1996 and obd mystery

Christopher Muto wrote:
> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
> m...
>> Christopher Muto wrote:
>>> "Christopher Muto" > wrote in message
>>> t...
>>>> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
>>>> news >>>>> miker wrote:
>>>>>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>>>>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is
>>>>>>> a connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the
>>>>>>> driver's side. They said that was a different connector and
>>>>>>> that I had to take the car to a place with a dynamometer. I bought
>>>>>>> it new and no one ever moved or removed anything as far as I
>>>>>>> know.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> FWIW, my '96 is the same as yours... nothing under the dash,
>>>>>> "diagnostics" on driver side near clutch MC.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> miker
>>>>>
>>>>> Weird. If you check the newsgroup for past discussions of this,
>>>>> everyone says OBD II came in with the 96 model year.
>>>>
>>>> yeah, it should be there. its normal location is at the bottom
>>>> edge of the dash but the drivers right knee (north american,
>>>> steering wheel on left version). i have read that they break
>>>> loose and so people push them up on top of the radio or into the
>>>> rats nest of wires under the dash by the steering column. have
>>>> you popped off the plate under the steering column and looked
>>>> around for it? it should be in there.
>>>
>>> "but the drivers right knee" should read "by the drivers right
>>> knee".
>>
>> I had my car inspected this afternoon at the same place I've been
>> going for years. Basically, its wink, wink, nod, nod and they
>> pretend that it's a 95 and put it on the dyno. They can't find an
>> OBD II connecter either. They said I should get a note from a Mazda
>> dealer testifying that it doesn't have OBD II in case I ever need to
>> take it someplace else. Not sure I get that. I'll just tell them its
>> a '95.
>
> i think you should call mazda usa customer service and see what they
> have to say about it...
> 1-800-222-5500 6am-4:45pm pt m-f.

Good idea. Thanks.

<G> "What country?" Some natives like to still think that Georgia is part
of the CSA, not the USA, but that was settled quite a few years back, well
before my time. One of my great grandmothers was a young child at the time
of that debacle, and lived across the street (in a northern state capitol )
from a tall skinny lawyer that was famous for a tall top hat and a beard.
Somewhere in one of the family lock boxes is a ticket to the man's funeral.
I have a framed key hanging on the wall that unlocked the doors to the old
state capitol building that was in use back then.

Since we are not in the Atlanta smog zone, there is no mandated EM testing
in my locale, although there are a few approved testing facilities that
survive by doing "tuneups".
My 99 is A/M turbo'd. If you were to look at the Mazda 99-00 promo and auto
show pictures, you might find a "look alike" Red LS Turbo in some of the
pictures.
Mazda had several Miata prototypes and Japan only concept Miata models that
were turbo'd and never released for production.
The 99 in my garage has stock internals, ~9.5-10 psi boost, 220HP at rear
wheels. I'd love to put in a LS-x V8, and caddy differential.
Unfortunately, the stock market is not co-operating. 300-500 HP (depending
on which LS engine is used) at moderate RPM is a new ball game.

"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote in message
...
> Chuck, where are you located? What country? Sorry, I should know but I
> guess I don't pay that much attention. I'm confused by your sentence;
>
> The 99 is turbocharged, and I hesitate to think what the testing facility
> might
> say.
>
> Maybe you're just trying to say that your 99 is turbocharged, help me out
> here.
>
> Speaking of turbo Miatas, what year / years was the turbo available in
> Australia, anybody remember? It was a predecessor to the MSM in the
> states.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
> "Chuck" > wrote in message
> news
>> If the 96 is OBDII, the underhood connector can be used (with the proper
>> mating connector) by OBDII testing equipment.
>> The OBDII digital data lines, ground, and maybe (don't remember) +12vdc
>> are present on the OBDII underhood connector.
>> An early 96 might be OBD1
>> There may be a sticker on the door post showing the SN, Trim Level, and
>> date of build.
>> I have a 99 model actually built in Dec 98, according to the sticker. The
>> 99 is turbocharged, and I hesitate to think what the testing facility
>> might say. (even with a "CARB" sticker)
>> Fortunately, (Knock on Wood) we don't have to do such things here. There
>> has been periodic talk of extending the mandatory testing areas to our
>> locale, but, so far, nothing has come of it.
>>
>> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>> Took my Miata to a gas station for Texas inspection (past due, getting
>>> nervous). The car is a '96 (actually, 96 1/2 according to the radio/cd
>>> player that's in it). All the orginal paperwork says its a '96.
>>>
>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is a
>>> connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's side.
>>> They said that was a different connector and that I had to take the car
>>> to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it new and no one ever moved or
>>> removed anything as far as I know.
>>>
>>> I will take it back to the place that's been doing my inspections for
>>> years without a problem. I think I would remember them using a
>>> dynamometer, but I could be wrong.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>
>>
>

<G> "What country?" Some natives like to still think that Georgia is part
of the CSA, not the USA, but that was settled quite a few years back, well
before my time. One of my great grandmothers was a young child at the time
of that debacle, and lived across the street (in a northern state capitol )
from a tall skinny lawyer that was famous for a tall top hat and a beard.
Somewhere in one of the family lock boxes is a ticket to the man's funeral.
I have a framed key hanging on the wall that unlocked the doors to the old
state capitol building that was in use back then.

