engine work questions

[blkexp98]

My fiance has a 2002 protege and ive been trying to find some ways to improve the car. She bought it used a few years ago and doesnt know the maint. history. So with that said i was going to try to change some of the easy stuff if i could.

All i have changed so far are the sparkplugs, battery/terminals and the air filter. The plugs looked terrible. The gap was close to .095 on a couple of them but the others werent worn near as much. I would hope they would have changed them all at the same time but who knows. They were also pretty frosty. She had the belts changed last year or the year before that. The one in front (larger one) looks good but the smaller one running with the alternator has some cracks on the ribs. One of them is also squeeling some when she starts the car.

The car has about 120k on it if i remember right and is a 2.0L. I want to change the brakes as they are making noise now too but havent ever attempted that before. The timing belt and water pump from what ive read may need to be replaced as well. I havent ever changed either of those on anything either. I did give the walkthrough on the timing belt a read though and it doesnt look too bad at first glance.

How much trouble can i get into trying to change the timing belt myself? How about the water pump or the brakes for that matter. If i knew the process was pretty straight forward i wouldnt mind giving it a try but dontt want to cause issues either. Especially when its my fiances car. If it were mine i may be more inclined to jump in.

From what ive read to replace the 2 belts (not timing) is a matter of loosening three screws correct? How do i know the right belt tension when im reinstalling it?

So with all that said can all give me some direction or some pointers on what to do?

Thanks,
Major

 

[ritalinpb]

Ill try to help you out somewhat.

Water Pump/Timing belt should be done at the same time at around 100k miles. I did my cousins water pump/timing belt on her neon at 110k even tho it didtnt go bad cause she lives in NY and I live in MI and she was visiting and it saved her the labor charge.

However on my Protege i waited till it went bae which was 4 months after i did the neon. Luckiy I was less than a mile from home when it happened and I made it home and started rippin it apart right away. It is kinda costly even if you do it yourself. Im somewhat mechanically inclined and it took prolly more hours than i expected. Couple of pointers: If you are goign to keep the car till it dies replace the tensioner pulley at the same time. Might at well and its not that much more. If you can find a kit of somekind get that. I bought all the parts seperate and it was prolly about $250 without the tensioner pully (I should have replaced it but didnt) you are going to need a little spring that holds i think the tensioner pully (cant really remmeber exactly what its called) you have to get it at the dealer. It will be worn out. It was like $1.50. Also you will prolly have to change the valve cover gasket. Mine came with the bolts and grommets and was $35 I think.

The way i see it when it comes to doing the work yourself is the worst thing that happens if u mess it up is you have to take it someplace with a tow truck. It was worth to to me I saved $300 in labor doing it myslef. if you do mess it up all its gonna cost u extra is the tow bill to get it to the local shop. Some have thier own tow truck and might come get it for free. Check around. As to the breaks Ive done them and they are very easy adn i say do them yourself. Try to find a How to on here or google it. Any how to brake job post with work doesnt have to be mazda specific. Hope this helps!