1992 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: sudden loss of power, crank pulley wobble or rattling, timing belt slipping off, won't start after stalling

Fix: Early 1.6L engines had a weak crank nose where the keyway can shear. Requires engine removal, full teardown, and crankshaft replacement. 16-20 labor hours for removal, disassembly, parts, and reassembly. Many opt for a long-nose crank swap or full engine replacement at this point.

Estimated cost: $2,500-4,500

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: loud ticking at idle, especially when cold, tick persists after warm-up, loss of power at high RPM

Fix: Neglected oil changes kill lifters and cam lobes.Lifter replacement is 6-8 hours with shims and valve adjustment. If cam lobes are scored, add camshaft R&R (another 4-6 hours) plus head removal. Budget for head gasket and timing belt while you're in there.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,800

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: grinding or crunching into 2nd gear, hard to engage 2nd when cold, pops out of 2nd under load

Fix: The 5-speed's 2nd gear synchro is the weak link, especially if previous owners speed-shifted. Requires transmission removal and full rebuild with synchro rings, bearings, and seals. 8-10 labor hours plus parts. Sometimes cheaper to swap in a used low-mileage transmission.

Estimated cost: $1,400-2,200

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: oil puddle under bellhousing area, clutch chatter or slip from oil contamination, visible oil seepage at engine/trans junction

Fix: Age hardens these seals. Rear main seal requires transmission removal (4-5 hours labor). Input shaft seal is done simultaneously. Replace clutch and pilot bearing while you're in there—no point doing this job twice. Flywheel resurface recommended.

Estimated cost: $900-1,600

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: slow coolant loss with no visible leaks, white residue around head gasket seam, slight overheating under load, oil cap mayonnaise (condensation, not always HG failure)

Fix: Old coolant causes internal corrosion and gasket weepage. Head gasket replacement is 8-10 hours including resurface, new timing belt, water pump, and all coolant hoses. Aluminum head warps if overheated, so resurface is mandatory. Not a blown gasket—just age seepage.

Estimated cost: $1,400-2,400

Symptoms: no start, cranks but won't fire, intermittent stalling when hot, dies and restarts after cooling down

Fix: Heat kills the CAS (Crank Angle Sensor). Common no-start culprit. Located behind the cam gears, requires timing belt cover removal. 2-3 hours labor. Keep a spare in the glovebox—part is cheap, being stranded is not.

Estimated cost: $250-450

Symptoms: sputtering under acceleration, won't rev past 4,000 RPM, hard starting after sitting, rust flakes in fuel filter

Fix: Steel tanks rust from the inside if the car sat or ran on old ethanol fuel. Fuel pump pickup screens clog. Filter replacement is 1 hour, pump is 2-3 hours (drop tank). If tank is rusty inside, replace or seal it—recurring clogs will strand you. Full system flush needed.

Estimated cost: $400-1,200