(a.k.a. My Miata Diary)
Last updated on 11/01/2009
What have I done to keep up my Miata up to snuff? (in reverse order with the latest listed first).
6/14/04 - This will be the last entry in this diary. Today I sold my Miata to CarMax. Parting is such sweet sorrow...
5/10/04 - Service Day!!! 16,091 miles, and we got
- Oil Change, Mobil 1 synthetic
- Brake fluid replacement
- Tune up (new spark plugs!)
All preventative maintenance stuff.
4/1/04 - The car has 16,074 miles. Less than 1,000 miles in 2 1/2 months. Geez. It still works like a champ! I know I need to take it to the dealer for something, but I forget what. Ahhh, and I need to change the oil. Its been almost 8 months but less than 1,500 miles. I switched to synthetic last July, so I guess its time to refresh that oil...
1/12/04 - The car has 15,123 miles on it. 322 miles since its 3rd birthday six months ago. Can you say "GARAGE QUEEN!!!".
1/1/04 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!
12/31/03 - Had it waxed AGAIN. Amazing how much dust this thing gets sitting in the garage. I noticed the seat back is developing the SAME scratch as before. Ahhh, nuts. I barely use the car. If I really used it this seat would be destroyed.
8/23/03 - Aha! I got a printout from Russell Mazda on all the service done on the Miata. Now I can go back and fill out the GREAT BIG GAP between 4/1/01 and 7/17/03. I will highlight these items in RED.
7/30/03 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! My Miata turns three today! Woooohoooo! 14,799 miles in 3 years, and its paid off - all MINE MINE MINE!!!! I got it an Audiovox satellite radio for its birthday.
7/28/03 - Today they replaced the seatback for the driver's seat. New one matches perfectly. Nice. While I was there, I also had them do a rear service (something about replacing the fluid in the rear differential) and a coolant flush. Its coming up on 15,000 miles and 3 years soon, so might as well.
7/28/03 - Rear Differential Service, Cooling System Flush - 14784 miles.
7/17/03 - You KNOW stuff has happened between April of 2001 and now, but when I took the original website down I failed to get a current back of this file, and now I lost the info. Rats! I got a printout from Russel Mazda on the stuff done to the car, which was mostly LOFs (Lube, Oil and Filter). They did fix a clicking problem in the back brakes under warranty at some point, but other than that, everything is peachy. (Added all Russell Mazda services from printout the provided - in RED).
Today I bought the Miata outright, and I had it inspected by Russell Mazda yesterday. I asked them to check for the #4 bearing problem, and the measurement was within spec. They are replacing the driver's seat back leather, since it wore and Mazda had issued a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) on that issue. They also fixed the chrome fuel door which was sticking - they replaced some rubber stoppers that were sticking the door, and now it works great!
7/15/03 - Switched to Mobil 1 Synthetic oil.
1/13/03 - Brake system check (clicking noise) - 12457 miles
1/7/03 - LOFMA - 12220 miles
6/7/02 - LOFMA, PATCHMA (patch hole in tire) - 9927 miles
12/20/01 - LOFMA, PSIMA (check tires) - 8292 miles
5/8/01 - LOFMA, R/BMA? - 6474 miles
GREAT BIG GAP DUE TO WEBMASTER'S INCOMPETENCE
4/1/01 - Finally got around to installing the Saddlebag. I posted pics of the license plate frame too. I also picked up a chrome fuel lid from the Mazda dealer. Looks cool.
3/10/01 - WOW! Three months and I haven't changed the oil!!! I think its due. Well, what have I done lately? The car has 4800 miles on it. I finally installed the license plate frame (it looks GREAT, pics soon). Haven't installed the saddlebag yet. 300 miles a month is pretty light. Has it washed a couple of times at the hand wash place. Its due for a hand wax. I am spending way too much time driving (the weather is BEAUTIFUL and playing with my new puppy (new website section coming soon), so I haven't had time to keep up the site. Oh well, I have a life. What can I say? :)
12/13/00 - LOFMA, 3863 miles
12/13/00 - Had the oil changed today. The folks at Mazda Village in Clearwater are excellent. I don't even mind the 45 minute drive across the Courtney Campbell Causeway. 3900 miles and still going strong. Its due for a wash...
12/8/00 - Double Wow! TWO MONTHS since my last update. Lots has happened, but not with the Miata. It has 3800 miles on it. We just moved to our new house, so it is resting comfortably on it own garage bay. I've had it hand washed a couple of times, so it is due for a wax soon. It is probably due for an oil change too.
10/4/00 - Wow! A month since my last entry. I bought the new license plate frame and saddlebag, but haven't installed them as I have barely driven the car over the last month. I drove it today and had it hand washed at the Golden Touch Car Wash. All this time its been "resting" in the garage. The car has 2700 miles on it.
