water pump

Has anyone here ever changed a water pump ? I have a 97 Miata and recently made a big mistake. The top of the radiator was cracked so I purchased a brand new one and installed it. I was thinking about changing the water pump when I had everything out and decided not to. Sure enough I started the car up and after a few minutes of running water/Anti freeze is dripping from the water pump area. Rather than take it into the Mazda dealer and get robbed I may attempt to do it myself. I was wondering how big of a job that was.

Dean

Reply to
corraod
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It's essentially the same as changing the timing belt, which you might as well do while you're at it. You'll find illustrated instructions in the miata.net Garage section:

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Reply to
Lanny Chambers

The timing belt job does not require a professional mechanic but don't be fooled it is not for an inexperienced mechanic either unless he's got good basic skills and can follow direction very carefully. Minor mistake here (one tooth off) and you can have a car that runs like shit and you've got to start over! (don't ask me how I know that).

Chris

99BBB
Reply to
Chris D'Agnolo

Actually, it's easy to get one tooth off-- unless you can block the cams from rotating. The new belt is a bit shorter than a used one. The tensioner complicates matters.

Reply to
Chuck

Dean,

It is certainly a strange co-incidence that the water pump problem was initiated because you changed the radiator. Did you change a hose that might be leaking coolant in such a manner as to suggest a water pump failure?

Of course, the pump may have been leaking all along and you didn't focus your attention on it until you had to work on the radiator.

I don't know about the '97, but in the '90 (where I have changed the timing belt and water pump a few times) the removal of the radiator, while making things a little better, isn't all that necessary to work on the water pump.

Ken

Reply to
KWS

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