Bomber

Help! I live in Okinawa and own a 99 Miata Roadster. I have had the car 2 years and I found after buying the car that occassionally there is an engine knock, the tuckaThuCKtucka one, when I start the car. If I put the car in Neutral the knock isn't so bad. When I back up or drive it with the engine knocking it feels like fuel isn't getting all the way through. The car doesn't pick up speed easily. A mechanic said is was a bad ignition coil. He found a used one and replaced it. A week later the car has had the same symptoms. When the engine knocks and the entire car vibrates, after driving the car for a few miles, the car surges forward and the engine knock disappears. After that occurs the car doesn't feel sluggish any longer. I have brought the car to another mechanic and they think maybe the used igintion coil was also defective. This does not happen every time I start the car. It usually happens after I get out of work or after I leave the car sitting for a couple of hours. It rarely occurs in the morning. In Japan a new ignition coil is $650 so I don't want to spend the money if it isn't the coil. Mechanics also thought it might be water in the gas tank, but I tried putting that drying additive in the gas tank and it didn't help. Please help.

• Log in or register to post comments