Whole lotta Miata

[Senor_Taylor]

Thanks for the advice. Mine is only like ~130 lb-ft.

[SlimKlim]

Yeah I still don't trust my E36.

[Senor_Taylor]

so..... I took it for a test drive. Everything sounded... okay. I don't really remember what it sounded like when I first drove it before this, so I don't have much to compare it to. Felt like the same old slow miata, just a little bit more engine noise than I'd prefer. Among other things, I think the timing belt is like 5% too tight. Whining just a little, but hopefully it will stretch out. I was maybe 100 feet from home and POW, the most spectacular radiator failure ever. Also, the alternator light is on. There's no fucking way the alternator went at the same exact time that I put it all back together. What am I missing?



I'm so fucking done.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Alternator light on before or after radiator implosion?

[SlimKlim]

Hey at least it did it 100ft from home. :dunno:

Is the drive belt still intact? All electrical connections hooked up nicely on the alternator?

[SlimKlim]

I hate to say I told you so butt.........

This is all coming back together way too quickly. Something bad this way comes.

Daaaaamn dude, be cool. Now if something does happen it's your fault for sending out pessimistic vibes. You need to go get some 15W-40 sprinkled on your forehead or something to cleanse your spirit now.

You thought I was joking about the Holy Oil ritual huh? Right after your comment my project stopped going swimmingly and the car ate a radiator hose, the shifter started hitting the driveshaft, the exhaust didn't seal on the first try, CEL came on, random idle issues, and the radiator fan up and decided to start hitting the shroud.

You did this to us man. You need to go see a gypsy healer and get your aura cleansed or some shit.

Anyway, looks like you can get a radiator for about $60, or probably much less if you can find someone who has a used one in good condition. I know you're on a shoestring budget but ~$60 for a radiator is nothing.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Just wondering if all that coolant fried the alternator :dunno:

[Senor_Taylor]

I know, Joey, I know. I thought about that when my water pump went.

Alternator light was on before then. I drove it down the street with the light on. Also, that bolt I had extra? Went in the bottom of the radiator.

I don't even have $60 for the radiator. I've got a ton of bills. Unless my parents spot me or something, I don't see this getting done. I'm just [physically exhausted right now. I've been running on no sleep between full time work, class 8-1 every day and this car in between. I'm sun burnt, have cuts EVERYWHERE. Ugh.

[navin]

Alternator belt tension possibly incorrect?

[SlimKlim]

Like someone told me before they went and purchased an old broken Miata, you still got a truck, the car can sit until you have the funds and willpower to fix it.

Let your wounds heal and your checking account stabilize and get after it. In the meantime diagnose the alternator and possibly wander around at track events wearing a sandwich board that says "Needs dirt cheap miata radiator" and your best Puss-In-Boots face.

[Kaan]

you'll need one of these

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-ALUMINUM-RADIATOR-Miata-90-97-MX5-MT-Mazda-/390256582330?hash=item5add1adeba&vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-ALUMIN ... ba&vxp=mtr</a><!-- m -->

[Jake]

It won't kill you to ignore it for a week. Welcome to the world of legit project cars. Work on it til you get burnt out (as you are now) and then come back to it once you have a clear head and some cash.

[Kaan]

It won't kill you to ignore it for a week. Welcome to the world of legit project cars. Work on it til you get burnt out (as you are now) and then come back to it once you have a clear head and some cash.

go drink a beer... figure out how to get the $150 for the radiator I posted... then figure it out. don't wait a week, that's a long time you'll end up like me.

[davej]

take a multimeter to the back of the alt. (i use a free harbor freight one) should be 14.5 or so when it's running, lower and it's not generating power. next check the battery while it's running. should see 13+ on it. if you have the right amount at the alt but not at the battery it's just tracking down the short in between. if you don't get the right amount off the alt to begin with, napa is your friend. (one here will usually give you the jmu price for a cash ticket)

[WRXtranceformed]

Bummer man, yeah if it was me I would let it sit for a while so you can take a mental breather and come back to it when your mind (and wallet) have recovered. What I hate to point out but will anyway is that although you were looking forward to somewhat of a fixer upper, a project car can literally crush your joy in the car you bought. Finances are only a part of that; when it's broken and sitting and you can't drive it you start to see the wisdom in the words of your friends that it's always a good idea to pay a little more for a car you know isn't going to be questionable. I looked for over 6 months before I bought my car and pitted 4 different sellers against each other and I wasn't even buying a 20+ year old car. It's just not worth inheriting other people's problems with used cars...unless you are starting a build from the ground up and know that it is going to be a lot of $$ and time involved.

