water pump

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corraod@enser.com - 12 Apr 2006 15:08 GMT

Has anyone here ever changed a water pump ? I have a 97 Miata and
recently made a big mistake. The top of the radiator was cracked so I
purchased a brand new one and installed it. I was thinking about
changing the water pump when I had everything out and decided not to.
Sure enough I started the car up and after a few minutes of running
water/Anti freeze is dripping from the water pump area. Rather than
take it into the Mazda dealer and get robbed I may attempt to do it
myself. I was wondering how big of a job that was.

Dean

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Lanny Chambers - 12 Apr 2006 15:15 GMT

> Rather than
> take it into the Mazda dealer and get robbed I may attempt to do it
> myself. I was wondering how big of a job that was.

It's essentially the same as changing the timing belt, which you might
as well do while you're at it. You'll find illustrated instructions in
the miata.net Garage section:
http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html

Signature

Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

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Chris D'Agnolo - 13 Apr 2006 05:46 GMT

The timing belt job does not require a professional mechanic but don't be
fooled it is not for an inexperienced mechanic either unless he's got good
basic skills and can follow direction very carefully. Minor mistake here
(one tooth off) and you can have a car that runs like sh.t and you've got to
start over! (don't ask me how I know that).

Chris
99BBB

>> Rather than
>> take it into the Mazda dealer and get robbed I may attempt to do it
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the miata.net Garage section:
> http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html

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Chuck - 15 Apr 2006 08:01 GMT

Actually, it's easy to get one tooth off-- unless you can block the cams
from rotating. The new belt is a bit shorter than a used one. The tensioner
complicates matters.

> The timing belt job does not require a professional mechanic but don't be
> fooled it is not for an inexperienced mechanic either unless he's got good
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> > the miata.net Garage section:
> > http://www.miata.net/garage/timingbelt.html

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KWS - 27 Apr 2006 05:01 GMT

Dean,

It is certainly a strange co-incidence that the water pump problem was
initiated because you changed the radiator. Did you change a hose that might
be leaking coolant in such a manner as to suggest a water pump failure?

Of course, the pump may have been leaking all along and you didn't focus
your attention on it until you had to work on the radiator.

I don't know about the '97, but in the '90 (where I have changed the timing
belt and water pump a few times) the removal of the radiator, while making
things a little better, isn't all that necessary to work on the water pump.

Ken

> Has anyone here ever changed a water pump ? I have a 97 Miata and
> recently made a big mistake. The top of the radiator was cracked so I
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Dean

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