my 2000 mx5 has occasional missfire on starting ie 3 cyls only this clears after a few minutes and may not happen again for weeks any ideas

Asked by gussy57 Feb 01, 2014 at 11:04 AM about the Mazda MX-5 Miata

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2 Answers

10

This could be caused by a weak coil or high resistance in a plug wire. Until the vehicle goes into closed loop, the air/fuel ratio is predetermined and may not be optimal. That causes it to be harder to fire the spark. I would check the ignition system first. A bad fuel injector is another possibility. There is an outside chance of a blown head gasket also. Either way, it probably needs to go to a good repair shop for diagnosis. Be prepared to leave the car overnight so the tech might be able to duplicate the concern. David www.networkautomotiveprescott.com

1 people found this helpful.
44,655

Spark plugs with large gap that need changed, leaking fuel injectors or the start of a blown head gasket.

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Michael Kane
    Reputation
    3,320
  • #2
    Cyril Muckenhirn
    Reputation
    580
  • #3
    Nitro_408
    Reputation
    530
View All

Know more, shop wisely

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Ford Mustang
876 Great Deals out of 23,123 listings starting at $1,995
Used Toyota GR86
34 Great Deals out of 2,156 listings starting at $13,999
Used Chevrolet Corvette
673 Great Deals out of 11,975 listings starting at $3,200
Used Subaru BRZ
31 Great Deals out of 530 listings starting at $9,900
Used Honda Civic
1,333 Great Deals out of 29,657 listings starting at $1,571
Used Mazda Miata
1 listing
Used Honda S2000
17 Great Deals out of 191 listings starting at $15,990
Used Chevrolet Camaro
584 Great Deals out of 9,572 listings starting at $1,600
Used Toyota Supra
23 Great Deals out of 587 listings starting at $36,299
Used Nissan 350Z
28 Great Deals out of 364 listings starting at $5,000
Used Mazda MAZDASPEED MX-5 Miata
10 listings starting at $12,950
Used Nissan 370Z
46 Great Deals out of 663 listings starting at $9,499
Used Mazda MAZDA3
517 Great Deals out of 11,983 listings starting at $2,200
Used BMW Z4
65 Great Deals out of 988 listings starting at $3,950
Used Lexus IS
268 Great Deals out of 5,324 listings starting at $4,200

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.