timing belt

[sakura]

I just got my p5 about a month ago, and the dude never got the timing belt replaced (it was at around 65000 miles)... I am now at 68500 miles, and what I'm wondering is: How long can I put off replacing the belt? How much is it going to cost (I believe the belt itself is like 12 bucks), including labor? Is this something I can do myself? If so, how long will it take? What happens if it breaks while my car is running... will my engine be ruined?

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[LilPixieMama75]

I just got my p5 about a month ago, and the dude never got the timing belt replaced (it was at around 65000 miles)... I am now at 68500 miles, and what I'm wondering is: How long can I put off replacing the belt? How much is it going to cost (I believe the belt itself is like 12 bucks), including labor? Is this something I can do myself? If so, how long will it take? What happens if it breaks while my car is running... will my engine be ruined?

Thank you in advance!!!

If I remember correctly, from reading through my manual, it doesn't have to be changed until 100,000 miles. We have non-interference engines, so if it breaks it shouldn't damage the engine. But it would be wise to change it before that happens. You might want to double check the manual or do a search of the forums. You can do it yourself & it would be more cost effective than paying labor, but that depends on how confident you are with working on your engine.

 

[Kansei]

I just got my p5 about a month ago, and the dude never got the timing belt replaced (it was at around 65000 miles)... I am now at 68500 miles, and what I'm wondering is: How long can I put off replacing the belt? How much is it going to cost (I believe the belt itself is like 12 bucks), including labor? Is this something I can do myself? If so, how long will it take? What happens if it breaks while my car is running... will my engine be ruined?

Thank you in advance!!!

For the parts to do the timing belt change, it's about $120? You need a new tensioner, idler, and probably tensioner spring too.

The install isn't very fun though.. trust me, I've done it twice already. There's so little clearance on that side of the engine! I'm sure if my car lived it's whole life in southern California it would be a hell of a lot easier, but contending with corrosion and rust it was miserable.

 

[TheMAN]

if you live in a severe climate area (arizona), drive in severe conditions (stop and go traffic, short distances, etc), then you *have* to change it at 60k

 

[Action Jackson]

It's usually a good idea to replace the water pump at the same time. That will really bring the cost up.

 

[mhrebin]

i went to the mazda dealer to have a 60k service done. which doesnt include the timing belt change. but the service was like 479. kinda of a big waste of money, but o well. i learned my lesson.

the guy there said the timing belt change was 425 total. and another 189 to replace some pump, im assuming the water pump, but i wasnt paying attention.

does this seem high for Tbelt change? i know the labor is where it is all at but god damn.

 

[Mr.Ames]

if the belt breaks, it WILL most likely wreck the engine. it just happens to a guy at work. he's pissed. good thing i changed mine... i went in for my 100,000km maintenance timing belt, tensionor and spring, idler? plus tranny flush, coolant flush, oil change... it was like $900 canadian

 

[Jayman555]

Interference or Not

I was told they were ?,

I just got my p5 about a month ago, and the dude never got the timing belt replaced (it was at around 65000 miles)... I am now at 68500 miles, and what I'm wondering is: How long can I put off replacing the belt? How much is it going to cost (I believe the belt itself is like 12 bucks), including labor? Is this something I can do myself? If so, how long will it take? What happens if it breaks while my car is running... will my engine be ruined?

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[Mr.Ames]

some people say they aren't interferance, but tell that to my buddy who has to buy a new motor cuz apparently they are... better safe than sorry. preventative maintenance

 

[LilPixieMama75]

I was told they were ?,

My Brother & BF do all their own maintence & repairs and have looked the over the whole engine. They tell me it's non-interference. I've also read it in several places on the forums while searching for timing belt info myself.

My BF's 2002 Kia Rio is interference & his timing belt broke and the pistons ended up ramming into all the valves as they opened up and all his valves broke off. They ended up fused with the piston heads. He was under the assumption that his Rio's timing belt needed changing at 100,000 miles, when instead it's 60,000. He ended up having to do an engine swap. When they realized his was an interference engine, they looked mine over to make sure mine wasn't because I'm up to 86,000 miles. But we are getting all the stuff together to change the timing belt and water pump. We will do it ourselves.

