Replacing Water pump, how tricky?

[tuttle]

Hi all.
After a longish haul up the M4 yesterday I noticed I'd lost some water & from a quick shufty in the dark, it looks to me like the water pump is probably the culprit. It has been making some noises.
I have a copy of Rods book to help & it looks like quite a faf to get at.

Q: any other bits I need to get, or would recomend changing out whilst I'm at.
Any tips or workarounds gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.

[Jonny671]

I think its basically cambelt change, and it just bolts on.

We only add 0.2hrs labour for doing one as part of a cambelt so 12 minutes apparently.

So definitely change the belt whilst you're there.

[snotrag]

Again - this is something thats been covered a few times before, try searching for threads regarding the timing belt.

As said, its basically a timing belt change, with the waterpump being the very last bit that comes off.

I've done it twice now, it is a bit of a 'faff' but its not actually difficult.

off the top of my head, the parts that you should change are -

Cam cover seal/gasket
Camshaft end oil seals
Belt
tensioner
idler+spring
Waterpump itself
Flush the coolant

would be a usefully easy time to change the thermostat too, if you've no history of it at least.
They do all the parts in a kit on mx5parts.

Its one of those jobs that you may aswell do properly and do all the little extras, as the labours all the same really.

I'll see if I can find soem of the past threads on it.

As I've stated before, there is some excellent, very very useful videos on youtube of how to fiot the belt and check the timing, search for something like

'mikes place miata timing belt'

or suchlike.

[tuttle]

I was thinking timing belt change out, just to be sure.
Thanks for listing some of the parts snotters. I have had experience of getting 90% through a job & being unable to complete it because I'd forgotten to buy a 5p doobry-wotsit-flange, usually on a sunday afternoon too!

[snotrag]

At the very least, just buy the relevant timing belt 'kit' and the pattern part waterpump from MX5parts.

[covmutley]

snotrag said:

As I've stated before, there is some excellent, very very useful videos on youtube of how to fiot the belt and check the timing, search for something like

'mikes place miata timing belt'

or suchlike.

Ah, King Mike! Its a good video but im not sure on the crown he wears. Looking to do this job soon as a precaution, locking off the cams to tension it is the bit that worries me.

[snotrag]

covmutley said:

locking off the cams to tension it is the bit that worries me.

Take two big adjustable wrenches. The cams have a hex on the them about halfway along.
Fit the wrenches tight to the cams, crossed over in an X shape.
Zip tie em together. Its not difficult at all.
Having a few degrees freedom is useul anywa to get the belt to slip onto the teeth.

The method shown on his video is as close to foolproof as you can get, and the beauty is, you just fit the belt, then turn the engine over as many times as it takes for you to feel confident its all timed up. Its its not, you just start again, no damage done.

[Salgar]

Yo,

I used this:

http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5...

As well as http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mazda-MX-5-Miata-1-8-Enthu... Rod Grainger's manual to do mine.

I had never done anything like it before, as long as you have the right tools though, the job is pretty straight forward (It did take me quite a few evenings, but that's because I suck).