Oh my stupidity. -_-
#1
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Well guys. The title says it all, But I'll tell the story a little. I bought this miata for 250$ from this guy that was just done with it. Got it running the first 2 hours I was off of the clock (I drive a tow truck and work at the shop ). Found that the cam seals were bad and the water pump was shot. Changed those 2 things out and got it running good. Well, I've been driving it since about the 3rd of this month and not a hiccup UNTIL... My battery slid around In my trunk, both terminals touched the trunklid and started toasting my 3rd brakelight wire and the padding around the trunk latch. My car shut off and Im looking around for the problem until I see smoke coming out of my trunk and I can't get it open. The Police showed up and tried to help to no avail. Then the fire department came along and do what they do best, Tear S@$t up! I'll let the pics do the talking for me.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102506-oh-my-stupidity-_-33pdfls.jpg?dateline=1391917192)
Thats where they wacked my trunklid with the spike to pry it open.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102507-oh-my-stupidity-_-1zvd5r5.jpg?dateline=1391917192)
Thats where they actually pryed it.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102508-oh-my-stupidity-_-de91s.jpg?dateline=1391917192)
Thats what was burning inside the car. Now I have a small pool of water from the extinguisher in trunk. ::(
One sucky day man. Really sucky.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102506-oh-my-stupidity-_-33pdfls.jpg?dateline=1391917192)
Thats where they wacked my trunklid with the spike to pry it open.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102507-oh-my-stupidity-_-1zvd5r5.jpg?dateline=1391917192)
Thats where they actually pryed it.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102508-oh-my-stupidity-_-de91s.jpg?dateline=1391917192)
Thats what was burning inside the car. Now I have a small pool of water from the extinguisher in trunk. ::(
One sucky day man. Really sucky.
#3
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For the water, theres rubber plugs that pull out under the spare tire or where the hole is at.
As far as the damage, the trunk is replacable, same with the panel between the headlights. the only part that will be a pain in the *** is the fender.
Hopefully you didnt fry anything else in the process.
As far as the damage, the trunk is replacable, same with the panel between the headlights. the only part that will be a pain in the *** is the fender.
Hopefully you didnt fry anything else in the process.
#4
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Yeah. The battery that's in the car is almost twice the size of the stock battery. I never strapped it down and I know If I had've atleast done that to keep it out of the way I would've been fine. Well atleast until I could make a strap down for it and extend the cables. Now I have all the more reason to do so. Lol!
#5
Boost Pope
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It's called a Halligan bar, and it's designed for the express purpose of opening things quickly.
On the plus side, your car didn't burn down, and you've learned a lesson you'll not forget about battery hold-down.
I learned this same lesson about 20 years ago with a '71 VW Beetle.
On the plus side, your car didn't burn down, and you've learned a lesson you'll not forget about battery hold-down.
I learned this same lesson about 20 years ago with a '71 VW Beetle.
#6
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For the water, theres rubber plugs that pull out under the spare tire or where the hole is at.
As far as the damage, the trunk is replacable, same with the panel between the headlights. the only part that will be a pain in the *** is the fender.
Hopefully you didnt fry anything else in the process.
As far as the damage, the trunk is replacable, same with the panel between the headlights. the only part that will be a pain in the *** is the fender.
Hopefully you didnt fry anything else in the process.
#7
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It's called a Halligan bar, and it's designed for the express purpose of opening things quickly.
On the plus side, your car didn't burn down, and you've learned a lesson you'll not forget about battery hold-down.
I learned this same lesson about 20 years ago with a '71 VW Beetle.
On the plus side, your car didn't burn down, and you've learned a lesson you'll not forget about battery hold-down.
I learned this same lesson about 20 years ago with a '71 VW Beetle.
#9
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I do believe its bad. When I start it in the mornings I have to keep it at 2k rpms until it warms up or it just shuts back off. And during that time if I drops below maybe 1250 rpms, when I go to bring the rpms back up it sounds as though is kinda bogging. When it warms up its fine though. But Ive been wrong before. As for the putty, I don't really care to do that I kinda just want to swap the trunk and latch and be done with it. The other 2 dents they put into the rear quarter panel I can pop out with a wood block and hammer or a rubber mallet in the morning. And the lining Im probably going to redo that also because I didn't notice it until I looked at it just now, but it's burned right by the trunk latch. Im just finding more and more ish that's messed up. -_-*
#10
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When it warms up its fine though.
I'll be honest; I have no idea what causes this behavior. My usual solution is to toss the stock ECU in the trash and install a Megasquirt, which fixes it 100% of the time. I'm sure that a simpler solution exists, I've just never bothered to take the time to find it.
#12
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The 1.6 cars are notorious for this behavior. I've owned two of them.
