Droopy Eye-ball Vent Repair (FM Live)

Are your Miata eye-ball vents sad and droopy? This week on FM Live, Mike Usrey shows us a cheap and easy way to fix those unsightly vents!
Original live video recorded 2-4-21. Join us on FB every Thursday at 2:00 PM Mountain Time for new live content or subscribe to our KZbin channel to see all our videos!
Flyin' Miata is the world leader in Miata performance. We offer a wide range of parts for all years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
www.flyinmiata.com​
970-464-5600

[@BboyMopTop]

Felt stocks went up after this video

[@benbunch4159]

If you poke a thin thing like a screwdriver or a feeler gauge in you can push the clips in to disengage. I've always found this to be the least violent way to remove these they just pop out. Thank you guys for not perpetuating the shoelace nonsense though.

[@gsd78]

Old credit card or gift card forced in around the perimeter works great too.

[@cssharpe84]

Yeah, or a cut up Coke bottle works great.

[@StingrayOfficial]

Thanks for the video! Undoing those clips might have been one the scariest things I have done a car.

[@blue04mx53]

I like cheap and easy !!! I'm officially settled in to watch the whole thing now !

[@Epiphonech]

Very appreciating for bringing up that fix! Shaky rear view mirror next? Cleaning&greasing power window guides video for future window racing with friends? Got all of the issues on my NBFL svt when bought it

[@nickjames5100]

Shin Etsu grease 👌

[@diegocuenca5377]

He’s like the Bob Ross of Miata’s

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Happy accidents!

[@IdealGrain]

Just did this recently on my 95, used moleskin from a fist aid kit because I had it on hand. Worked a treat. Glad to know the screwdriver trick! The wire trick always makes me nervous.

[@EnfieldJoe]

Great tech....thanks for sharing!

[@JonahAberle]

Mike must watch AvE

[@Banjo_Magic]

The Mitsubishi vents mentioned as an alternative to repairing the felt on droopy eyeballs are from the 2000-2005 model and are part number sp08547. To get them to fit you remove the flap from inside the back of its housing and trim it to the same length as an eyeball vent. I used tape to make an easy guide for where to cut when I replaced mine.

[@Epiphonech]

Are the vents able to rotate, like clock- and anticlockwise? Not in the miata dash opening, but in the vent cylinder itself.

[@Banjo_Magic]

@@Epiphonech If you trim it right the vent cylinder clips into the same plastic tabs that the stock eyeball vents do and the whole assembly rotates.

[@jasona8964]

I've got a 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage and my side vents look exactly like the ones shown in the video. I guess I need to borrow them from the Mirage and see if they fit in the NA!

[@MrSprintcat]

Awesome thank you.

[@johnwheel]

Very useful!!!! I fixed, thanks!!!

[@mjenx86]

5:24 “just the tip, ya know” 😂 😂

[@300zxdriver]

I used velcro.

[@richardflaherty2373]

Hey brother, I am 74 years old, and believe me...it's droopy.

[@michaelthomas7898]

What's a freedom unit?

[@stoneluger398]

Thanks for the helpful vid. Aside question, what kind of seats do you have in this miata?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

Those are just stock factory Mazda seats.

[@stoneluger398]

@@FlyinMiataVideo, doing some quick googeling I saw mention of adjustable headrests being on the 95 m edition and in European miatas. I'd never seen them before. Do you know of other years, trims, or other models that had them? Also, would you say they're okay for multi point harness use?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

@@stoneluger398 Pretty sure that they were only offered in '95 in the US, but were much more common overseas. You Might be able to find an importer to get you some at a decent price. We would not recommend using a harness with the factory seats. The shoulder harnesses would not line up correctly, and would not have the support of a proper racing seat, meaning you risk serious injury in any sort of accident.

[@arnoldosu1]

No issues with the adhesive giving out in extreme heat? Oh now I’m seeing a comment below stating they had this exact issue.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

It's definitely a possibility depending on the quality of felt and adhesive used and the climate the Miata is used in. This seems to be a semi-permanent solution in our experience, and it's easy enough that it could be repeated later if needed.

[@yvesmaetz4839]

Great tip. Any amazon link for such felt?

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

We don't have a direct link, but any thin sticky backed felt should work. Mike suggested this link: www.ebay.com/p/1392693938

[@yvesmaetz4839]

@@FlyinMiataVideo Thanks!

[@jameschance5484]

I actually did this years ago on my MSM and the adhesive on the felt is garbage. With heat, it melts and the felt slides right off and works it's way out. I've still found no reliable solution...

[@James-dt7ky]

[@300zxdriver]

@@James-dt7ky I used fussy side only of Velcro.

[@James-dt7ky]

@@300zxdriver

[@mjenx86]

Now, I’m not saying that Mike is Wayne from Hulu’s Letterkenny, but has anyone ever seen the two of them in the same room? I didn’t think so.

[@FlyinMiataVideo]

We have our suspicions.

[@marionxmontgomery9477]

Geezuz. I hope this mechanic doesn't charge by the hour. And it's nice to know that dirt on his shirt then transfers to his customer's car.

[@tgirvin1969]

This is just screaming broken plastic all over the place...