My NC 2006 with 50k miles on the clock has not had, as far as I’m aware, a replacement drive belt.
So what is the advice, replacement or carry a spare?
I’ve seen Drayco, Gates, Continental and Febi…any to avoid or recommend?
Thank you
D
Here is a recent thread on drive belt/pulley issues - worth a read…
https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst103847_NC-serpentine-belt--idler-and-tension-pulleys.aspx
Looking at the service schedule, these drive belts do seem to have a long life.
In your position I would carefully inspect the belt for damage and wear. There are also idler and tensioner pulleys that can wear as you can see in the thread, so check them as well.
I wouldn’t carry a spare belt personally but would change the belt and both pulleys if there is any issue after inspection.
Can’t recommend a kit to buy but Gates probably do a good one and MX5parts may well supply Mazda parts. All the makes you mention are well known and reliable as far as I know.
Good link…thank you.
I will check it over…I assume I need to start the car a couple of times to inspect all the belt?
The logic behind carrying a spare would be that at least Mr breakdown man could replace it if it failed whilst out and about.
Any general wear to the belt should be obvious throughout the entire length or any part thereof.
Important to inspect the whole length, both sides where possible for damage and/or contamination.
Just push the car forward on a flat surface whilst engaged in fifth gear to control rotation of the belt for full inspection. Starting/stopping the car would leave the belt in a random position.
These belts don’t seem to snap and found an American service schedule where inspection only recommended after 37.5K - seems irresponsibly high mileage so happy to be corrected on this. As you can see from the thread link more issue with high mileage and wear to the pulleys.
Nothing wrong with carrying a spare but if you were to also carry similarly or more vulnerable parts as spares in the car you would likely have a car full:-)
For a “belt and braces” approach, change the belt and carry the old one as the spare.
I do this on my other car, a Liege, which carries a non standard supercharger belt.
How inconvenient and costly is it going to be if your existing one breaks while out?
Just replace it, save the concern.
You wont see much on the outside of the belt - even when twisting it unless it is in a truly knackered state - where you will see degradation is where the belt runs over tensioners and is stretched open on its inside face - look for micro-cracks at those points.
Notwithstanding the above - if the car is used a lot then mileage is key when deciding to change a belt - if used occasionally then age is key as they degrade with time. Another clue is lots of rubber dust that will suggest the belt is breaking down.
I have used Gates exclusively over many years on many cars/4x4’s - they invented the small vee serpentine belt [and SKF for pulleys and bearings]
I was carrying a spare once because I was concerned at the belts squealing on start up and I was going to replace myself. Eventually the one driving the water pump/alternator snapped just as I was leaving work. I called the AA out who said if only there were spares belts they could do the job in my office car park. The AA guy was amazed I went into the boot and produced the belts. 30mins later I was on my way. It saved me a job too!
If you are concerned I would try to replace for piece of mind but if you are a member of the AA (not sure what other breakdown organisations would do the work) carry the spare and let them do the job. I doubt you would have enough room to carry the tools to do the job at the side of the road yourself.
change it , tensioner and idler bearings too, costs £90 ish ,and an hours work to put your mind at ease, simple job, not as complicated as it first looks,
