How To Install A New Fuel Pump In Your Mazda MX-5 NA 1.6

If you’re planning on running any form of additional power in your early 1.6 MX-5 it’s going to be necessary to upgrade the ailing original fuel pump.

There are a couple of options off the shelf depending on your power goals and supporting modifications. However, all of the performance options require a modification to the fuel feed line in order to fit the upgraded pump.

First, remove the fuel pump assembly from the tank to get access to the fuel pump.

Once the assembly has been removed from the tank you’ll see the stock pump’s outlet is captured in a metal cup, which is the high-pressure feed to the engine. In order to make this fit, you’ll need to cut off the cup and connect the new fuel pump with the supplied hose and clamps.

With the cup removed, it is necessary to cut away part of the bracket to provide clearance for the fuel hose and clamps.

Install the pump, ensuring the clamps are tight at both the pump and the fuel hat pipe. To secure the pump in place, simply push it down the fuel feed hard line until the pump is pressed into the rubber isolator.

Note, the standard NA MK1 connector will work with all the pumps we supply. The later cars NB MK2s use a different connector and need to be cut and crimped on. Both the old and new pumps indicate the polarity of the connector so it can be wired in correctly.

The provided sock is a generic option that can work, but the Mazda sock ensures the correct position in the bottom of the tank. This will need to be purchased separately. Note the use of the rubber isolator between the pickup and the pump itself. View all of the related MX-5 parts below.

Depending on your power goals it’s worth considering a couple of different fuel pump options;

Up to 200BHP

Up to 300BHP

We highly recommend hard-wiring the fuel pump at this stage.

300+BHP

We highly recommend moving to an adjustible fuel pressure regulator that can flow the amount of fuel required.