Miata Mailing List: June 1995, Message #181
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   From: a.mccombs3@genie.geis.com
Subject: Hood Structuring.
   Date: Sat, 3 Jun 1995 12:05:09 -0400

Jeremy Morin asks about headlight door alignment on a Miata.  EZ fix,
Jeremy. Open the hood, grab the rear edge of the headlight cover, and lift
up with a few pounds of force.  Yes, really!  This is how you align the
things.  Probably over the years, enough people have leaned on them enough
times, to cause them to become misaligned.  No problem, a couple minutes,
and they'll be perfect.  And BTW, welcome - most Miata problems are on about
the same order as the headlight fix.  It has to be about the simplest car to
work on, and the most trouble free, of the '90s.
 
As for the limited slip, I dunno about code numbers stamped on the
differential, or any of that - although there must be some way of telling at
a glance by looking at the diff.  You could jack up the rear of the car
(both rear wheels off the ground), put the car in gear with the engine off
and parking brake off, and turn one rear wheel.  If the other one turns the
opposite direction, you don't have limited slip.  If neither wants to turn
readily, you likely do.  Of course, there's the fun way to tell - find a
puddle, and park with one rear wheel in it, and the other on dry pavement.
Accelerate as fast as you can.  If the car initially wants to spin the tire
in the water without going any place, you don't have limited slip!
 
                                                --jack M. & KANSEI--