Try not to be too discouraged and just chalk it up to a good learning experience from a buying and wrenching standpoint. You'll get it on the road and you'll be stoked when you do

[SlimKlim]

^ What he said.

And waiting is the name of the game if you want a project car on a tight budget. It feels like 90% of the 6 years I've owned the E36 have been waiting for that next part that I can't quite afford, it took me 3 years to get the headgasket done. Since I got the exhaust wrapped up last week, it's probably in the best condition it's ever been in during my entire ownership, we'll see how long that lasts.

EDIT: My arrow was meant to point to Dave's post about the alternator. I agree with you Lee, but after this summer he's gonna know how to do a hell of a lot more on a car than he ever did before.

Saving up more money would've been better, I'm sure you understood that before you bought and you sure as hell understand it now. However on the bright side, when you do eventually get this thing sorted out your chest is going to swell with pride every time you turn the key. Its a bumpy road to fix up an old derelict car, but when you do the sense of pride you have for it is unmatched by anything else.

One of the reasons I still have my E36 and am so attached to it is precisely because it was such a massive shitheap I couldn't really afford at the time. The only reason it isn't a shitheap right now is because I'm a stubborn motherfucker and wouldn't let the car win. You can't get that sense of pride in ownership of something when you just buy it and drive it.

[Senor_Taylor]

Appreciate it, guys. Everything all of y'all said definitely was right about this car. It'll see the road eventually and everything will be new and done right. I did get the crank bolt torqued properly and the new tires feel good. I just don't know how to feel about this timing belt. It wasn't missing and it pulled fine for a Miata. I just have this feeling in my head that this motor is on its last legs.

I'll double check the tension on the belt. It did come on as soon as took the tension off the belt to put that other bolt in it, but I thought I had tensioned it back on. I guess I can take a break from the car. I just want to drive it so bad... I know it's completely on me for buying it, but I might have to drive back to NC and punch that cocky douche I bought it from in the dick.

[BLINGMW]

hock: Damn!
Probably don't need to hear any of this "I told you so" or "buy once cry once" nonsense. I've bought some real heaps and never had this kind of luck. :|
You're going to find a disconnected wire for the alternator at least, if the belt is turning it and light was on during the whole drive.
As far as the motor being on its last legs... well none of what's happened so far means that, so if it looked ok under the valve cover, do a compression test on it. If it's not making any odd noises and compression is good, then it's probably good.
And you don't need Kaan's fancy radiator, the stock one is just fine. Well, not YOUR stock one... but at least you knew that was coming and were right! :thumbup:

[V1GiLaNtE]

but I might have to drive back to NC and punch that cocky douche I bought it from in the dick.

This is his girlfriend's daughter's miata. He's just selling it for her

Something about THAT plus being in NC just screams "walk away" to me. I've come across to many craigslist deals where something was "just out back" or "selling for my bro" and it's sketchy and not in anyway shape or form what is potrayed on the web.

Take a break. At least it ain't your only ride. Have a beer, work, go to school. Those are infinitely more important than having a OMG TRACK SLUT. Not the end of the world man. Pick yourself up and keep calm.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Take a break. At least it ain't your only ride. Have a beer, work, go to school. Those are infinitely more important than having a OMG TRACK SLUT. Not the end of the world man. Pick yourself up and keep calm.

I don't keep track of stuff in project threads because so much shit breaks when you buy other people's projects, or do a project that is not in the norm. Trust me, I have been there (heck I have an LS1/M3 with no motor in it currently). Take a step back and relax. This past weekend I didn't even touch any of my cars, a rarity, and it helped clear my mind on what the next steps forward will be.