[MSCW list] Thanks for the Info re: Lost Power in a 1989

[Gail Furman]

Larry and Scott, thanks so much.  I have replaced the clutch TWICE  in the past 5 years (the original lasted 15!!!).  The last time, the mechanic said the actual clutch he used was evidently a bad one, and he had the part replaced by the manufacturer for free.  I have 170,000 miles on the car, and I'm only putting about 3,000K per year on it (but mainly city driving).

I guess I need a new mechanic!
------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:57:10 -0500
From: Larry Wilbur <bossfrog at live.com>
To: Mazda Sports Car Club <mscw at mscw1.com>
Subject: Re: [MSCW list] Losing Power 1989
Message-ID: <BAY163-W293C5316863024769A9ADBB2480 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"



> **********************************
> I'm the original owner of a beautiful 1989.  I lose power when accelerating; the engine sounds like it's revving when I step on the gas, but the car doesn't really move forward.  At first, it was only on the highway when shifting into higher gears, but lately, I've noticed that it's happening occasionally in lower gears (2nd and 3rd), particularly if I have a passenger.  I do little highway driving, so it's been going on for quite some time.  I recall this happening 10 or more years ago; the mechanic was stumped until the old Miata magazine had a brief piece about it being some kind of valve or something, and he was able to quickly fix it (I knew I shouldn't have thrown all those service records out!).  I looked through all my back issues, but couldn't find the information.
> 
> Any advice would be much appreciated!

I don't know your mileage, or how your car has been driven, but I'd look into the clutch and see if it's slipping. 
 		 	   		  

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:01:49 -0500
From: Scott W <scottfw at gmail.com>
To: MSCW at mscw1.com
Subject: Re: [MSCW list] Losing Power 1989
Message-ID:
	<CALp7D1JOHj2m4J-KnEG3MyFW+janLoi8UKU1V=Sz0gBy_=U+Gg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

If you step on the gas and the rpms shoot up but the car doesn't accelerate, that means the friction linings on your clutch are worn.
There's not much else that it could be. Worn clutches pretty much always start slipping in the higher gears first, then as they get progressively worse they will start slipping in 3rd. At that point it's toast and it sounds to me like you don't have many miles left before the car becomes totally undriveable. Time for a new clutch. A competent mechanic will also recommend that you resurface the flywheel, or replace it entirely if it's badly scored. Considering the age of the car, it's also not a bad idea to replace the rear main seal while you're in there, and probably the seal on the transmission input shaft too. It shouldn't cost you any more labor since they'll have everything apart anyway to do the clutch, and those seals are cheap in the grand scheme of things.

-Scott