Miata Mailing List: January 1995, Message #163
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   From: erict@cta.com (Eric Thorstenson)
Subject: Re: Miata shop manual
   Date: Thu, 5 Jan 1995 13:32:00 -0500


Ralph writes:
----
> BTW, the factory Mazda manuals are far and away the best I've ever seen...

At my local Mazda dealership, there is no specifically-Miata manual,
only "Mazda" ones.  Have you found a Miata-specific manual?
----

Well Ralph, you dealer is either stupid (a possibility) or feeding
you a load of bull (also a possibility). Miata manuals are available
from Helm Publications at 800-782-4356. A few folks on the list have
mentioned alternative sources, but I don't remember them. My 
personal recomendation is the "small size workshop manual" (they
have a variety of formats available). If the $50 bucks or so seems
steep, wait till you get it. (Also, compare to the $125 a set of
Audi manuals costs.)

Be aware, a certain level of mechanical/electrical expertise is
assumed, as is a certain level of tools available. 
So if you are new to working on cars, don't expect it to tell you
which end of a combination wrench to use. You might want to
supplement it with a Haynes or something if this is the case.
*In all cases*, where a spec, torque, measurement, etc. is needed,
the Mazda manual takes priority. Don't even look at other books
for this sort of thing. I have found blatant, inexcusable errors
(such as incorrect identification of spark plugs) in Haynes and
others. I have also found errors in the Mazda manuals, but you 
have to look damn hard, cause the are awfully rare.

Eric T.     Blue '90 A