1990 belts and/or starter trouble...
 

Hello, Julekpl again.

I have been having trouble with my miata recently. it is a 1990, automatic (and no that is not what's causing trouble) and it seems I need some mechanical support. Recently my belts have been squealing whenever I went around 40 mph, or when I made sharp turns, and the squealing wouldn't stop. I got them replaced, and had the wheel that turns them sprayed with WD-40, and after a while the squealing began. This is however the beginning of my problems. I have recently had trouble starting my car as well. When I turned my keys, the engine would make a cough sound, slowly crank, and then start. I had 3 different starters replaced, and none of them seem to have worked. Today my car would not start at all, so thinking it had something to do with the battery, my friends and I tried a cable start, and nothing. When I turned the keys this time around, there was no ticking sound of the starter catching on. Any thoughts? Thanks!

First thing I would do is have the alternator and battery checked out. It is possible that the alternator died and is shorting the battery to ground.

I am not sure that it is the alternator, because we recently purchased a used but in good condition one from the Mazda Miata parts store. And we tried to cable start it, and nothing. I got it towed today, so I will see what my mechanic has to say. We have been buying miata starters for a while, and every time we install a different one, they make my car do the coughing thing again, as in it slowly starts to rotate, but this is the 3rd starter we've gone through, but they are lifetime warranted, so we get them for free.

check your grounds

ok I have found the problem...The previous owner had a makeshift car alarm installed on the starter, using TV cables, and it just blew up...thank goodness it was nothing else :D

So far I have replaced the Battery and starter still the same. I have an intermittent problem. Sometimes it starts normally, sometimes with a lot of moaning and slow cranking it finally starts, sometimes only repeated clicks of some relay and no cranking at all. All suggestions will be appreciated, I will report any results. PS: It is a stick shift, possibly the clutch switch is going bad.

Check all battery connections and make sure the factory ground straps from the engine to the body are all still there, clean, and tight.

I appreciate the suggestion. Yes, I'll check those connections first chance I have. I'm out of town without the car so that has to wait.

I know almost nothing about MIATAS BUT THE LAST THING YOU EVER WANT TO DO TO A BELT IS TO PUT A LUBRICANT SUCH AS WD 40 ON IT.

Get a bar of soap and rub it on belt (run the motor then reapply a few times), it lasts longer than WD40 and still doesn't attract dust :)

There is always "belt dressing".

OMG!!!!
Please for the love of Pete, STOP putting things on the new belts! If you just replaced the belts and they are starting to squeal again then they have stretched. This is absolutely normal with a Miata.
Start by going to the auto parts store and picking up a copy of the Haynes Manual for your car. Then throw it in the bathroom for when you have some time to kill. READ IT and you will at least have an understanding of how your car works. You don't need to turn wrenches to understand when you are being taken advantage of.
It sounds to me that the belt is slipping and the battery cant stay charged. If the alternator (the thing that spins to make electricity for your car) cant keep up then you will have hard starting issues that you described. Checking the battery, the cables and the grounds are all good advice but you need to join the local Miata club and start hanging around folks that know these cars. Buying a pizza and a few adult beverages will save you a ton of shop labor......
Best of luck!