My local repair shop is great. They've always done a good job on my several cars over the past ten years. Now I have to replace the timing belt (and the water pump) on my '97 Miata. Is there anything about the job on a Miata that would make it a better idea to have it done by a specialist? My guys are great with Hondas and such but I don't think they deal with very many Miatas.
Thanks for any input.
Dave
With your shop being competent, they shouldn't have any problems. It's something that a lot of "semi-mechanics" take on successfully, and the setup is fairly similar to the timing belt/water pump arrangements on many other engines. Since they are a good shop, they shouldn't have any problems with the tensioners, seals, etc. I am always more afraid of a dishonest job than a poorly done job on cars. Since you have 10 good years with this repair shop, I'd say go with them.
Pat
Nah, it's straightword, easy in fact. The miata.net Garage has an illustrated article for novices:
Two areas of concern are getting the new camshaft seals in place properly, and the crankshaft bolt torqued properly. The rest is fairly simple if involved, due to the number of things in the way.
I forgot to mention one other little detail. A dowel rod or something similar is sometimes useful. You can pull the #1 plug, and check the position of the piston against the crankshaft timing marks. This establishes beyond doubt which marks to use, and can be helpful when it looks like there might be a off one tooth situation with the timing belt. It's also useful to remember that you can slit the old timing belt lengthwise, cut 1/2 off, and use the other half to maintain cam position while you start the new belt on.
Chuck mentions what I think could be the easiest way to make sure to get the belt right however, I'm thinking that if you're doing the cam / crank seals, it renders this idea useless as the belt / belts are always in the way of putting the seals in place right? Are the seal replacements really necessary if you're in the 60k range? I know if skipped, they would be STRONGLY recommended in the second go-round at 120k or so. As would be the waterpump and some people would say .......... the starter motor (just kidding ;-).
Chris
99BBB
I don't see why this should be necessary. At least on my '99 the crank marks are large and distinct. You would really have to try to miss it.
The *camshaft* marks OTOH are difficult to line up, but a dowel won't help with that. The trick is to make sure that the letters on the cam gears and the engine match. If the tension is set correctly there are two lines on the gears that should be pointing STRAIGHT up, with 19 teeth inclusive between them.
The dowel is useful when: You have poor lighting. You don't know exactly where the #1 pistion is because you cannot see. Or the crankshaft pully, balancer, etc is not on the crank, and you are moving the crank by moving the car. Or, you are trying to find TDC, and insure that a short nose crank pully is actually correctly positioned. You are an old codger, and wear reading glasses. You only really appreciate one when you don't have it, and wish you did.
I use the "chicken" method and it always has worked for me. This involves getting everything lined up and making my own marks with a sharpie at the top of the cam wheels and someplace convenient on the crank pulley. Carefully transfer the marks from the belt you remove to the new belt and simply line them up with the marks on the engine. I also use the sharpie to write the date and mileage of the belt change on the belt surface.
Ken
OK, I'll grant you that a dowel would come in handy if you are replacing your timing belt in the dark. ;>)
This man is brilliant!
"webmaster" wrote in news:MRF_f.41822$ snipped-for-privacy@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com:
Hardly, if he were brilliant he'd find a way to make the above mentioned chicken do the work.
Best method:
In the morning the Timing Belt Brownies will have eaten the cookies, drank the milk and R&Rd the parts.... or maybe not.
Now THAT is what brilliance is all about!
Ken
I tried that already. The little bastards poured out the milk, took the beer from the fridge and did a really bad timing belt job, missing by two teeth and tearing up a cam seal so that it leaks like a sieve. I am also missing some tools.
To top it off, they left cookie crumbs all over the interior. I'm not sure what they were doing in there, but it was probably not good.
They get one more chance, then it is open season on Miata Brownies....... :-)
Pat
I saw your posting and I have a 97 as well with a water pump that has started to drip. Can I change just the water pump or do I need to change the timing belt at the same time?? Reason I ask is because I am selling the car and don't want to invest allot into it.
Dean
snipped-for-privacy@enser.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
Sure, you can just change the water pump but.... all the labor to change the timing belt will have to be done to change the water pump so why not change the timing belt, crank seal, cam seals and drive belts while you're doing the job? The receipts will make a very good sales point to whoever is buying the car, he/she/it will know the work is done for thousands of miles and that's got to be worth a little extra to the buyer....
"In the morning the Timing Belt Brownies will have eaten the cookies, drank the milk and R&Rd the parts.... or maybe not."
In this area, the local wild life is likely to decide to nibble on the timing belt, or anything else that is not covered up or inside the car. Rubber and plastic insulated wires are a well liked treat to the various creatures.
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