I'm a new Mazda owner!

BrunswickMatt · 3-28-08, 12:52

1991 MX6 LX - White/Blue Int. 269,000mi
Title in hand. No body damage, interior is pretty darn clean. All lights work. Sunroof don't. Bad driver's side window switch. Windshield Washer fluid light stays on. Gauges work for the most part; the gas one is a little funky, but the low gas light works.

Car : $100
Insurance : $46.01
Registered in my name : $38.00
A running car for less than $200 : priceless

Anyway, got a sweet deal on this thing and came here for help/info along the way to getting it running like strong. Peace!
-Matt

**Keeloh** · 3-28-08, 13:08

You got pics? and were are you?

BrunswickMatt · 3-28-08, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keeloh

You got pics? and were are you?

I'll get a few shots of it this weekend.
Brunswick, Georgia.

Any "Must Do's" that you could enlighten me with? I'ma try and get the small/cheap things, like PCV valve and air filter, on it this weekend. Maybe some spark plugs.

Anything I should look for?

When I first crank it up it will sometimes sound like it's gonna die, but then it doesn't and starts to idle normally.

**magik8** · 3-28-08, 15:47

You are lucky in that you are "down south", so hopefully your 1G has been spared from winter weather and has minimal rust. HOWEVER you likely have some worn out pieces, and the engine probably uses some oil.

A few common problems on "old" 2.2L nonturbo engines (excluding rust/corrosion issues):

1.) Torn throttle body boot (rubber intake air elbow at throttle body). This is #1 2.2L nonturbo problem. If this boot is dry-rotted or has any holes in it you WILL have issues. Also check black plastic box which bolts underneath it.
2.) Leaking/seeping oil at crankshaft and camshaft oil seals.
3.) Leaking/seeping oil at valve cover gasket
4.) Clutch slave cylinder - (manual transmission) most are on their last legs at this age. When they fail, clutch goes to floor and you are stranded.
5.) Dry rotted rubber hoses - coolant and vacuum. Most likely all coolant hoses in back of engine are original and should be replaced.
6.) Leaking valve stem seals - causes puff/cloud of bluish smoke out tailipipe on startup; when it gets bad you'll start burning oil while crusing on highway. leads to eventual oil consumption by engine.
7.) Shifter bushings - nylon bushings wear causing sloppy shifter. if you have a sloppy shifter (i.e. moves around a lot in gear) this is something that needs to be fixed ASAP as it can lead to trans damage.
8.) Suspension rubber (strut spring seats, front strut bearings, bump stops) tend to dry-rot.
9.) Steering rack - rubber boots often rip and allow dirt into steering rack. Some racks also develop uneven steeting effor left to right. Should check rack boots (rubber) to make sure they are intact and not allowing dirt into rack. If dirt gets into rack this can damage oil seal and cause p/s fluid leaks. I have replaced a number of 1G steering racks due to this.
10.) Auto trans (if equipped) - not known for their longevity. Most are dead at this age.
11.) Door handles - often break, causing door to open from inside and not outside. This is repairable (try a search)

That's all I can think of for now.

BrunswickMatt · 3-28-08, 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by magik8

You are lucky in that you are "down south", so hopefully your 1G has been spared from winter weather and has minimal rust. HOWEVER you likely have some worn out pieces, and the engine probably uses some oil. -snip-.

Awesome, thanks man. That'll help out a lot.

And yeah, the body is in pretty good shape(i'll get some photos up), and yes the driver's side door handle is loose. Also I forgot to say that it's an automatic transmission.

Thanks!

**maffatato15** · 3-28-08, 21:27

i slapped a turbo in my lx (automatic) but also installed a big tranny cooler. So far my transmission has taken the abuse for about 8 months and still shifts good. Maybe it wouldnt hurt for you to get a bigger tranny cooler and get the tranny fluid changed too. Would most likely help as the main killer for auto trannys is heat.

Not really sure what else to say because i believe magik left you a very good list.

Lookinsideme · 3-30-08, 8:01

Bruns...I am about three hours away from you. I am in the process of rebuilding mine now (1991 MX6 turbo BT) and when I finish maybe I can take a weekend vacation( I love it over there) to see the progress.

Lookinsideme · 3-30-08, 8:05

Good Bruns. I am a new owner too, but I am in the process of rebuilding mine now. I have already put the crank and bearings in the engine and will put the pistons in today. Possibly will be riding by next weekend.

BrunswickMatt · 3-31-08, 9:48

Well, upon trying to take the old PCV valve out, it disentegrated and part of it fell back inside. D'oh. So I gotta swing by Advance and grab a new valve cover gasket.

**pyrotech5** · 4-2-08, 16:03

good deal on the mx6 matt, i got mine for the same price of $100

the only thing wrong with it when i got it was main fuse and that was $5

but the turbo shaft snapped in it 2 weeks ago and now she is out until i can find and afford one :/

good luck to you tho, there fun cars you just have to treat them right

**DarkMx-6** · 4-4-08, 14:53

http://www.mx6.com/forums/1g-mx6-gen...sm-online.html
here this is your friend! Read it! make sure to follow the valve cover gasket removal and Assembly and everything else for that matter.
Welcome to the site!

