Well the car skips and sputters from takeoff. Once I get going it goes away for the most part. I'm thinking I cant wait till my new plugs and wires come, hopefully tomorrow.

The car also feels like I have a jake brake. I think the ebrake is stuck. When I got in my driveway I stopped dead, even on my slight incline.

Tonight was rough, I hate when the car acts up. Usually makes me regret going out. What a downer..... At least it's not spitting fuel all over the motor like it did one time....that was wonderful.

Vash-

 

I now understand the smilie.
Rough day, tearing into it tomorrow?

 

Tomorrow I hope to check the ebrake and replace the front brakes, just new pads and rotors. 7 more days and this cast and my wrist pins come out. I would have cut this thing off weeks ago, but just in case...I don't need them to say I didn't follow procedure. So it'll be my first one handed brake job. If the plugs and wires come I'll do that too. And if I feel up to it....I'll redo my intake setup.

Usually after a night like tonight it wakes me up and I try to take care of the problem. I was just on Begi's website, some of that stuff is starting to look good.

Vash-

 

i dont think you understand how jake brakes work. but that's beside the point.

i wouldn't go buying new parts for a car that's not running and already frustrates you. cuz then you'll just have a car that's not running and frustrates you and costs you a lot of money too. one thing at a time vash!

 

if u need any help. or someone to just come and watch u work
im ur guy, i only live like an hour away or some crap
ide love to come by and see another miata

 

Maybe I don't know all of the specifics, but I know the Jacob's brake system uses the engine to slow itself down, thus slowing the truck down. We have a 73' Autocar crane truck that we use to load/unload our forms from job to job. I never said it "was" or "sounded" like a jake brake, I was just trying to say it felt like one. I've been in the truck millions of times since I was 4 years old and even drove it once or twice. I've also worked on it plenty, being the mechanic apprentice at our shop....lol. I have alot to learn yes, but I don't have down syndrome. But thats beside the point....

I know, I am semi smacking myself for buying a new hood. Hopefully I can sell mine soon. The car was fine, then the whole thing with the spark plugs and water happened. I got all the water out but the car is just not running right, and the car ran with no problem weeks ago. I hope new plugs and wires take care of the problem.... I cant see anything else that has happened that would cause this.

I wanted to add a picture of the crane, its a ******* beast and I dont think I ever posted it on here before. I'm going for my CDL this year or next, my brother is retiring the truck to me sooner than I was hoping. When sitting inside I can look down at tri-axles! One day I'll snap a pic with the miata next to it, makes the miata look like a toy.

Vash-

 

I'd love to take you up on that offer for sure! You wouldn't by any chance want to help me install my new convertible top would you!? lol, just kidding, I plan on using a whole weekend to do that garbage job.

For sure though man. Is Worcester in lower Mass?

Vash-

 

its right smack in the middle almost
im two hours away from danbury

 

your convertible top is a few hour job with two guys...might as well tackle that while you are at it

 

Spark plugs and wires, rivet gun and rivets, and the new top came today. Looks like rain so I'm not gonna do a thing today. Tomorrow I want to get up early and make a day of it and get as much done as I can. My biggest worry is that I'll get however far into the brakes, and not be able to do it one handed...especially the part of putting the wheels back on. I have my ex,ex,ex girlfriend willing to help when I'm ready, so it should be fun.

2 hours is a drive dude. I would never ask of you to come that far for my sake. I have some buddies that I'm sure will help if I ask. Only problem being they are either my age and know nothing about cars, or they are in their 60's and are wearing thin of working on cars.

Vash-

 

I wouldn't try the brake job one handed, getting the pads on there might be a little more than you bargained for.

 

wait, one hand? i would not think about a top replacement with only one hand...

 

I had a sticky parking brake on my Miata a while back. Turned out I needed a new caliper. Might want to budget for that. It might just be as simple as binding on dry slider pins.

 

I snapped the ligament in my wrist skateboarding so I still have the pins in it and a cast. The brakes need to be done, its so bad that the front passenger sides screeches and smokes when I use them. I haven't been going out at all really, and when I do I rely on the transmission and downshifting for every stop.

I'm going to wait till the cast is off to do the top though. I heard its a son of a bitch.

Holding the pads from falling is what I'm thinking will suck, that and the wheels going back on. I've done plenty with 2 hands, now I'm gonna do it with one hand and my ex girlfriend. So pretty much with one hand...

Vash-

 

i was going to say the same thing, while on the gas, you can not feel the jake brake. you can only tell its there when you let off the gas.