 

[P-Funk!]

It should be good to 100K miles. relax. (DISCLAIMER: No, i won't pay you if it breaks before that - UNLESS YOU PAY ME THE MONEY YOU SAVE BY WAITING... )

Anyhoo - it really should be good. Belt technology has come a long way and the engine is non-interference. (go to Gates.com and see for yourself).

 

[LilPixieMama75]

It should be good to 100K miles. relax. (DISCLAIMER: No, i won't pay you if it breaks before that - UNLESS YOU PAY ME THE MONEY YOU SAVE BY WAITING... )

Anyhoo - it really should be good. Belt technology has come a long way and the engine is non-interference. (go to Gates.com and see for yourself).

Actually, at Gates.com the recommended replacement interval is 105,000 miles.

 

[Rio Racer]

My BF's 2002 Kia Rio is interference & his timing belt broke and the pistons ended up ramming into all the valves as they opened up and all his valves broke off. They ended up fused with the piston heads. He was under the assumption that his Rio's timing belt needed changing at 100,000 miles, when instead it's 60,000. He ended up having to do an engine swap.

OH NOESS!!! this makes me very sad, the strange thing with kia is they recommend timing belt change at 60k for all states except california where it is recommended at 105k. Why is that anyone know? California have magical rubber rejuvenating air? Never knew smog was good for the timining belt. If mazda doesn't recommend it till 100k then your fine and if it does break prematurely doesn't mazda NA have to get you a new motor if damage is done?

 

[Kansei]

I bet the confusion is because there was probably an FS series engine that was interference, but I've hand-turned my crank quite a few times without the timing belt attached (so valves stopped) and nothing contacted anything.

That being said, it's still an inconvenience if the timing belt dies. I did mine at 78,500 miles but forgot to order a water pump so I'll have to take the timing belt off again to do the water pump (sometime around or before 100k miles).

 

[Kansei]

OH NOESS!!! this makes me very sad, the strange thing with kia is they recommend timing belt change at 60k for all states except california where it is recommended at 105k. Why is that anyone know? California have magical rubber rejuvenating air? Never knew smog was good for the timining belt. If mazda doesn't recommend it till 100k then your fine and if it does break prematurely doesn't mazda NA have to get you a new motor if damage is done?

California has laws, not rubber rejuvenating air

For Mazda it says 100k miles for cold climate states or somethin like that. Either way, if it breaks you just gotta get it towed and get the belt replaced.. but yeah don't wait for it to break, just get it done.

 

[Josh780]

Anyhoo - it really should be good. Belt technology has come a long way and the engine is non-interference. (go to Gates.com and see for yourself).

Where on Gates.com does it say this is a non-interference engine? According to their Timing Belt Replacement Guide, it lists the Protege5 engine (page 15) as being an interference type: http://www.gates.com/downloads/download_common.cfm?file=TBR05.pdf&folder=brochure

Who here can cite documented proof that this engine is non-interference? (Aside from the fact that it just has a terrible specific output)

 

[bazooka joe]

from the online mazda repair manual:
inspect at 60,000 replace at 105,000

in cold asss climates e.g. canada change at 60,000

 

[Kansei]

I consider the fact that I can rotate the crank with the timing belt off all day long without hearing, feeling, or noticing anything hitting anything else enough proof for me. If you're that worried, change your timing belt before the manual tells you to. If it were an interference engine, why bother dishing out areas of the piston for the valves to fit into? Pardon my ignorance if that is the case but it seems like it wouldn't be at all necessary?

 

[LilPixieMama75]

Who here can cite documented proof that this engine is non-interference? (Aside from the fact that it just has a terrible specific output)

I am here to show you documented proof...Direct from Mazda:

"Hello Gina Marie,

Thanks for contacting Mazda. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you.

In regards to your inquiry concerning the engine in your 2002 MAZDA Protg5; this engine is non-interference.

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda. It has been my pleasure to reply to this matter.

Regards,

Glynn N.
Specialist, Customer Assistance E-Business
MazdaCustomerAssistance@mazdausa.com"

 

[Kansei]

Wow awesome. *rests easy*

thanks for looking into that Gina!