for someone to start complaining.