1997 MAZDA MX-5 drain bolt

Fig. 5: Exploded View Of Rear Axle Shaft (MPV)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY
Removal (Front MPV 4WD)
1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove engine skid plate. See Fig. 6 . Drain front differential fluid. Remove
tie rod ends and lower control arms. Remove front axle shafts. See AXLE SHAFTS
- FRONT article.
2. Mark drive shaft and differential carrier flanges for reassembly reference, and remove drive shaft from
differential carrier. See Fig. 6
. Disconnect Automatic Free Wheel (AFW) vacuum hoses and electrical
connector.
3. Place floor jack under differential assembly. Remove differential-to-chassis mounting bolts and AFW
extension housing mounting nuts. Remove differential and AFW extension housing from vehicle.
Remove AFW assembly from left side of differential housing. Pull drive coupler from carrier. Remove
differential carrier-to-housing bolts. Remove differential carrier.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Apply sealant to carrier mating flange. Align marks made during
removal. Refill differential with lubricant. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-98 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - MPV & MX-5 Miata
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Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:52:42 PMPage 9 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

See REAR AXLE SHAFTS & BEARINGS.
2. Remove ABS wheel speed sensor. Mark drive shaft and differential carrier flanges for reassembly
reference and remove drive shaft from differential carrier. Remove differential carrier-to-housing bolts.
Remove differential carrier.
Installation
To install, reverse removal procedure. Apply sealant to carrier mating flange. Align marks made during
removal. Refill differential with lubricant. Tighten all nuts and bolts to specification. See TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS .
Removal (Miata)
1. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheel and tire assembly. Drain differential. Remove differential
mounting pipe. Remove exhaust pipe. Mark drive shaft and differential carrier flanges for reassembly
reference and remove drive shaft from differential carrier. See Fig. 7
. Disconnect speedometer cable
from transmission. Notin
g locations, disconnect wiring harness from Power Plant Frame (PPF).

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-98 DRIVE AXLES Differentials & Drive Axles - MPV & MX-5 Miata
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:52:42 PMPage 11 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

2. Disconnect throttle cable. Remove fuel lines from fuel rail and pressure regulator. Remove throttle body
intake duct housing and throttle body. Remove by-pass air control valve and solenoid valves. Remove
upper intake manifold (if equipped).
3. Remove intake manifold support bracket from underneath manifold. Disconnect injector harness
connectors, and remove injectors/fuel rail assembly. Remove intake manifold and gasket.
Installation
1. Ensure all gasket surfaces are clean and flat. Using NEW gasket, install intake manifold to cylinder head.
Tighten manifold bolts/nuts evenly to specification, starting from center bolt and alternating outward. See
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Install support bracket underneath intake manifold.
2. Install gasket and upper intake manifold (if equipped). Tighten bolts/nuts evenly to specification,
alternating from top to bottom. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
3. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Ensure throttle cable has .04-.12" (1-3 mm) free
play. Ensure injectors twist freely and are not cocked in insulator "O" rings. Refill engine with coolant.
EXHAUST MANIFOLD
Removal & Installation
1. Remove air cleaner intake duct from top of radiator/fan assembly (if equipped). Disconnect oxygen
sensor. Remove heat shields. Disconnect down pipe from exhaust manifold. Remove exhaust manifold.
2. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure all mating surfaces are clean and flat. Install NEW exhaust
manifold gasket to cylinder head. Tighten manifold bolts evenly to specification, starting from center bolt
and alternating outward. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
CYLINDER HEAD
Removal
1. Release residual pressure from fuel system. See FUEL PRESSURE RELEASE & PRIMING . Drain
engine coolant. Note locations and disconnect all necessary electrical connectors, ground wires, vacuum
hoses, fuel hoses, coolant hoses and control cables for cylinder head removal. Plug all fuel hoses to avoid
leakage.
2. Remove spark plug wires from spark plugs. Remove all drive belts. Remove water pump pulley. Remove
timing belt. See TIMING BELT
. Remove camshaft/rocker cover.
3. Remove front exhaust pipe. Remove intake manifold support bracket. Loosen all cylinder head bolts
evenly, in 3 steps, in reverse of tightening sequence. See Fig. 7
. Remove bolts and cylinder head
assembly.
Inspection
Carefully clean carbon and gasket material from all mating surfaces. Clean threads of cylinder head bolts. Use a
tap to clean threads in engine block. Check cylinder head for warpage. Resurface or replace head if it is not
within specification. Check valve train components. Replace or resurface components if they are not within