Since we are not in the Atlanta smog zone, there is no mandated EM testing
in my locale, although there are a few approved testing facilities that
survive by doing "tuneups".
My 99 is A/M turbo'd. If you were to look at the Mazda 99-00 promo and auto
show pictures, you might find a "look alike" Red LS Turbo in some of the
pictures.
Mazda had several Miata prototypes and Japan only concept Miata models that
were turbo'd and never released for production.
The 99 in my garage has stock internals, ~9.5-10 psi boost, 220HP at rear
wheels. I'd love to put in a LS-x V8, and caddy differential.
Unfortunately, the stock market is not co-operating. 300-500 HP (depending
on which LS engine is used) at moderate RPM is a new ball game.

"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote in message
...
> Chuck, where are you located? What country? Sorry, I should know but I
> guess I don't pay that much attention. I'm confused by your sentence;
>
> The 99 is turbocharged, and I hesitate to think what the testing facility
> might
> say.
>
> Maybe you're just trying to say that your 99 is turbocharged, help me out
> here.
>
> Speaking of turbo Miatas, what year / years was the turbo available in
> Australia, anybody remember? It was a predecessor to the MSM in the
> states.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
> "Chuck" > wrote in message
> news
>> If the 96 is OBDII, the underhood connector can be used (with the proper
>> mating connector) by OBDII testing equipment.
>> The OBDII digital data lines, ground, and maybe (don't remember) +12vdc
>> are present on the OBDII underhood connector.
>> An early 96 might be OBD1
>> There may be a sticker on the door post showing the SN, Trim Level, and
>> date of build.
>> I have a 99 model actually built in Dec 98, according to the sticker. The
>> 99 is turbocharged, and I hesitate to think what the testing facility
>> might say. (even with a "CARB" sticker)
>> Fortunately, (Knock on Wood) we don't have to do such things here. There
>> has been periodic talk of extending the mandatory testing areas to our
>> locale, but, so far, nothing has come of it.
>>
>> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
>> m...
>>> Took my Miata to a gas station for Texas inspection (past due, getting
>>> nervous). The car is a '96 (actually, 96 1/2 according to the radio/cd
>>> player that's in it). All the orginal paperwork says its a '96.
>>>
>>> Three mechanics couldn't find the OBD II connector they said was
>>> supposed to be under the dash near the driver's right knee. There is a
>>> connector labeled "diagnostics" under the hood on the driver's side.
>>> They said that was a different connector and that I had to take the car
>>> to a place with a dynamometer. I bought it new and no one ever moved or
>>> removed anything as far as I know.
>>>
>>> I will take it back to the place that's been doing my inspections for
>>> years without a problem. I think I would remember them using a
>>> dynamometer, but I could be wrong.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>
>>
>

Sorry, news server burped, did not accept the first try, then when I tried
later, it took both the first try and the replacement.

Wow, I'm still confused, what's the A/M stand for ? And are you saying your
car is a 'prototype'?

Chris
99BBB

My 99 is A/M turbo'd
"Chuck" > wrote in message
...
> Sorry, news server burped, did not accept the first try, then when I tried
> later, it took both the first try and the replacement.
>

No, it was identical to a 99 red LS turbo that Mazda exhibited at several
major US auto shows. (Not planned, just happened) The turbo system on both
was a Corky Bell/ Flyin Miata system. My 99's turbo system has since been
upgraded to a slightly later version than that shown by Mazda. (also added
Katskin seats, a 5th gear change, a larger radiator, frame stiffeners,
larger diameter exhaust system, and a few other details since the original
installation.) A/M=After Market (Obviously) <G> Sorry for the confusion.

The "prototypes", as far as I know, were not sold via normal channels, and
likely were either destroyed, or sold in the Japanese specialty market via
Mazda Speed.
All the Miata "prototypes" that I've seen were based upon Japanese Spec
Miatas. It may also be that some of the Mazda Japan execs ended up with them
for a bit.
I was told that a handful were produced in very limited numbers for Japan
only sale and use.

Due to further changes, the Flyin Miata turbo system sold today is quite a
bit different than the system installed on my 99. The most noticeable
changes are rubber hoses instead of the old rather frumpy looking Corky
Bell piping, and re-routing of the rubber hoses. Look at the Flyin Miata
web site for pictures of the new system.


"Chris D'Agnolo" > wrote in message
...
> Wow, I'm still confused, what's the A/M stand for ? And are you saying
> your car is a 'prototype'?
>
> Chris
> 99BBB
>
> My 99 is A/M turbo'd
> "Chuck" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Sorry, news server burped, did not accept the first try, then when I
>> tried later, it took both the first try and the replacement.
>>
>