8/28/00 - LOFMA (lube, oil, filter maintenance) and NPFMA (check the clicking noise) 2208 miles
8/28/00 - Took the car to Mazda Village in Clearwater. The drive was WONDERFUL! From Tampa you have to drive over the Causeway, which crosses the bay. Didn't mind it one bit. I had the oil changed (2208 miles) because of that Ft. Lauderdale trip I wanted to have "fresh oil" in there. They used Castrol 10W30. I wonder why different Mazda dealerships use different oil... hmmmm. I'll probably run it to 6000 for the next one to get back on the regular maintenance schedule.
I bought to touch up paint to fix the chips I found last week. I think I'll wait till November-December when its cooler out there. It is waaaayyy to hot to be messing with the car outside. They didn't have the license plate frame in stock.
I had them check the clicking noise in the back. They did a pretty thorough check (I watched) and didn't find anything. To be honest, it hasn't been doing it at all the last few days, and before that only once or twice a day. I'm satisfied that the car is safe (they checked the brake clips), so I'll let this go... for now. :)
8/24/00 - Washed and waxed the car today. The folks at Golden Touch Car Wash did an excellent job, especially after having some sprinkler water fall on my hood. Got it taken care of.
DANG! DANG! DOUBLE DANG! I got my first two paint chips, a little one and a bigger one. I'm trying the touch-up paint as soon as I can get my hands on it.
I took the car to Ferman Mazda today. I took it there last week at about 3:00pm to have them take a look at that clicking noise in the back that sounds like a little pebble hitting the bottom of the car. Last week the guy told me it was too late in the day, to bring it back in the morning. He said I didn't need an appointment. I brought it back this morning, and guess what? I need an appointment. Ferman Mazda is too busy to HONOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO LOOK AT MY CAR WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. I called and made an appointment all right -- with Mazda Village in Clearwater. Yes, I have to drive 20-30 minutes more, but what the heck? In my Miata that is a PLUS! I'm also having the oil changed and checking on the touch-up paint and maybe a Miata license plate frame.
I also took some pictures of the car in the Bay.
8/23/00 - Replaced the Momo knob with the Nardi knob. I thought I'd like the longer knob better, but as it turns out I don't. Go figure. Email me if you want to buy the Momo knob from me for $50 plus shipping. Its a deal!
8/20/00 - Got back from Ft. Lauderdale today. 600 miles in one weekend! The car behaved like a CHAMP! For its great service, I washed it with Meguiar's Hi-Tech wash and waxed it with Meguiar's Gold Class Wax. Also applied 303 Protectant to the mask, and Meguiar's Vinyl Protectant, Meguiar's Leather Treatment and Meguiar's Endurance on the tires. IT LOOKS AWESOME!!!! I was going to have the oil changed tomorrow, but I want to keep it clean for a couple of days before they smudge their fingers at the dealer. Will probably take it Thursday or Friday.
8/18/00 - Going to Ft. Lauderdale this weekend, so I got a Front Mask to protect my baby from those nasty bugs down Alligator Alley.
8/17/00 - Installed the L bracket for the SmartCord, and got the Momo knob.
8/16/00 - Has a Viper 500 professionally installed. Also had the windows tinted and the radar detector hard-wired, and the Wicked Loud Horns installed. Looks and sounds cool.
8/15/00 - Installed the front grille and the cellphone mount. I went to the Mazda dealer and had them remove their Silencer alarm POC. For $650 I can do much better somewhere else. They charged me $200 to remove the alarm. Can you spell R O B B E R Y???
8/14/00 - Ordered a Momo Shift knob - $70 for the Anatomico with mahogany wood top and leather wrapped. The BEST of both worlds. Review coming soon.
8/13/00 - Installed a new shift knob. Its cheap. My stock one is much nicer and of better quality, but I am looking for something different. I am keeping my Nardi knob just in case...
8/11/00 - Drove it with the K&N Air Filter for the first time. Is it me, or does it sound/feel a teeny bit stronger? Hmmmm....
8/10/00 - Installed the K&N Air Filter. Actually, more like dropped it in. Haven't driven it yet.
8/9/00 - Removed swirls and scratches left my "brushless" carwash. This is a Meguiar's car from now on. I applied Endurance to the tires.
8/8/00 - Removed front tie down hooks (actually, the dealer did it for me at no cost. Thanks! )
8/8/00 - Changed the oil at 560 miles. The Mazda service guy looked at me kinda funny, but I told him to humor me. $19.95 + tax. They used Penzoil 10W30.
8/8/00 - Washed and waxed for the first time.
8/4/00 - Brought it back to the dealer to fix the keyless entry, which didn't work. $0.
7/30/00 - I bought it! I also bought the alarm it came with (big mistake).
