Common Problems Here are some of the most common issues people have with Miatas. My car is running rough and feels like it's lacking power. It is hard to shift and sometimes my clutch will engage when the pedal is depressed. My car is slow to start. Is it a bad battery? My car is running rough and feels like it's lacking power. The first course of action is to replace the spark plug wires with a new set. Miatas are very hard on spark plug wires and generally go through a set about every 30,000 miles or so. Other potential problems are fouled spark plugs, bad fuel, failing coils, clogged catalytic converter, or clogged fuel filter. Back to Top It is hard to shift and sometimes my clutch will engage when the pedal is depressed. Usually this is an indication the the clutch slave cylinder is leaking. This is a very common problem and is easily remedied by a rebuild (or replacement) of the slave cylinder. Occasionally it is the clutch master cylinder, which can also be rebuilt or replaced. In addition, changing the transmission oil with RedLine Synthetic oil will make the shifting smooth again. I recommend changing the transmission oil at least every 50,000 miles. Back to Top My car is slow to start. Is it a bad battery? Miatas use a different type of battery than most cars. They use an "Absorbed Glass Mat" (AGM) type of battery that lasts for a very long time. Properly cared for, and AGM battery can last 10-15 years. The biggest difference is that AGM batteries should be charged very slowly over a long period of time. They should only be charged a rate of 2 amps or less for 48 hours. Anything higher will damage the battery. Since many Miatas are garaged in the winter, a battery tender is recommended to keep the battery fully charged during periods of disuse. Back to Top |Home| |Services| |Common Problems| |Contact Us|