2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata: check engine light

Filed Sep 16, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · FL

Engine began running badly and check engine light came on. Took to mazda dealer shop and was told a spark plug wire was defective and burned up. In actuality, the ignition coil had failed and caused the problems. The dealer replaced spark plugs, ignition wires, and coil. Two months later the check engine light came on again and the catalytic converter was clogged and had to be replaced. The mechanic said it was due to the poor running during the time when the ignition coil had been misfiring. So the defective coil caused a great deal of damage, and mazda has taken no responsibility for these defective parts or the damage they have caused. If you read complaints for 1999 models, you'll see many failures of the ignition coil, some causing damage to other parts costing a great deal of money. Apparently, similar coils were used on 2000's with similar failures. But no recall and no investigation.

Filed Jun 5, 2014 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · CA

1999>2000 mazda miatas are known to have had a bad batch of coil packs put in them, resulting in the check engine light coming on, (has happened to me three times), not while driving, but upon restarting after a brief stop, like at a store, wherever. Anyway the code says, random miss firing, which results in a very lean unburned mixture of fuel, with many owners having their catalytic converters and/or 02 sensors get burnt out as a result. When this occurs the engine runs very very rough, and could stall. If this happens in the wrong situation, like on the freeway, it could possibly result in an accident or even death. Mazda knows about this and has a technical bulletin out on it, but it is around a $300 part (dealer) and very near that everywhere else (I.e. Autozone $260) and they told me that there is not a recall on this. Imo since this condition can and will ruin the pollution system, they ought to issue a recall, and refund any money already spent on the new coil pack for those that have already had it changed.

Filed Sep 7, 2013 · 79,500 miles · TX

After driving around in heated conditions (roughly 80 degrees or more) for about 10+ miles, sometimes less, the car will not start. It will crank and attempt to start but fails to do so. In order to get it to start I have to pop the hood open and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Once it starts it is very rough and the check engine light will come on. If I stop driving it for the day, the next morning, the light will be off and it will drive fine, until I drive during the day, or over a long distance. Thre has also been an instance when I was driving and stopped at a stop light and the car just stalled, had to perform the same thing, pop the hood and wait, it was back running. This also happend at a drive thru in 100 degree weather, car stalled as soon as I got my food and held up the already long line of cars behind me. I had to push it to a nearby parking lot. I have read on numerous forums and posts that this is a common problem with these cars and that it's either a) ignition coil b) spark plugs c) spark plug wires or d) camshaft position sensor.. Well.. I changed out the first 3 options, with no success.. Still having the same problem. I recently bought a cps and waiting for it to arrive. If this doesn't fix the problem I don't know what will. I drive constantly on highways to get around and if it stalls then, I will be in a lot of trouble. I do not have a warranty so I am doing all these repairs myself.

Filed Jan 10, 2005 · Electrical · 23,000 miles · CT

I paid a total of $835.03 in repairs due to unqualified mazda technicians and inferior parts (ignition coil) that mazda knowingly installed in the 1999 and 2000 miata?s. In may 2004 my engine light went on. I had the spark plugs and spark plug wires checked to determine if that was the problem and they were fine. I called the dealership and explained the situation and brought the miata in for service. I was informed by the service department that there was a p0300 code (random misfire ) and that the spark plugs and spark plug wires needed to be changed. I told the service consultant that the plugs and wires were already visually inspected and deemed to be in working order. He insisted the plugs and wires were the issue and performed a tune-up for 322.24. I had to bring the vehicle in three more times because the engine light continued to go on. Finally in december 2004 they concluded it was the ignition coil and I was told it would be an additional 512.79 to correct. When I asked if they can do something about the price considering they misdiagnosed it the first time, their response was ?you need a tune-up at 30,000 miles any?. First of all when I got the tune-up in may there were only 23k miles on the car (I still don?t have 30k miles on it). Second of all if I was told a tune-up was not going to correct the problem I never would have agreed to getting one. I?ve recently discovered that the ignition coil is a known problem on the '99 and '00 miata that mazda refuses to address. Since this is a known issue, the dealership should have inspected the ignition coil when the vehicle was first brought in and it should be a recall issue. No old parts are available.

Filed Sep 9, 2002 · Engine · CT

Car continues to have "check engine light". Dealer indicated 3 weeks ago that there was a failure in cylinder #3, but they will not get on with the repair. Dealer has changed several electrical parts, catalytic converter, and last week said they would replace the engine. Now they are backing off on that and playing "testing games".