Timing belt change

I changed my first timing BELT today, on my '93, 1.8-liter Mazda Protege! Now, I know for many of you, this is a yawner.

I have rebuilt many, many engines--measured and cut ring end gap, changed cams, pistons, valve jobs, changed injectors, distributors, and rebuilt a couple of cars from the ground up.

But none have had THAT rubber thing, that IF YOU GET IT WRONG, BLAMO, INSTANT DEATH TO THE ENGINE lure behind it.

So after sitting on the parts for a couple of months, seeing it was going to be a nice stretch of weather--in case anything went wrong. I jjacked up the car, and following a shop manual for a little guidance, got all the ancillary systems out of the way, covers, etc... and replaced the belt and idler.

Put it all back together, and ta dah! NO Surprises. Runs fine.

I don't know why this has always been such a "oh NO" item, but, I'm feeling good; great sense of accomplishment. Tomorrow is brakes all around, reinforcing the rear strut towers (rust) and an oil change, which is a yawner for me.

Reading this it sounds stupid, but, none of my friends would understand as some of you would. I know, welcome to the 201st century. Thanks, Bob

Don't feel so bad, I'm the same way abut doing the one on my Scirocco even though its about as easy and simple as you'd ever want one to be.

It's when you get to the "yawner" stage that you should worry. That paranoid triple check often yields a loose bolt or wire that would come back and haunt me later.

Bruce

Just got through my 2nd ever timing belt.

First one was on the E30, while it could have gone faster, it got done pretty well.

Second one was on a 1.8L miata... found a broken woodriff key. couldnt get the TB pulley off, so I had to wait a week and get my cutoff wheel from another project site to cut notches for my puller (was on there good enough that it broke a few chunks of pulley off before it came off). Then there was waiting for Loctite quick metal, new TB pulley, new woodriff key, new boss hub... started a few weeks ago and finally got it done earlier today.

Waiting on parts and only being able to work on weekends for the most part make this kind of fun discovery even more fun.

egnorant wrote: It's when you get to the "yawner" stage that you should worry. That paranoid triple check often yields a loose bolt or wire that would come back and haunt me later. Bruce

Oh yeah!! Check everything at least 2x, and if pulling the tensioner into place goofs up the timing,...well, try, try again, as 'they' say. I did a Hyundai that was essentially a mirror image of a 4g63 Mitsu, and it gave me grief the whole time. Don't ever let it be a 'yawner'.

I'm about to dig into the Zetec in my '00 ZX3 Focus with 150k on its original belt (!!). I've been a professional motorcycle mechanic, done more full engine teardown/rebuilds than I can count, and I'm still filled with trepidation over this job.

It's a healthy fear, right?

Wish me luck.

alex wrote: I'm about to dig into the Zetec in my '00 ZX3 Focus with 150k on its original belt (!!). I've been a professional motorcycle mechanic, done more full engine teardown/rebuilds than I can count, and I'm still filled with trepidation over this job. It's a healthy fear, right? Wish me luck.

Hoss, with 150K on the OEM belt, you've been living on borrowed time. Good luck with the RR. And try not to scrape ALL the skin off your hands...

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