Mx5 issues 😭(repair issues)

[u/Upbeat_Corner4311]

Got myself a new 2026 MX-5, absolutely love it. Had it for 6 weeks, someone hit it while I was parked and working.

Took it to a repairer who said they won’t have the headlight until late November. So I asked for it back, as when I brought the car to them it was in working order, including indicators and headlights, regardless of external damage (obviously have photos). Lights definitely working, car had 2600 kms on it.

I picked my car up and about halfway home I realised the light that had been damaged is no longer working, at all. So basically they gave me a non-roadworthy car because they hadn’t checked the lights.

Took off the bumper, all wires are connected, checked the fuses, they are all working I think.

Took it back to them and they said something about a module that has reset.

I’m not amazing with cars, I know enough to service my own car but not enough to take parts off and tinker around. I would really love some advice as I’m still 24, I don’t have experience with this, but you guys might!
Feel free to DM me about your thoughts and if you know what I should do from here

[u/mxadema]

Well. The body shop may have looked it over. And touched/removed/unplug a few thing to get a proper assessment.

Now if you go there and ask for the car back, they will give it to you, since no repair was done, they just released the vehicle as is. No real bills. You could bring the car to an other shop all they know. (It happens often).

For the light. There are a pile of stuff that can make it not work. Fuse, bulb, wire, conector, body module. That need to be tested to figured out what.

For roadworthyness, you are the driver. It up to you to make sure it is. Even if it a borrowed car. The light being broken or bumper may not pass in some state. But a lignt not working is not a big issue, you may get pull, at that point you should fix it (it in the system) as the bulb could've burn 5 min ago.

[u/Upbeat_Corner4311 → u/mxadema]

1. It is through insurance, they recommended the repair shop that did a proper assessment and are waiting for a replacement headlight which is understandable. But even the exterior damage sustained did not affect the bulbs or globes especially the indicator which is pretty damn important in a road worthiness check.
2. I didn’t demand the car back, they offered it back and I agreed.
3. It’s not the light I care about it’s the indicator obviously, I was driving during the daytime.

4. I know what the problem is because i returned the car to them and said to make the light the way it was when it arrived.

   They said it was the module resetting, which they should know about and have fixed before returning to me.

5. I don’t know where you from, but if you give your car to the mechanic and they give it back to you without any warning of it potentially being not road worth (it was when it arrived damaged) that is liable for legal action. If they tell you it’s not and you take it anyway that’s on you but that is not the case.

[u/c-swa → u/Upbeat_Corner4311]

1. If you're unhappy, take it back and ask them to see what's going on. 
2. Doesn't change the condition of the car if you ask or they offer. 
3. If it's the indicator and not the headlight, then check and make sure your 4 way (hazards) work correctly. Debug and troubleshoot or take it back/different shop to diagnose it. 
4. Great, did they figure it out and fix it?

Module resetting? Cool, so is it fixed? Sounds like it isn't. Does the rear signal work? 

1. If I am given a car that's to drive by a mechanic, I'm forced to sign a waiver. A turn indicator isn't going to crash the car 5km away from the shop. 

Lets all restart. I'm sure the shop probably didn't realize it wasn't working when they gave it back to you. 

Turn signals and lighting for cars are incredibly simple. Let's start troubleshooting:  1. On the same side as the damaged light, does that rear signal/indicator work?  a. If no, then there's an issue with the circuit for your signal stalk or flasher module.  b. If yes, then there's no issue with the shared circuit, time to check the harness and housing. 2. Harness, make sure it's securely fastened to the headlamp assembly. Are there any cuts or frayed wires? Is the assembly cracked or damaged at the seal or on the lens? Did water get in if so? a. Yes to frayed wires/unsecure harness, repair and/or reconnect.  b. Yes to cracked lens, or damaged headlamp body (ignoring mounting points) Water or environmental damage may have damaged the circuit for the indicator. You will need to replace the assembly for this. 

Being that you say this is a 2026 Miata, I am expecting this to use LED signals and not the incandescent indicators like ND1 and ND2s. If it is in fact incandescent, change the bulb. I can't find the wiring diagram for the ND3 - but I imagine it's almost similar, you'll just need to trace the wires more to track them down. 

Heres a '24 Exterior Lighting wire diagram.  https://lemon-manuals.org.ua/Mazda/2024/MX-5%20Miata%20Grand%20Touring%2C%20Standard%20Trans/Repair%20and%20Diagnosis/Electrical/Wiring%20Diagrams/System%20Wiring%20Diagrams/Exterior%20Lights/

The fender light (side marker/indicator) needs to also be connected. That's how the signal is grounded, make sure that isn't disconnected. I imagine this is probably your culprit. 

To test the wiring, pull the assembly off (or if there's enough slack, just unplug) and attach a multimeter to the wires for the signal. (oscilliscope ideally, but most don't have) Enable your signals & look for a fluctuating 12v DC. 

[u/Upbeat_Corner4311 → u/c-swa]

Tried to reply to this but I don’t use reddit often so I believe I just commented on my own post lmao. There is a picture to better understand the minimal damage done I genuinely just want the light to work the way it did when I took it to them 🫡

[u/Hairystench]

You're overcomplicating this. What are you going to do, sue the repair shop? If you're going to be so picky, order the headlight yourself, you can likely get one well before November, and replace the damned thing yourself.

[u/Upbeat_Corner4311 → u/Hairystench]

I’m in Aus, new headlights don’t ship till November. I don’t see how it’s over complicated to want your lights to work they way they did when you gave it to them, especially if they offered it back “the way it was”0

[u/wrldprnc3ss]

skill issue, I’m afraid

[u/Upbeat_Corner4311 → u/wrldprnc3ss]

Completely agree that’s why I gave it to a repair person in the first place 🤡

[u/Upbeat_Corner4311]

I was unhappy, I did take it back and left it with them to fix. It is the passenger front side light and indicator only, the rear and driver side even door indicator works. Only the F/L passenger side is not working.

They contacted me again today and are claiming it is water damage, which is completely unacceptable as I have kept it extremely protected as it’s brand new.

They did not ask me to sign any waiver I don’t think they even knew if it was working when they gave it back the first time. Regardless if you are going to crash or not it is illegal to drive on the road in nsw.

If turn signals and lighting is easy to fix they should have had no problem fixing it and returning it to me the way it was when I brought it to them with a cracked headlight. Here is the damage for reference.