scary story about a timing belt change

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:10 am

Back story: Miata's need a timing belt change at the 60K mark, so I am looking at costs and stuff to get it done

now, for the scary part. I called a mazda dealership, asked how much it will cost. The guy that wanted to know what I have, he asked me if my miata has the 6 or 8 cylinder in it. :shock:

so, it might be 250 to have it changed, but if they dont even know how many cylinder's a car they have been selling for 20 years... I think I will pay somebody a bit more who atleast knows what the car has.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:21 am

I've done it three times and it ain't rocket science. Wanna pay me to do it?

BTW, $250 would be CHEAP!!!!!!!!

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:27 am

Yeah... so I have been told. I have also been told things like "replace the head gasket while your there, it will save you work later” Or do the water pump as well. its right there, and will save you from the tear down later on.

I need to do more searching on it. I cant really do much work on the car myself... I quite literally fit the shade tree mechanic description. (dirt driveway, and living in the middle of a forest, or so it feels)

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:29 am

JasonWatts wrote:

I have also been told things like "replace the head gasket while your there

I'd recommend NOT doing that and NOT listening to anything else said person has to say.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:31 am

ty... thats what I am learning (ive just started looking), though I thought you were supposed to trust everything posted up on the internet :p

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:39 am

What year do you have? The water pump should indeed be replaced since it's behind the timing belt and easy to get to while you are in there. Most dealers charge about $1K for a t-belt change on a Miata IIRC.

Seriously, I can do it if you want contact me via PM or e-mail and we can discuss the details.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Always change the water pump when you change a timing beltif they're located behind it. It's a no brainer. It takes about four hours to do it the first time (from hood up to last bolt tightened) including cam and front crank seals.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Whatever Vincent quotes you. I can do it for $100 less if it is the 8 cylinder and $150 less if it is the 6 cylinder. :lol:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:40 pm

...or get Wes to do it. He's closer and probably has more time right now than I do.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:54 pm

Graham Jagger wrote:

Whatever Vincent quotes you. I can do it for $100 less if it is the 8 cylinder and $150 less if it is the 6 cylinder. :lol:

I can vouch for Graham's mechanical skills, but he really prefers to work on American cars.....well.......actually only Government Motors cars when it comes right down to it.

Course he does know a lot about V8's so the V8 miata would be up his alley. :roll:

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:09 pm

If Miatas are anything like Integra's it's really not that tough if you split it into a two-day job and take your time. I'd recommend getting someone to break the crank pulley bolt loose to prevent breaking about 12 extensions like I did. :twisted:

Good luck!

As far as the guy at the stealership, his fate is very bleak and I just hope no one is injured while driving their 'repaired or serviced' from their negligence. I hope the techs are less inept that this 'service advisor'!

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Matt McGrain wrote:

If Miatas are anything like Integra's it's really not that tough if you split it into a two-day job and take your time. I'd recommend getting someone to break the crank pulley bolt loose to prevent breaking about 12 extensions like I did. :twisted:

Miata engines are a) in the proper orientation and b) spin the proper way. :wink:

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:38 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

Matt McGrain wrote:

If Miatas are anything like Integra's it's really not that tough if you split it into a two-day job and take your time. I'd recommend getting someone to break the crank pulley bolt loose to prevent breaking about 12 extensions like I did. :twisted:

Miata engines are a) in the proper orientation and b) spin the proper way. :wink:

?? im lost, missing the punch line here.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:40 pm

All,

Thanks for the offer on helping with the change. my goal is to get some pricing at this point to consider how much money I will have left over to spend on other things. Right now, I am about 5k miles away and am guessing I am a month or two away from needing the work.

Im guessing the best way right now is to assign everyone a number and see who roll's up first

. Thanks for the offers.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:42 pm

Matt McGrain wrote:

As far as the guy at the stealership, his fate is very bleak and I just hope no one is injured while driving their 'repaired or serviced' from their negligence. I hope the techs are less inept that this 'service advisor'!

yeah... I really hope thats the case as well... I can see the first guy pouring sand into the engine to help polish the headers. :lol:

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