2008 MX-5, 6 speed auto, soft top.

I was driving into work this morning, when all of a sudden the anti-skid light and the check engine lights came on. A few moments later, the oil pressure gauge dropped to zero.

Then, a few seconds later, the temperature gauge dropped to zero... then it came back up to registering less than the real temperature. Then, the oil pressure gauge came back up to normal level for 20 or 30 seconds, then dropped back to zero.

This was only a few blocks from my parking garage and when I pulled in, I opened the hood. There was liquid, not a lot, but almost certainly coolant on the top of the battery cover and the air cleaner box. The engine was not hot at all (it was a cool morning).

One other thing: As I was pulling into the parking garage and my spot, I noticed very hard shifts between first and second... barely accelerating.

All kinds of bad stuff. I'm just now leaving work to go back out and see what it does now, and to more closely check the leak.

Meanwhile, I'd much appreciate any insight on what might be happening with my favorite beast.

Thank you.

 

Update: After sitting for the day, the car started normally, no warning lights on the dash. Car also shifted normally.

Just in case there was/is a leak, I loosened the radiator cap and started to drive it to the nearest service station to add water.

I didn't get very far at all before the temperature gauge began to climb, and the car was hot when I pulled in to add water.

But oddly enough, I could only pour about 1 gallon into the reservoir before it was full, even with the engine running, and the temperature gauge showing normal.

So, leaving the radiator cap lose again, I began to drive for home. I didn't get 3 blocks before I started hearing a "bump, bump, bump" noise, a sure sign of boiling in the block.

I immediately shut the engine down. I then had the car towed back to my house and it will go to the mechanic in the morning... for confirmation and repair... but here's what I think has happened.

The thermostat is stuck closed. This caused the overheating without a tremendous loss of coolant. But, the coolant that did escape managed to wet down the electronics somewhere, affecting my gauges and shifting.

We shall find out tomorrow.