Mazda MX-5 Miata (1997+). Manual - part 54

Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP. 

Removal & Installation (Protege) 

1. Release residual pressure from fuel system. See FUEL PRESSURE RELEASE & PRIMING . 

Disconnect negative battery cable. Reference mark and remove hood. Raise vehicle. Remove engine 
undercover and side covers. See Fig. 5 . Drain engine, transaxle and cooling system fluids. Remove front 
wheels. 

 

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder

  

Fig. 5: Removing Engine Components (Protege)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP. 

2. Lower vehicle. Remove air cleaner assembly. Remove battery/carrier assembly. Remove throttle cable 

and air intake duct across radiator (if equipped).  

3. Remove all drive belts. DO NOT disconnect power steering hoses or A/C compressor hoses. Unbolt 

power steering pump and A/C compressor from engine, and wire aside.  

4. Note locations and disconnect all necessary electrical connectors, ground wires, vacuum hoses, fuel 

hoses, coolant hoses and control cables for engine removal.  

5. Plug all fuel hoses to avoid leakage. Attach engine support bar or engine hoist to secure engine. Raise 

vehicle. Disconnect exhaust manifold down pipe and exhaust brackets from engine. On A/T models, 
remove shift control cable.  

6. On M/T models, remove shift control linkage and extension bar. Remove clutch release cylinder and fluid 

line bracket from transaxle housing, leaving fluid line connected to cylinder. Secure cylinder away from 
transaxle.  

7. On all models, remove transmission wiring harness connectors and speedometer cable. Remove axle shaft 

nuts from hubs. Disconnect stabilizer bar from lower control arms. Separate lower ball joints and steering 
tie-rod ends from steering knuckles.  

8. Pry axle shafts out of transaxle. Remove and discard circlip from axle shafts. For further information on 

axle shafts, see appropriate article in DRIVE AXLES.  

9. Remove transaxle mount nuts from crossmember and loosen crossmember bolts. See Fig. 6 . Lower 

vehicle and attach engine hoist for engine removal. Remove engine front mount and transaxle top mount 
from inner fender panels. Remove transaxle crossmember. Remove engine and transaxle assembly from 
top of vehicle.  

10. To install, reverse removal procedure. Tighten bolts and nuts to specifications. See TORQUE 

SPECIFICATIONS . Fill all fluids to correct level. Prime fuel system before attempting to start engine. 
See FUEL PRESSURE RELEASE & PRIMING . Bleed cooling system. See COOLING SYSTEM 
BLEEDING.  

 

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder

  

Fig. 6: Removing Engine Mounts (Protege) 
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP. 

INTAKE MANIFOLD 

Removal 

1. Release residual pressure from fuel system. See FUEL PRESSURE RELEASE & PRIMING . 

Disconnect negative battery cable. Drain cooling system. Remove air cleaner assembly and ducting. See 
Fig. 3 or Fig. 5 . Mark and disconnect coolant hoses, vacuum hoses and electrical connectors from intake 
manifolds.  

 

1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata 

1997-98 ENGINES 1.8L 4-Cylinder

  

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