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:55:15 PMPage 10 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

wheel puller. Pry out seal.
Installation
1. Apply light oil coat to seal lip. Using a hammer and seal installer, tap seal into oil pump body until it is
flush with edge of pump body. DO NOT bottom seal in pump body. Align keyway slots, and install
crankshaft sprocket and Woodruff key with tapered side toward oil pump body. Install crankshaft
sprocket bolt.
2. Using Crankshaft Lock Tool (49-D011-102), lock crankshaft sprocket into position. Tighten lock bolt to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
3. Install timing belt. See TIMING BELT
under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Install timing belt
covers, pulleys and drive belts. Reconnect negative battery cable and ensure timing is correct.
TIMING BELT
Removal (Miata)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Drain cooling system. Remove radiator hose and by-pass hoses from
thermostat housing. Remove air cleaner intake duct assembly from between throttle body and air cleaner
filter housing.
2. Remove drive belts and water pump pulley. Align crankshaft pulley timing mark with cylinder No. 1 at
TDC of compression stroke. Hold crankshaft pulley stationary. Remove crankshaft pulley bolts and
pulley. Remove crankshaft pulley hub bolt and hub.
3. Remove cylinder head cover. Remove upper, center and lower timing belt cover. If timing belt is to be
reused, mark timing belt rotation direction. Ensure timing marks on camshaft sprockets are aligned. See
Fig. 8
. Loosen timing belt tensioner lock bolt, and move tensioner away from belt with spring fully
expanded. Remove timing belt.
Removal (Protege)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support vehicle. Remove right front wheel. Remove right
side cover and undercover.
2. Remove drive belts and water pump pulley. Align crankshaft pulley timing mark with cylinder No. 1 at
TDC of compression stroke. Hold crankshaft stationary. Remove crankshaft pulley bolts and pulley.
Remove crankshaft pulley hub bolt and hub.
3. Remove cylinder head cover. Remove upper, center and lower timing belt cover. If timing belt is to be
reused, mark timing belt rotation direction. Ensure timing marks on camshaft sprockets are aligned. See
Fig. 8
. Loosen timing belt tensioner lock bolt, and move tensioner away from belt with spring fully
expanded. Remove timin
g belt. NOTE: For 1997-98 vehicles, the manufacturer recommends the belt be replaced at
60,000 mile intervals for vehicles sold outside of California and Massachusetts.
For vehicles sold in California and Massachusetts, inspect timing belt at 60,000
and 90,000 miles, and replace timing belt at 105,000 miles.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:55:15 PMPage 12 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

