u/roboprober

I decided that my first maintenance/repair step for the new-to-me 1997 miata is an upper and lower shifter boot replacement. I’ve watched all the videos including flyinmiata and felt super comfortable with the maintenance. Bought all the tools and parts. Of course it wasn’t as straightforward as I thought.

Pulled the shifter out after dissembling the center console and the upper and lower boots. Turns out, the shifter was loose not because the bushing was worn, but because it didn’t exist. Great, that explains why it was insanely loose (see video in comments). But now, I notice there is a plastic piece that sits in the ridge on the shifter column that the lower portion is broken (see picture). Is this salvageable? Or should I get a whole replacement? Also, there are small pieces of the plastic down in the space where the shifter bushing normally sits. I carefully picked out all the small pieces. But I’m worried about that as well.

EDIT: apologies. I uploaded an additional photo in one of my comments to make it more clear which part that I’m referring to that’s broke. Thanks trying to help!

Finally got my Miata out of my friend’s garage and home into mine after moving back home. I was cleaning the interior of the car and noticed these switches in the center console. My Aunt who owned the car for 17 years before me, said she was never able to figure out what the switches do. She said they were in place when she purchased it from the original owner down in Florida. She supposedly went through all the maintenance records and didn’t ever find anything about switches being installed.

Model is a 1997 m-edition US.

EDIT: okay I hear all you!! I’m expecting you all to be mind readers. I will trace the wiring and get back to you all at some point.

We just purchased our first home in Buffalo, NY and when we viewed the house in person (the only time) it was winter and we couldn’t ID the tree in our front yard. I’m really curious what it is and I’m having a hard time figuring it out!