All the more reason why it isn't the AFM.
I'll be honest; I have no idea what causes this behavior. My usual solution is to toss the stock ECU in the trash and install a Megasquirt, which fixes it 100% of the time. I'm sure that a simpler solution exists, I've just never bothered to take the time to find it.
All the more reason why it isn't the AFM.
I'll be honest; I have no idea what causes this behavior. My usual solution is to toss the stock ECU in the trash and install a Megasquirt, which fixes it 100% of the time. I'm sure that a simpler solution exists, I've just never bothered to take the time to find it.
#13
Cpt. Slow
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Definitely not the AFM. Look at the two idle valves. One, on the side of the intake manifold, closes when the coolant reaches a certain temperature, lowering the idle RPM. The other, below the throttle body, is a little more of a mystery to me, but works off of the engine load, such as AC, PS, and temperature as well I believe.
Nope, I used one of these:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102545-oh-my-stupidity-_-28-207_ang_rgb.jpg?dateline=1391970884)
In the inch, inch and a half width, occasionally a torch, and it peeled right off. Finished with a wire wheel and I have a perfectly clean trunk floor. Hard to tell the extent of the damage from the pictures, but it might work for the OP's situation.
Nope, I used one of these:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102545-oh-my-stupidity-_-28-207_ang_rgb.jpg?dateline=1391970884)
In the inch, inch and a half width, occasionally a torch, and it peeled right off. Finished with a wire wheel and I have a perfectly clean trunk floor. Hard to tell the extent of the damage from the pictures, but it might work for the OP's situation.
#16
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You can use a lawn and garden battery from Walmart for like $30 bucks that fits right in there. Its almost exactly the same size as the stock one. I have three of the Miata's my family owns on these batteries now. They are square post, just slide your round connection over it. Who knew a square peg in a round hole would save you money
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#17
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Definitely not the AFM. Look at the two idle valves. One, on the side of the intake manifold, closes when the coolant reaches a certain temperature, lowering the idle RPM. The other, below the throttle body, is a little more of a mystery to me, but works off of the engine load, such as AC, PS, and temperature as well I believe.
Nope, I used one of these:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102545-oh-my-stupidity-_-28-207_ang_rgb.jpg?dateline=1391970884)
In the inch, inch and a half width, occasionally a torch, and it peeled right off. Finished with a wire wheel and I have a perfectly clean trunk floor. Hard to tell the extent of the damage from the pictures, but it might work for the OP's situation.
Nope, I used one of these:
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102545-oh-my-stupidity-_-28-207_ang_rgb.jpg?dateline=1391970884)
In the inch, inch and a half width, occasionally a torch, and it peeled right off. Finished with a wire wheel and I have a perfectly clean trunk floor. Hard to tell the extent of the damage from the pictures, but it might work for the OP's situation.
![rofl](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/rofl1.gif)
#18
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You can use a lawn and garden battery from Walmart for like $30 bucks that fits right in there. Its almost exactly the same size as the stock one. I have three of the Miata's my family owns on these batteries now. They are square post, just slide your round connection over it. Who knew a square peg in a round hole would save you money ![](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/smile.gif)
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#19
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![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102557-oh-my-stupidity-_-282m7lx.jpg?dateline=1391982891)
This is a piece of wiring I didn't take out when I first got the car.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102558-oh-my-stupidity-_-66i7ex.jpg?dateline=1391982891)
My trunk cable that I magically got to loosen. Still needs a little work.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102559-oh-my-stupidity-_-15i24i8.jpg?dateline=1391982891)
My third brakelight wire.
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102560-oh-my-stupidity-_-6fz49k.jpg?dateline=1391982891)
And my damaged "third eye". lol!
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102561-oh-my-stupidity-_-1y8pja.jpg?dateline=1391982891)
My new swimming pool. Haha!
![](https://www.miataturbo.net/attachments/general-miata-chat-9/102562-oh-my-stupidity-_-2rnim42.jpg?dateline=1391982891)
Its not as bad as I thought it was, but it still sucks. I got one of the dents out and the other I may have to use a suction cup to get it because of where it is. But Its coming along little by little.
#20
Boost Pope
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That could have been a hell of a lot worse.
Protip: There are a couple of rubber drain plugs down in the bottom of the recess on the trunk floor. You can pull these to easily drain out the water.
Sidebar: I had no idea that the Halligan was a part of Navy fire-control practice. Was that your MOS, or was everyone trained in its use?
Protip: There are a couple of rubber drain plugs down in the bottom of the recess on the trunk floor. You can pull these to easily drain out the water.
Sidebar: I had no idea that the Halligan was a part of Navy fire-control practice. Was that your MOS, or was everyone trained in its use?