1. Drain engine coolant. Disconnect battery cable. Position No. 1 cylinder at TDC of compression stroke.
On Protege, remove right side cover and undercover.
2. On Miata, remove air cleaner intake duct from between throttle body and air cleaner/filter assembly. On
all models, remove upper radiator hose and by-pass hoses from thermostat housing.
3. Remove drive belts and water pump pulley. Remove power steering pump with hoses attached and secure
pump away from engine (if necessary). Remove timing belt, tensioner and idler. See TIMING BELT.
4. Unbolt water inlet pipe from water pump. Water pump inlet pipe has lower radiator hose and by-pass pipe
attached to it. Remove bolts from water pump. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolt to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
OIL PAN
Removal & Installation (Miata)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Drain engine oil. Remove dipstick, tube and "O" ring. Raise vehicle on
hoist. Remove engine undercover. Disconnect steering column shaft at steering rack coupling. See Fig.
14 . Remove engine mount nuts. Lift and support engine using jack.
2. Support crossmember using transmission jack and remove crossmember bolts. Slowly and carefully lower
crossmember until clearance between oil pan and steering rack is about 4 inches. Remove oil pan bolts
from engine block and transmission.
3. DO NOT damage sealant contact surfaces. Remove oil pan by prying between oil pan and transmission
support. Remove oil pan baffle by prying it from engine. See Fig. 14
. DO NOT deform oil pan baffle.
Replace oil pan baffle if deformed. Clean sealant from oil pan, bolts, engine block and both sides of oil
pan baffle.
4. To install, apply oil resistant sealant to engine block and oil pan. Install oil pan baffle and oil pan within 5
minutes of applying sealant. To complete installation, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Fill engine with oil to specification. See ENGINE
LUBRICATION SYSTEM under ENGINE OILING. NOTE: For further information on cooling systems, see SPECIFICATIONS & ELECTRIC
COOLING FANS article in ENGINE COOLING.
NOTE: On Miata, engine must be supported in order to remove oil pan.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:55:15 PMPage 21 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Removal & Installation (Protege)
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove engine undercovers. Drain engine oil. Remove exhaust header
downpipe and brackets from front exhaust system. Remove oil pan retaining bolts.
2. DO NOT damage sealant contact surfaces. Remove oil pan by prying between oil pan and mounting
surface. On Protege, remove stiffener by prying between stiffener and cylinder block. On all models,
clean all sealant from oil pan, bolts, engine block and both sides of stiffener (Protege).
3. On Protege, apply oil resistant sealant to engine block and stiffener. Install stiffener. On all models, apply
sealant and install oil pan within 5 minutes of applying sealant. To complete installation, reverse removal
procedure. Tighten all bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Fill engine with oil to
specification. See ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM
under ENGINE OILING.
OVERHAUL
CYLINDER HEAD
Cylinder Head
Clean carbon and gasket material from all mating surfaces. Using a tap, clean cylinder head threads. Check
cylinder head warpage. If warpage exceeds specification, resurface head, but DO NOT exceed grinding limit.
See CYLINDER HEAD
under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS. After resurfacing cylinder head, check cylinder
head height. Replace cylinder head if height is less than minimum specification.
Valve Springs
Ensure valve spring free length, out-of-square and compressed length are within specification. See VALVES &
VALVE SPRINGS under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS. Replace valve spring if necessary.
Valve Stem Oil Seals
1. On Miata, use Installer Set (49-L012-0A0) to install valve seals. See Fig. 15 . Adjust installer dimension
"L" to seal depth of .720-.744" (18.3-18.9 mm). Using hand pressure ONLY, install seal until it contacts
cylinder head. Lightly oil valve seal lip.
2. On Protege, use Installer Set (49-L012-0A0) to install valve seals. See Fig. 15
. Adjust installer
dimension "L" to seal depth of .783" (19.9 mm). Using hand pressure, install seal until it contacts cylinder CAUTION: If reusing old oil pan bolts, remove old sealant from bolt threads.
Failure to remove old sealant may result in cracked block at bolt
holes.
NOTE: Intake and exhaust valve stem seals are different. Exhaust seals can be
identified by ridges molded into top of seal. Intake seals do not have identifying
ridges. Incorrect installation of valve stem seals will cause premature failure.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder
Microsoft
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OIL PUMP
Removal & Disassembly
1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove dipstick, tube and "O" ring. Drain engine oil and coolant.
Remove drive belts, crankshaft and water pump pulleys. Remove generator, A/C compressor and
mounting bracket. Without disconnecting A/C hoses, secure A/C compressor away from engine. Remove
timing belt and related components. See TIMING BELT
under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
2. Hold crankshaft sprocket in place and remove crankshaft sprocket bolt. Remove crankshaft sprocket
using steering wheel puller. Leave crankshaft Woodruff key in place.
3. Remove oil pan and oil pump pick-up tube. See OIL PAN
under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION.
Remove oil pump housing assembly. Using a screwdriver protected with a rag, drive oil seal out from
inside of oil pump housing assembly.
4. Remove pump cover screws (use a manual impact screwdriver, if necessary). See Fig. 22
. Remove pump
cover. Note location of alignment marks on inner and outer rotors. Remove inner and outer rotors. To
remove pressure relief valve, remove spring seat, pressure spring and control plunger.
Inspection
Replace pressure relief valve spring if length is not as specified. See OIL PUMP SPECIFICATIONS. Ensure
plunger slides freely in bore. Replace oil pump housing assembly if clearances are not as specified. See OIL
PUMP SPECIFICATIONS .
Reassembly & Installation
1. Apply oil to friction surfaces. Install inner and outer rotors with marks aligned. See Fig. 23 . Install
pressure relief valve components. Apply oil to lip of NEW oil seal. Press oil seal into bore until even with
face of oil pump housing assembly.
2. Install pump cover. Tighten screws to 53-78 INCH lbs. (6-9 N.m). To complete installation, reverse
removal procedure. Tighten bolts to specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
.
OIL PUMP SPECIFICATIONS
ApplicationW/O Filter Qts. (L)W/Filter Qts. (L)
Miata & Protege3.8 (3.6)4.0 (3.8)
ApplicationMaximum Clearance In. (mm)
Maximum Rotor Tip Clearance (1) .0079 (.20)
Maximum Rotor-To-Pump Body Clearance (2) .0079 (.20)
Maximum Rotor Side Clearance (3) .0055 (.14)
Pressure Relief Spring Free Length1.809 (45.94)
(1)See Fig. 23 .
(2)Insert feeler gauge between outer rotor and pump body.
Place straightedge across pump body and check clearance between straightedge and both rotors.

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder
Microsoft
Sunday, July 05, 2009 1:55:15 PMPage 33 © 2005 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.