Hey everyone. This is my first of, hopefully, many posts. I have been looking around numerous miata forums and decided to post here. I would love to post pics, but I am on temporary duty in Korea until November. Sometime in the near future though!


I recently bought a 1993 Miata and am wondering what the most common problems are for them? Most people I see say to buy a 94 and newer, what's the reason for that?


The motor has already been replaced (clock sits at 189k). New coilovers has also been done. Also, as far as replacing the top with a new one... what's the best way to go about this?


Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

The '94 and up cars have larger brakes, stronger rear differentials (the '90-'93 diffs fail at stock power levels), more sophisticated engine management (throttle position sensors that actually say more than off and on), more subframe and body bracing to increase chassis rigidity and a few other things. The rear diffs are the biggie and need to be replaced with the larger axles, too.

 

Thanks for the information sir.


Do you have any insight on replacing the top for a soft top '93 ?

 

Robbins makes good tops and they are available everywhere - Ebay, etc. Be sure to get one with the rubber replacement rain rail installed. The factory rain rails were brittle plastic and should always be replaced with the top. Otherwise you can have water under the carpet in various places from the trunk all the way to the dashboard.

 

He mentioned water under the carpet. I hear water sloshing around each and every time it rains. Like its trapped underneath the drivers side. The carpet get's saturated. Someone said they thought that maybe my ac hose or something to that affect was clogged. My top leaks in various places sometimes which is odd that it does leak all the time but I don't know a thing about cars.
Could that be the problem for my water issue as well.?

 

Check the rain drains behind the seats, on each side of the rear carpeted deck under the carpet. I'd use a thin piece of wire (18 gauge insulated electrical wire) or something similar. That should cost less than a dollar at Radio Shack or Home Depot, for a 2 foot length.


This video explains it fairly well.


The A/C drain could account for water on the passenger side, but not likely on the drivers side.

 

Oh wow, thanks so much. I can't wait to try and see if that corrects the problem. I love the fact we have this video to guide us through it. Thanks so much. My son arrives this weekend and I am saving this as a project for him. I will let you know how it turns out.