Timing Belts - The Root of ALL Evil!

[debbi]

Hi All ~

Finally got my new/used motor in today and wow, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be! Even though my hubby and brother did the majority, I was allowed to wrench here and there and I now know what everything is under my hood and what it does. It started up on the first try and other than a bit of an idle issue in the beginning runs great.... woohoo! Of course curiousity over what caused my original motor to die at 180,000 miles was killing us and here's the culprit....

Yep - that's my timing belt.... I couldn't believe it! It still had another 30,000 miles before it was due to be changed so I have no idea what happened. Ah well, all is good now - here's to another 180,000 miles of zoom zooming.

Thanks again to those of you who have posted "how-tos" here as well as your encouraging messages and suggestions - I truly appreciate it!

Debbi

 

[dxaveP5]

Glad you got everything fixed and no further damage was caused
and welcome to the forums!!

-David

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Well, she did say a new/used motor was just put in sooo, there may have been a bit of damage to the original one. My question would be....Is there a brand new timing belt in the new/used motor that just went in?

 

[isbre]

Glad to hear your car runs great again.

That is one torn timing belt, I can't believe that would happen after just 30k miles. I though most Mazda engine are non inteference engines, it just might be OK still.

 

[slavrenz]

Glad to hear your car runs great again.

That is one torn timing belt, I can't believe that would happen after just 30k miles. I though most Mazda engine are non inteference engines, it just might be OK still.

I think she is referring to the 105,000 mile interval, so the first one was changed at 105k and the second one is due at 210k. This belt therefore had 75k miles on it, which is still not very many considering that some on here have gone twice that distance without changing their timing belt.

 

[isbre]

I think she is referring to the 105,000 mile interval, so the first one was changed at 105k and the second one is due at 210k. This belt therefore had 75k miles on it, which is still not very many considering that some on here have gone twice that distance without changing their timing belt.

Well, I was reffering to what Mazda recomends, which is 60000 miles in USA or 105000km in Canada/ Europe. 105k miles sounds like a translation mistake to me.

Some timing belts are holding on strong, but some will break just after the period is up, you can never now, that's the problem.

 

[el_Don]

Well, I was reffering to what Mazda recomends, which is 60000 miles in USA

I'm pretty sure the recommendation is 105K miles.

 

[translator777]

That's right...In Canada, they recommend 168 000Km

 

[debbi]

Hopefully I'll be able to remember everything that was posted and answer all of your questions....

The timing belt is out of my original motor which is no longer running so unfortunately, it caused ALOT of damage.

My new/used motor is from a wrecking yard about 300 miles away - it has 70,000 miles on it and I paid $700.00.

The timing belt had 75,000 miles on it - the 30,000 miles I referred to was indeed the number of miles I felt I had left until the reccommended 105,000 mile change (this one was put on at about 104,000 along with a new water pump). Still not quite understanding what the hell happened......

Along with the new/used motor install - a new water pump, timing belt, clutch, throwout bearing, pressure plate, plugs, wires, etc was also installed.
My precat was fried about 50,000 miles ago before they were able to diagnose the infamous random misfire code so I bought one with 50,000 miles on it from someone here - it should be delivered today and will be installed tonight.

Needless to say, I'm excited to drive my car again after it being down for almost three weeks! Without a doubt, it is the BEST damn car I have ever owned.... 180,000 miles with no significant issues (until now of course) is incredible! And believe it or not, I was still getting 29-32 mpg when she died.

Anyhow, hope I addressed everything here - thanks SO much for your support, I truly appreciate it. I've only been one of those "looky loo" members until about a week or so ago - no more though... you'll be seeing me here a heck of alot more.

 

[StealthWyvern]

I think she is referring to the 105,000 mile interval, so the first one was changed at 105k and the second one is due at 210k. This belt therefore had 75k miles on it, which is still not very many considering that some on here have gone twice that distance without changing their timing belt.

Its not the mileage that kills the timing belt... its the heat cycles...It gets soft with age just like your rad hoses just food for thought.

I'm pretty sure the recommendation is 105K miles.

Nope, its 60k for t-belt

 

[slavrenz]

Its not the mileage that kills the timing belt... its the heat cycles...It gets soft with age just like your rad hoses just food for thought.



Nope, its 60k for t-belt

Well then we've got two different manuals, because I'm looking at mine right now, and it recommends inspection at 60k miles, and replacement at 105k miles, unless you're in a climate where it is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for a significant chunk of the year.

If you're not doing the change yourself, 60k miles is a little bit too much of a financial hardship for many people, IMHO. Very rarely (as evidenced here) do the belts not make it past 105k miles.

 

[debbi]

Mine says the same - inspect at 60,000, replace at 105,000

 

[isbre]

Mine says the same - inspect at 60,000, replace at 105,000

Well OK, I give. (I checked myself before I started the car and drove back home from my office.)

Did you have your belt checked by the dealer at 165k miles then? Because if they did and they said it was good you might have a case against them here.

 

[StealthWyvern]

Well then we've got two different manuals, because I'm looking at mine right now, and it recommends inspection at 60k miles, and replacement at 105k miles, unless you're in a climate where it is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for a significant chunk of the year.

If you're not doing the change yourself, 60k miles is a little bit too much of a financial hardship for many people, IMHO. Very rarely (as evidenced here) do the belts not make it past 105k miles.

well you can risk going to 105k if you want... The dealer and you have two different manuals then....

Personally my t-belt was shot and about to snap at 84k on it... You could see the slop in it just by removing the valve cover and that was on the stock belt! So if you want to go to 105k be my guess! I still have no idea how I didn't jump time.

 

[debbi]

After this costly experience, I for one will probably not be waiting until the 105,000 mile interval reccommended EVER again. I felt safe waiting til the 210,000 mark because I made the 104,000 mark without incident - now I know better.

PS - My son's best friend, a mechanic at a local Toyota dealership, changed it for me the first time so unfortunately no warranty. I'm still looking at this as a positive (other than the $1200.00) experience - I can now tell you what everything under my hood is, what it does etc.... and can probably change my own timing belt in the future -

 

[winston3x]

Debbi,
do you know if the idler, tensioner pulley, and tensioner spring were changed when the first t-belt job was done? seems possible if either the idler or tensioner had 180 k on them, not out of the question for either one seize up and snap a belt.

 

[debbi]

Honestly, I couldn't tell you for sure but I don't think so - good information though, thanks.

BTW - I think you (Winston3x) and I have conversed before, I started having the random misfire code issue shortly after your wife's car experienced the same thing - Dave, isn't it? If I'm thinking of someone else, sorry.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I was gonna post back about what the post above referenced. Timing belt change should also be tensioner or at least the tensioner spring, water pump & I'd also do the cam seals & fresh valve cover gasket when you have it all apart. I'm in this ballpark now with 84k on mine. Gonna scarf up vc gasket set, tensioner spring, timing belt & cam seals. Already have the new water pump. Coming soon...will also be swapping in new coolant/thermostat at appropriate timing with everything being taken apart even tho no issues with tstat yet.(knocks on wood)

 

[winston3x]

Hey debbi,
we've talked on the edmunds boards, but i'm not Dave, I think it was in his thread though. I battled the misfire codes as well. Hope all goes well with your new engine.

FYI - Gates makes an OEM quality timing belt kit that comes with the idler & tensioner pulley for a lot less than mazda. You can buy the spring from Onlinemazdaparts.com for $3

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

Oh yeah, Gates has the blue "racing?" timing belt. Wonder if it's worth the extra coin? Haven't heard any comments about it.