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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » New "to me" Miata (rolling FM catalog)

Dec. 23, 2010 7:37 a.m. ea_sport Reader

Just picked up a '96 Miata with 132 Kmiles, Torsen (I checked with Maza Customer Support), new soft top, Hard Dog roll bar with good padding, FM Happy Meal Clutch System, FM Stage 3 suspension kit, FM Exhaust system, 15' Kosei with all season Dunlop, 16' Rota with worn out Azenis that I think can still survive a few more autocross, Momo steering wheel, Mishimoto radiator and a bunch of other mods (complete list of mods is listed here on the seller's website: http://web.me.com/daniel_t_/site/Car_for_sale.html) all for a whopping $4,700. Bought it yesterday and drove it from NJ to NoVA with no issue, I am pretty happy with the car so far .

I still can't figure out how to attach picture here so here's the link to the seller's website with the pictures of the car: http://web.me.com/daniel_t_/site/Photos.html.

Btw, does anybody know if changing stock steering wheel with airbag to Momo with no airbag will cause me to fail either safety or emissions inspection? The bulb for the air bag light had been taken off so no air bag light on. No check engine light on but I am not sure if the absence of air bag will show up on the inspection station's OBDII reader and cause me to fail the inspections. I need to do both when bringing an out of state car to VA. Any info is appreciated.
Dec. 23, 2010 7:47 a.m. Winston Reader

At least in TX, airbags are not part of the inspection process. That info doesn't really help you much in VA, though.
Dec. 23, 2010 8:22 a.m. mistanfo SuperDork

Technically, in VA, the airbag light has to come on when you start the car, along with the check engine light, etc. I believe that it legally also has to be in place, unless you have a waiver from the NHTSA, or whomever gives waivers these days. I plead the fifth on anything further.
Dec. 23, 2010 12:47 p.m. Ian F Dork

Nice find.

There are usually ways to trick the SRS computer into thinking an airbag is there. Typically a resister is added to jumper the connection (this is occasionally done in MINI's when swapping in non-airbag seats). I doubt this is a new subject, so I'd imagine more info can be found on Miata-specific forums.
Dec. 23, 2010 1:10 p.m. bludroptop SuperDork
Virginia State Police inspection procedure sez:
1. – INSPECT AIR BAG AND AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT FOR:
Any defects in the air bag system noted by the air bag readiness light, or otherwise indicated; or The air bag has been deployed and has not been replaced (and is not deactivated because of a medical or other exemption and a notice is posted to indicate that it has been deactivated); or Any part of the air bag system has been removed from the vehicle; or If the air bag indicator fails to light, or stays on continuously.
Dec. 23, 2010 1:15 p.m. failboat Reader

VA is tricky. Yes thats the inspection rules that bludroptop posted.

But I had a 93 miata, with all the airbag computers/etc removed, and an aftermarket steering wheel, and not once did anyone say anything to me about it or fail me.

I had a van with an aftermarket wheel and it passed for many years with the airbag light on the dash lit up constantly. Then one year I got failed because the light didnt go off. I pulled the bulb out of the gauge cluster and then they passed me.

I think it really just depends on the inspector. Some are sticklers for the rules. Others are lenient as long as the car isnt blatantly unsafe. The key really is the dash warning indicators though. If any of those are lit up some places will just fail you because it indicates a problem of some sort. no light = no problem worth inspecting to them.

I think miatas have a buzzer that goes off if you just pull the light, hence why the PO of mine had removed all the airbag computer junk from under the dash.

I am pretty sure airbag items wont come up on the OBDII. I just had an OBDII car run through emissions, they dont even do the tailpipe sniffer test, the test results dont even give you any numbers for emissions, they just plug into your car, and the car's computer tells them if the system checks pass or fail.

Modify at your own risk I suppose...
Dec. 23, 2010 1:52 p.m. Keith SuperDork

If you want the airbag light to come on with the key, and turn off when you start the car - wire it into the alternator light :) The OBD-II system does not pay any attention to the airbags, it's for emissions.
Dec. 23, 2010 1:53 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader

I know there's no point in even mentioning this, but it's always been hard for me to figure out why removing a 14-year-old explosive device from in front of your face wouldn't instantly and automatically IMPROVE your safety.
Dec. 23, 2010 2:05 p.m. tuna55 Dork

Keith wrote:

If you want the airbag light to come on with the key, and turn off when you start the car - wire it into the alternator light :) The OBD-II system does not pay any attention to the airbags, it's for emissions.

This guy is a fart smeller - Keith, now I'll just follow you around and agree to everything you say like you wanted before.

