Megan the Merlot M edition

[Beej]

Again, car looks awesome! One should always coordinate their license plate with interior color when possible.

You're better of splurging on a decent synthetic sealant...how long it lasts...Apply it every 3 months

Wut?

I've been meaning to switch to some sort of sealant (thanks for saving the homework) or something that lasts longer than wax, but every three months? Ain't nobody got time for that. If that's how long sealant lasts, what's wax, like 6 weeks?

[Senor_Taylor]

On the note of restoring this thing. Why are the BBS center caps so expensive? Most people want > $75 each for ONE cap. I'm thinking I'll just take the two I have off and keep them safe until I find a deal on two more.

[rherold9]

Because people like charging that much. Pretty typical for legit wheel center caps. I think it's pretty dumb. I'd rather not spend $240 for rays center caps...

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[WRXtranceformed]

You might look to eBay for the center caps. The OEM red Jag caps were priced silly high, and then I found someone who made carbon copies of them (probably in China) for like $15 each or something like that.

[SlimKlim]

I've been meaning to switch to some sort of sealant (thanks for saving the homework) or something that lasts longer than wax, but every three months? Ain't nobody got time for that. If that's how long sealant lasts, what's wax, like 6 weeks?

For a garage kept car 6+ month intervals are fine. If he is worried about this thing enough to put a cover on it every time he parks it, proactively sealing it would take less time and probably protect the paint better.

Also, if he's gonna be in Miracle Wash with it every week, that power washer wand thing will probably strip the sealant off faster than home washes would.

[RawrImAMonster]

The various ceramic coatings (opticoat, ceramic pro, cquartz) are something to look into as well. There are a few that are supposedly easy enough to apply yourself.

I'm going to look into seeing if any detail shops around here offer them if/when I get that subaru I'm looking at. They're prone to paint fade and ceramic coatings usually last a few years at least and make the car extremely easy to keep clean.

[SlimKlim]

The various ceramic coatings (opticoat, ceramic pro, cquartz) are something to look into as well. There are a few that are supposedly easy enough to apply yourself.

I'm going to look into seeing if any detail shops around here offer them if/when I get that subaru I'm looking at. They're prone to paint fade and ceramic coatings usually last a few years at least and make the car extremely easy to keep clean.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess Taylor doesn't want to spend $50+ for a sealing product.

I've thought about trying it for the VW, auto-geek has ones that are supposedly easy to DIY.

[JPolen01]

Dan was using Opticoat and Ceramic Pro on his higher end customers I believe. It was definitely not cheap and at that time had to be done by a professional. It did last over a year though. I think Lee had it on his jag?

[SlimKlim]

Yeah there's a crap load of similar products on the market, some are supposed to be easier to DIY, others recommend a pro. I remember reading about one that wasn't too terribly expensive and was supposed to be DIY friendly, but I don't remember which one it was.

http://www.autogeek.net/car-paint-glass-...tings.html

[Senor_Taylor]

I appreciate all the information about protecting the paint!

Changing gears, I attempted to chase down the idle issue today. I cleaned the maf, throttle body, found a few leaks where the dealership (I assume) put the intake tubing back wrong, and reset the ecu. I also have some injector cleaner running through. I put it in diagnostic mode and set the idle back down to around 800. Which seemed the fix things a bit, but at that RPM it seems to have a miss. Sounds exactly like a v8 with a cam on it. It doesn't break up when under load or anything and it runs like a raped ape otherwise. It still occasionally hunts for idle for a second or two between 1500 and 800 when clutching in at a stop light. I wouldn't worry about it because it actually sounds pretty awesome with the lopey idle but I can only assume it's not good for the motor or the motor mounts since it is shaking.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[SlimKlim]

Sounds like you need to dig around in here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.miata.net/garage/isc.html">http://www.miata.net/garage/isc.html</a><!-- m -->

[WRXtranceformed]

Dan was using Opticoat and Ceramic Pro on his higher end customers I believe. It was definitely not cheap and at that time had to be done by a professional. It did last over a year though. I think Lee had it on his jag?

OptiCoat 2.0 is the real deal, yep Dan used it on my jag:

The roof:




Definitely not cheap but it lasted me until I sold the car. Pretty incredible, I didn't hand wash it for basically a year and a half, just touchless pay and spray and it was near flawless every time. Dirt like wouldn't stick to it. The plan is to get a correctional on my wife's car with OptiCoat and ideally my truck as well before the wintertime. Then you're set for the next few years!

[ScottyB]

Optimum detailing products are all stupid simple to use. i'd be willing to bet their sealant is similar.

Taylor, your idle issue sounds like a vac leak, which would make sense on an car with cracked up 20 year old rubber. a little leak will show at idle but get compensated for enough when driving that you'd miss it otherwise. look around those intake/pcv/lines one more time. check your grounds too for bolt tightness...poor grounds will run a car rough as well

[*insertusernamehere*]

I also day it's a leak still.

[Senor_Taylor]

I've been replacing hoses with fuel line and it's improving a little. I just need to order a new hose kit when I get more money. Until then, I'll put the idle back where it was. I guess I forgot how noisy Miata motors, but it does make me worry with the lifter noises and such.

Edit: I went back outside and fiddled some more. Rechecked every hose I could spray and went through an entire can of throttle body cleaner and found NOTHING. Sprayed every hose, throttle body gasket, intake gasket, even the brake booster and found nothing. I also pulled the plugs and made sure they were gapped properly. They all look brand new except a little white on them. Possibly a little lean? I'm thinking maybe the PO did the common Miata mod where you advance the timing a few degrees and run premium to move the power band down.




Also conditions the top with 303 tonneau cleaner which is apparently the best for miata tops. It feels much more supple and is a much nicer shade of tan. Then I conditioned the seats with some Meguiars stuff and they seem really nice now. I'll post pictures some time when it's light outside.

[Senor_Taylor]

Also the PCV is loose in the grommet going into the valve cover, which I've read is totally okay, but it was missing a hose clamp, so I added one. It seems to be working, but I might order a new one just to be safe. I'm thinking about replacing the injectors to be safe as well if I can find a good deal on some.

Here's a video of the idle.

[youtube]jfbkkf2YL0g[/youtube]

[JustinG]

Pull Injectors and send to Xavier (InjectorPulse.com) over buying new?

[Maengelito]

Is it throwing any CELs? Does the CEL work?

[Senor_Taylor]

I might do that if I don't find a solution soon, Justin. All lights work I'm 99% certain and no CEL.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

[BLINGMW]

So the "problem" is that it sounds cool at idle and runs great? Just wanted to make sure I got that right. :dunno: