timing belt

Hi gang! I'm new here( obviously ), and joined because my daughter fell in love with a 95 with the 2.5 liter engine. So did my wife. It is my daughter's car to get her through college. The previous owner tells me that the recommended maintanence schedule was followed, the work done by the local dealer. What she can't tell me for certain is that the timing belt was changed at 60,000 miles. The car has 105,000 miles on it now. If the belt breaks, will the valves or any other parts be damaged? How long can I expect the water pump to last? Thanks for your help.

Sometimes when the timing belt is changed, they will put a sticker in the engine compartment showing date and mileage when it was changed. If the former owner doesn't have the maintenance records for the timing belt, check with the dealer who may have done the work. When buying a used car that has been dealer maintained, I've had good look with the dealer sharing previous maintenance history records with me. Use this think to download and view the timing belt guide. It will show whether the engine design is interference (damage when t-belt breaks) or non-interference. http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=981

The belt will usually deteriorate at a slow enough rate where the car will start to show problem signs. In the event, that the belt does brake It's possible that other parts will get damaged. It is recomended that the water pump get changed at the same time as the belt. It's difficult to say how long the water pump will last, because it depends on the maintenace history of the car, the conditions and miles the car was riden. You can tell if the water pump might be malfuntioning if you constantly have to add water to the radiator and if the vehicle runs hot. It's best to have a reliable mechanic check the wear on the parts. In mazdamilleniaclub@yahoogroups.com, "punmaster52"

Thank you for your info. We have decided it will be cheaper to change the belt, the water pump, and the serpentine belt than to have major problems if the timing belt breaks. Right now the engine runs with no problems. I think of it this way: 2 belts and a water pump for $400, or wait till the water pump goes out suddenly and the heads have to have work $2000.

Hey Ken Thanks for the advice. I went to the mechanic last week and had the water pump replaced at the same time as the timing belt, as you suggested. My total labor, including replacing the head cover gasket was $110! The mechanic showed me that the numbers on the belt were worn out (does that mean the belt was too old???) and that the water pump was very old. So it looks like you gave me some very good advice and possibly saved me a break down some day in the future! Thanks. Heidi

Heidi, Wow, that's all the labor you paid? Good for you, sounds like you got a great deal! Your welcome for the advice, I wasn't sure that it would be worth it for you but I am glad that I was able to give some good advice for a change...;-) Good luck with your MPV in the future. ken

Ken Well I am in Costa Rica! Labor is a LOT cheaper here. Parts are a lot more expensive, though I found the Mazda parts were not as expensive as I had been lead to believe. Actually, some were cheaper than Auto Zone! I made a mistake, the mechanic changed the valve cover gasket not the head cover gasket, don't know if that makes a big difference in labor cost (or maybe they are the same thing, different names). I show how much I know about cars. I just bought the MPV and so far I love it. It is a lot longer and wider than what I had before (Toyota Tercel) but I am adjusting quickly to it. Thanks again. Heidi

Ken I also forgot to tell you when the mechanic was installing one of the tensioners, the pin broke off. He thinks there was a defect in the part. He bought it at the Mazda dealer but said there is no warranty on parts here. I thought this cannot be right, maybe he was too busy and couldn't be bothered returning it. I wrote to Mazda USA yesterday and they told me that Mazda here is a different company and they have their own set of rules. He lost money as he had to buy another part so I think all in all he made no money on the work he did. Heidi

Hey Ken Thanks for the advice. I went to the mechanic last week and had the water pump replaced at the same time as the timing belt, as you suggested. My total labor, including replacing the head cover gasket was $110! The mechanic showed me that the numbers on the belt were worn out (does that mean the belt was too old???) and that the water pump was very old. So it looks like you gave me some very good advice and possibly saved me a break down some day in the future! Thanks. Heidi

Heidi, Wow, that's all the labor you paid? Good for you, sounds like you got a great deal! Your welcome for the advice, I wasn't sure that it would be worth it for you but I am glad that I was able to give some good advice for a change...;-) Good luck with your MPV in the future. ken

Ken Well I am in Costa Rica! Labor is a LOT cheaper here. Parts are a lot more expensive, though I found the Mazda parts were not as expensive as I had been lead to believe. Actually, some were cheaper than Auto Zone! I made a mistake, the mechanic changed the valve cover gasket not the head cover gasket, don't know if that makes a big difference in labor cost (or maybe they are the same thing, different names). I show how much I know about cars. I just bought the MPV and so far I love it. It is a lot longer and wider than what I had before (Toyota Tercel) but I am adjusting quickly to it. Thanks again. Heidi

Ken I also forgot to tell you when the mechanic was installing one of the tensioners, the pin broke off. He thinks there was a defect in the part. He bought it at the Mazda dealer but said there is no warranty on parts here. I thought this cannot be right, maybe he was too busy and couldn't be bothered returning it. I wrote to Mazda USA yesterday and they told me that Mazda here is a different company and they have their own set of rules. He lost money as he had to buy another part so I think all in all he made no money on the work he did. Heidi

My Haynes manual says to change it every 60,000 miles or 48 months, whichever comes first.

how much is the labor on that approx?

It takes about 2.5 hours worth of labor for the job. If you go to a Mazda dealer expect to pay $80 bucks an hour for labor (thats what my dealer charges) or a regular mechanic may charge you $65 bucks an hour. Plus about $36 for the timing belt. Expect to pay minimum $250 at a dealer, or around $210 at Joe mechanic, with a 6% sales tax.

i had a shop quote me 1300.00 to change the Belt, water pump, the idler pullys and tensioner pully, and tensioner lever,. Then he told me it should be done because the motor is an interference motor.. uh... i can swear the 2.5L in a non-interference