Although!!! make sure to make note of it. Don't be dishonest and "forget" to tell the buyer should you ever sell it, that's evil.
Dec. 23, 2010 2:43 p.m. ea_sport Reader

Although!!! make sure to make note of it. Don't be dishonest and "forget" to tell the buyer should you ever sell it, that's evil.

Thanks for all the info guys. I guess I'll try my luck and hope that the inspection station I go to is pretty lenient. I actually got the original steering wheel from the previous owner so if need be I can always install it back, although I'll prefer not to ...If I don;t need to install it I'll give the original steering wheel if I ever sell it...
Dec. 23, 2010 2:48 p.m. SVTF Reader

I just wired in a few resistors (~3.0 ohms total, I think) on my 94. Easy peasy - the computer thought I had a happy airbag.

With a 5% or 10% tolerance on the resistors you might have to swap a few around to get it just right...........I used 3 - 10 ohm in parallel.
Dec. 23, 2010 9:03 p.m. plance1 Dork

great car, congratulations
Dec. 23, 2010 11:21 p.m. Slyp_Dawg Reader

Stealthtercel wrote:

I know there's no point in even mentioning this, but it's always been hard for me to figure out why removing a 14-year-old explosive device from in front of your face wouldn't instantly and automatically IMPROVE your safety.

+eleventybillion, at first opportunity I'm ditching my 16 year old shape-charge-masquerading-as-a-steering-wheel if I can find a way to keep it legal in VA (mainly making sure my preferred service station won't fail me for trying to ensure my safety)
Dec. 24, 2010 4:20 a.m. Racer1ab Reader

I was looking at the same car, congrats!
Dec. 24, 2010 8:11 a.m. ea_sport Reader

Racer1ab wrote:

I was looking at the same car, congrats!

Sorry I beat you to it
Dec. 24, 2010 9:34 a.m. Rumnhammer Reader

When you take the airbag out, the plug that it plugged into remains, get a 1/4watt 3.3ohm resistor and bend it into a U shape insert into the airbag plug, cover with electrical tape. DONE. Now when you turn the car on, the airbag computer thinks you still have the bag in place, you get the light coming on when you turn the car on, then it goes out.

Yet you have a nice momo in place everybodys happy.

Chris Rummel
Dec. 24, 2010 9:37 a.m. Keith SuperDork

Or you just pull all the airbag computer and backup battery out. Car gets lighter
Dec. 24, 2010 9:41 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

Rumnhammer wrote:

When you take the airbag out, the plug that it plugged into remains, get a 1/4watt 3.3ohm resistor and bend it into a U shape insert into the airbag plug, cover with electrical tape. DONE. Now when you turn the car on, the airbag computer thinks you still have the bag in place, you get the light coming on when you turn the car on, then it goes out.

Yet you have a nice momo in place everybodys happy.

Chris Rummel

Except when the douchetard at the DMV notices the AIR BAG on the VIN tag and fails cause of the perty MoMo
Dec. 24, 2010 10:03 a.m. Rumnhammer Reader

This is why the resister in the plug is the best way, totally reversable, and why I kept my airbag wheel. Sell the car the wheel goes with it, pop wheel on for douchetard, pass inspection, replace Momo. Done.

Keith I think removing all the airbag junk is a lot of work for the small weight reduction, especially as big a pain as it is to access. Much harder to return to stock for the above reasons too. ^

Chris Rummel
Dec. 24, 2010 11:16 a.m. Keith SuperDork

I didn't say all the airbag junk, just the computer and the battery. They're not that hard to get out - this is what I did on my wife's car. Besides, when you install an aftermarket wheel you often have to cut the wires on the clockspring connector so replacing the airbag later isn't necessarily an option. That's the case if you use a MOMO adapter instead of one of the $100+ ones.
Dec. 24, 2010 1:34 p.m. Rumnhammer Reader

Yeah, I had to cut the plug wires, but I added insulated quick disconnects, so the plug itself could just replug back in later. Then just plugged the resistor into the female sides of the quick disconnects in lieu of the plug, but the plug can also just plug back in later.

Isn't the computer for the airbag deep within the dash? One of the guys in our club, replaced his and had to remove the entire dash to get to it. I think his car was a 95, they may have made it easier on later cars, but after seeing his ordeal, I decided that if mine went out it could stay in there....
Dec. 24, 2010 4:38 p.m. Keith SuperDork

It must not be too deep, as I've never had the dash out of that car Don't think I have, anyhow. It's a 1990.
Dec. 24, 2010 5:05 p.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

Mmmmmmmmmm, lovely.

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