Miata Mailing List: September 1997, Message #65
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From: 	Phredd <phredd@exis.net>

Subject: Got gas?

Date: 	Mon, 1 Sep 1997 15:55:44 +0000





        Miataphyles:



        There's been a bit of discussion lately about whether our =

dear ones will do themselves damage if we carelessly run them out of =

fuel and then try to start them again without the aid of an E.F.I. =

defibrillator or some such special attention.



        We've seen opinions ranging from: "Your engine will never =

start again so you might as well auction your car off on the spot for =

whatever you're lucky enough to get for it" -- to -- "Aw, hell. Just =

crank her up and go. Miata's don't really need gas, anyway."



        I'm guessing the truth may lie somewhere in between and, =

F.W.I.W., as evidence of this, I have violated all international =

copyright law with which I'm familiar and scanned the following from =

my "Rod's Hands-on Tune-up & Repair Full Step-by-step Teardown & =

Rebuild Mazda Miata Enthusiast's Shop Manual" and herewith submit it =

F.Y.I. The manual bears a photo of a tricked-out early R.H.D. God's =

Color example on the cover but I'll hazard a guess that it will work =

for any of those other colored cars, too, as long as the owner is not =

right brain/left brain impaired. 



        I'm hoping that authors, Rod Grainger and Pete Shoemark, =

won't take umbrage at my transgression and, in the spirit of helping =

hardcore Miata freaks who might just be prompted to buy their own =

copies of the tome as a result of being exposed to an excerpt from it =

here, will hold their legal hounds at bay.





        -------------------The Following, F.Y.I.-------------------





PRIMING THE FUEL SYSTEM



7  After work on the fuel system is complete, it is preferable to =

prime the fuel system to avoid excessive engine cranking -- remember =

that the Miata/MX5 battery is tiny by normal automotive standards, =

and has little reserve capacity. Ensure that all residual fuel vapor =

has dispersed, then reconnect the battery negative (-) terminal. 

        Open the diagnosis socket cover (mounted on the left inner =

wing near the suspension turret and clearly marked). Refer to the =

table inside the cover and connect pins F/P and GND using a short =

insulated jumper wire.



 8  Turn on the ignition switch for about ten seconds and check for =

fuel leaks around any connection which has been disturbed. If you =

want to check that the pimp is running, open the fuel filler door and =

listen at the opening while the system is priming. A high-pitched =

whine indicates pimp operation. Turn the ignition switch off, =

disconnect the jumper wire and close the diagnosis socket cover.





        -------------------(end of) -- The Following, =

F.Y.I.-------------------





        It would seem that even though the foregoing was written as a =

repair service procedure, it would apply equally to draining the fuel =

system via another method -- say driving too damned far before =

visiting your local PAY'N'PUMP.



        There doesn't appear to be anything called for that you can't =

do at the roadside -- provided you had the foresight to pack along at =

least one, genuine ACCO=AE Brand ("The World Leader") #72380 size =

paper clip with which to jimmy the diagnostic module. Other brands =

may work, as well. Y.M.M.V.



        Keep the Revs up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        Phredd  ~  Klassic Red 'XCIII-A  ~  "MisteRedd"



        God's Miata is Red!







        PS:  DISCLAIMER -- I merely ran the "QuikScan" feature of my =

OCR program on the repair manual and did not filter it through a =

spell-checker, etc. So, any misteaks you may find in the quoted =

passage are probably owing to my laziness and not the publisher's =

delinquency.



        PPS:  That goes for the rest of the message, too.



        PPPS:  I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day. I'm =

really glad we have something for the ladies besides Mother's Day.