Multiple problems ...

[kawaputra]

Hi. Sorry if ive posted in the wrong place. I have a number of problems with my MX3.

1) Im in Malaysia, and theres probably less than 10 Mx3s in the whole country. Thus getting replacement parts is difficult.

2) Airconditioning Compressor: according to workshops, the a/c compressor is kaput. My question is, what other car models would be compatible with MX3? Must i only use original a/c compressor for MX3?

3) Battery: i am currently using N40 battery. Is there any problem with this? What is the appropriate type of battery i should use?

4) Shaking: When i accelerate, the car vibrates. I feel that it is coming from the engine. Mechanic suspects the problem is coming due to the mounting. Any idea?

5) Drive shaft: When i make an extreme or full turn, there are noises sounding like: "tak tak tak". Many ppl say i need to change the drive shaft. If so, must i only use Mazda Mx3 drive shafts, or are there any other car model which uses compatible drive shafts?

6) hatchback cover: the black thing at the edge of the hatchback (where one normally puts the spoiler) flew off and is missing. The car currently looks ugly without the cover. Besides buying a spoiler, is there other alternative i could use to cover this 'scar'? I've heard of fiberglass or cement. Is there other?

Thanks.

[wytbishop]

Hi. Sorry if ive posted in the wrong place. I have a number of problems with my MX3.

1) Im in Malaysia, and theres probably less than 10 Mx3s in the whole country. Thus getting replacement parts is difficult.The MX-3 was somewhat popular in Japan and Austrailia as the "Eunos Presso" and "30X". You may be able to find parts more easily in those countries.

2) Airconditioning Compressor: according to workshops, the a/c compressor is kaput. My question is, what other car models would be compatible with MX3? Must i only use original a/c compressor for MX3?
I don't know what cars compressors interchange, but I think you would have the best chance of getting one from Japan or Austrailia.
3) Battery: i am currently using N40 battery. Is there any problem with this? What is the appropriate type of battery i should use?The main concern with the battery is that it have the correct configuration of the terminals. In cold weather climates, the Cold Cranking Amp rating is important but that should not be a concern for you. Just buy the highest quality battery with the correct post placement that you can afford.

4) Shaking: When i accelerate, the car vibrates. I feel that it is coming from the engine. Mechanic suspects the problem is coming due to the mounting. Any idea?Degenerated motor mounts are a very good possibility. Also poor ignition can cause this kind of shaking. If you have a distributor whihc is new or which you know works, try it in your car to see if the vibration stops. If you cannot get a new distributor it is common to modify the ignition system to run with an external ignitor and coil. Search on this forum for "HEI mod" and you will find a lot of discussion on it.

5) Drive shaft: When i make an extreme or full turn, there are noises sounding like: "tak tak tak". Many ppl say i need to change the drive shaft. If so, must i only use Mazda Mx3 drive shafts, or are there any other car model which uses compatible drive shafts? Driveshafts are typically specific to the car and are not usually interchangeable. Also within the MX-3 world there are many different driveshafts depending on the options on your car. Be very careful ordering them.

6) hatchback cover: the black thing at the edge of the hatchback (where one normally puts the spoiler) flew off and is missing. The car currently looks ugly without the cover. Besides buying a spoiler, is there other alternative i could use to cover this 'scar'? I've heard of fiberglass or cement. Is there other?The "Hatch Garnish" is often difficult to find even here. Search the forum and purchase one from another member.

Thanks.

I hope that helps.

[kawaputra]

Thanks a lot wytbishop. That was helpful. I will be getting the mounts and driveshaft fixed next week (if the mechanic can find those parts).

I have sorted out the compressor. Apparently our Eunos uses Panasonic brand compressors, says the mechanic. So they are quite generic i think.

What is "post placement". U mean the size of the base for the battery? It seems that the batery which suits the size of the base are the DIN45 or DIN55 types.