3-28-08, 12:52	#1 (permalink)
BrunswickMatt Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brunswick, GA, USA Age: 25 iTrader: (0)	I'm a new Mazda owner! 1991 MX6 LX - White/Blue Int. 269,000mi Title in hand. No body damage, interior is pretty darn clean. All lights work. Sunroof don't. Bad driver's side window switch. Windshield Washer fluid light stays on. Gauges work for the most part; the gas one is a little funky, but the low gas light works. Car : $100 Insurance : $46.01 Registered in my name : $38.00 A running car for less than $200 : priceless Anyway, got a sweet deal on this thing and came here for help/info along the way to getting it running like strong. Peace! -Matt

3-28-08, 13:08	#2 (permalink)
Keeloh 2.2 i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (28)	You got pics? and were are you?
	89' Lx to 89' GT Swap/Stock Turbo/Probinator Chip 15psi/8.5mm Magnecor Wires/Msd Blaster 2/P&P Head/Exedy Clutch/AWR Trailing Arm/GT Rear Disc Conv/Pacesetter Short Shifter/Upper Bar from Bulldog Racing,Rstb and Lower Tie Bar/ 2 MazdaSpeed Bucket Seats.

3-28-08, 15:47	#4 (permalink)
magik8 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Wisconsin, USA Age: 26 iTrader: (0)	You are lucky in that you are "down south", so hopefully your 1G has been spared from winter weather and has minimal rust. HOWEVER you likely have some worn out pieces, and the engine probably uses some oil. A few common problems on "old" 2.2L nonturbo engines (excluding rust/corrosion issues): 1.) Torn throttle body boot (rubber intake air elbow at throttle body). This is #1 2.2L nonturbo problem. If this boot is dry-rotted or has any holes in it you WILL have issues. Also check black plastic box which bolts underneath it. 2.) Leaking/seeping oil at crankshaft and camshaft oil seals. 3.) Leaking/seeping oil at valve cover gasket 4.) Clutch slave cylinder - (manual transmission) most are on their last legs at this age. When they fail, clutch goes to floor and you are stranded. 5.) Dry rotted rubber hoses - coolant and vacuum. Most likely all coolant hoses in back of engine are original and should be replaced. 6.) Leaking valve stem seals - causes puff/cloud of bluish smoke out tailipipe on startup; when it gets bad you'll start burning oil while crusing on highway. leads to eventual oil consumption by engine. 7.) Shifter bushings - nylon bushings wear causing sloppy shifter. if you have a sloppy shifter (i.e. moves around a lot in gear) this is something that needs to be fixed ASAP as it can lead to trans damage. 8.) Suspension rubber (strut spring seats, front strut bearings, bump stops) tend to dry-rot. 9.) Steering rack - rubber boots often rip and allow dirt into steering rack. Some racks also develop uneven steeting effor left to right. Should check rack boots (rubber) to make sure they are intact and not allowing dirt into rack. If dirt gets into rack this can damage oil seal and cause p/s fluid leaks. I have replaced a number of 1G steering racks due to this. 10.) Auto trans (if equipped) - not known for their longevity. Most are dead at this age. 11.) Door handles - often break, causing door to open from inside and not outside. This is repairable (try a search) That's all I can think of for now. Last edited by magik8 : 3-28-08 at 15:54.

3-28-08, 21:27	#6 (permalink)
maffatato15 im back from BAN camp Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: endwell, NY, USA Age: 22 iTrader: (4)	i slapped a turbo in my lx (automatic) but also installed a big tranny cooler. So far my transmission has taken the abuse for about 8 months and still shifts good. Maybe it wouldnt hurt for you to get a bigger tranny cooler and get the tranny fluid changed too. Would most likely help as the main killer for auto trannys is heat. Not really sure what else to say because i believe magik left you a very good list.
	1991 lxt - parting out...ask for parts 1989 mx6 GT -LE Leather seat swap! Zombie chip, 2.5 inch turbo back exhaust, aluminum hard pipes, 8.8 mm Accel 300+ ferro-spiral race wires, blaster 2 coil, intrax lowering springs, factory rear strut bar, soon to be installed tbird

4-2-08, 16:03	#10 (permalink)
pyrotech5 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Deltona, FL, USA Age: 19 iTrader: (1)	good deal on the mx6 matt, i got mine for the same price of $100 the only thing wrong with it when i got it was main fuse and that was $5 but the turbo shaft snapped in it 2 weeks ago and now she is out until i can find and afford one :/ good luck to you tho, there fun cars you just have to treat them right
	1991 Mazda MX6 GT - 5-speed, Iridium plugs

3-30-08, 8:01	#7 (permalink)
Lookinsideme Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Montezuma, GA, USA iTrader: (0)	Bruns...I am about three hours away from you. I am in the process of rebuilding mine now (1991 MX6 turbo BT) and when I finish maybe I can take a weekend vacation( I love it over there) to see the progress.

3-30-08, 8:05	#8 (permalink)
Lookinsideme Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Montezuma, GA, USA iTrader: (0)	Good Bruns. I am a new owner too, but I am in the process of rebuilding mine now. I have already put the crank and bearings in the engine and will put the pistons in today. Possibly will be riding by next weekend.

3-31-08, 9:48	#9 (permalink)
BrunswickMatt Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Brunswick, GA, USA Age: 25 iTrader: (0)	Well, upon trying to take the old PCV valve out, it disentegrated and part of it fell back inside. D'oh. So I gotta swing by Advance and grab a new valve cover gasket.

4-4-08, 14:53	#11 (permalink)
DarkMx-6 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Keene, TX, USA Age: 22 iTrader: (4)	http://www.mx6.com/forums/1g-mx6-gen...sm-online.html here this is your friend! Read it! make sure to follow the valve cover gasket removal and Assembly and everything else for that matter. Welcome to the site!
	For Sale-- 91 White mx6 GT: Boosted N/A block, Fidanza, 9 psi, open Zebel down pipe soon to be full 2.5" , ss braided brakelines, suby calipers, F/R D/S Disks, tokico blues 04 Civic: The daily, CAI,Sloted F Disks, No muffler(sounds way better than ricers) Great on gas