I purchased my “5” 12 months ago at 75,000 miles. I have only driven around 1,000 since then. However, there is no evidence/paperwork to confirm whether the cambelt has ever been changed (I understand the recommended intervals are every 60,000 miles?). Anyway, I have been quoted a figure of £267.00 to replace the belt and water pump by my local independent garage. They say the job takes about 2 hours to do. I use this garage to repair and service my other cars and so I can trust their workmanship, etc.
As already stated, 54,000 miles. If the car has Mazda service history it is likely to have been done. Any Mazda dealer will be able to check for you to confirm this.
My garage say that it is not necessary to change the water pump when replacing the cambelt on a Mk2 (mine’s a 2000 year model), as the belts do not drive the pump. Is this correct? Obviously, I will save some money if the water pump does not require replacing, as their original quote of £267 included a new pump as well.
My advice is to always replace the waterpump when the cam belt is changed. It is asking a lot for the waterpump to last 120,000 miles and you will have to get the whole job done again to replace it if it fails before. Waterpumps are so cheap, so do yourself a favour and get this replaced at the same time - will add about 15 minutes to the job. I had to a cambelt/waterpump replacement on our Eunos because the waterpump failed at 90,000 miles having not been replaced when it should have been with the cambelt at 60,000 miles.
Agreed. I had the cambelt changed and then the water pump started to fail a few days later. Luckily fixed under warranty as I bought my then 15 year old car from a main dealer!
You should also bear in mind that while the book says ‘Every 54,000 miles’ the manufacturer of cam belts only guarantees them for six years, which the owners manual neglects to mention. So a year 2000 car with 85,000 miles appears to be fine with one cam belt change (assuming it was changed at 54,000 miles) in reality should be ready for it’s third cambelt in 2018. - 6 years X 3 changes.
Just after I bought my car in 2002, I was assured by a trusted mechanic that the limit was 54,000 miles - not age related, and I took that as gospel, till I was assured by other members that age limitation is also a criteria. Everyone should be aware of this. Any owner with any make of car with a rubber cam belt needs to be aware of that age limitation, which I took on board after my car had done around 38,000 miles after ten years. Any other drive belt should also be changed at the same time, in most cases that includes alternator and power steering pump. You have to take both off to replaced the cam belt, and replacing the water pump at the same time is a consideration worth thinking about. At present my mileometer reads a few miles short of 44,000 miles, so by the book,it’s due for the second belt in another x years time!
It’s not a garage queen either, but my age and finance limits mileage.
I have a 1992 model, owned from new. After 17 years I had only done 11000 miles (I was fortunate to have another daily driver), but I did the cambelt change myself. The ‘old’ cambelt was as good as the new one. i don’t think age matters. Furthermore, the engine will not be damaged by a cambelt failure (as with most cars), so you can take a bit of a ‘risk’. However, if your local garage charges less than £300 for a replacement, I would say this is good value, as it is quite a complex task.
Hi everyone, I’ve just bought my first ever MX5 - 2005 42,500 on the clock. It’s been standing for 2 years so only just back on the road. Oil/filter have been changed, as has battery and brakes. However, I’m reading mixed things about the campbelt and other belts on the car. Should I wait for the 54,000 or as the car is already 12 year’s old with no sign of it having ever been changed previously, bite the bullet and get them sorted now? She’s running beautifully but as I’m due to go on a road trip this weekend, I don’t want to end up having to call out the AA!